Sewing Dresses, Making Dresses, How to make a dress, how to sew a dress, learn to make a dress, how to make a dress, handmade dresses

How to Make Your Own Clothes..., from Your Very First Stitch to the Runway

Sewing & Making Dresses

How to Make a Dress / How to Sew a Dress

Here is a photo of Jamie modeling a light weight silk cotton summer halter dress that I made for her.

About Dresses:	Dresses are fun to make and very rewarding, whether it's a simple sundress or a colonial gown. Making your own dress is a big accomplishment.
Best Fabric to Use:	Many fabrics can be used to make dresses. Some suggestions are: light weight 100 % cotton, denim, corduroy, light weight wool, wool blends, silk, rayon, velvet, and knit. Light weight cotton is the best fabric for beginners to use.
Easy type Pattern:	An easy type of dress pattern would be like the one pictured above. A jumper, or spaghetti strap dress or halter type of dress would be a little easier than a dress that has sleeves to sew in.
Difficult type Pattern:	A difficult type of dress pattern would be one with a lot of pattern pieces. Also one that requires sewn in separate sleeves, a collar, buttons, button holes, layers in the dress, or a zipper would be more difficult to make than a dress that is a slip over the head type, like a jumper.
Pattern Pieces:	Dresses can have any where from about 3 pattern pieces for a simple dress, and up to 30 pieces for a very advanced dress or gown.
Cost & Fabric Usage:	Dresses require more fabric to make than a skirt or a top would. The average dress may require about 2 yards and up to 5 yards or more for gowns.
Comments:	Remember when making a dress to keep in mind the length, and the difficulty of the pattern. Dresses at any length, will compliment your shape. Remember to wear clothes to enhance your figure, not hide it.

Two Favorite Sewing & Dress Making Books We Use Here at Love to Sew Studio Are:

Christine Haynes book "Chic & Simple Sewing." This is our all-time favorite sewing book to use for beginners to intermediate students in our studio, and full size patterns are included. This book is filled with adorable easy to sew dresses, skirts, and more for the modern hip girl!

We also have Wenlan Chia's "Twinkle Sews" in our studio. It's definitely for the more advance student though! The patterns are on a disk and you can print them right on your own computer. We love her designs and youthful spirit in her collection of 25 pieces of clothing to make in this book.

Once you have made your first dress ask yourself some questions. After all dressmaking and fashion design go hand in hand. Step back and take a look at your dress or gown.

Does your dress or design fulfill its purpose? Is your dress comfortable to wear? Does it look as good on as it does on the hanger? Is it attractive? Does it look good from all angles?

Once you have answered all these questions you will begin to understand dress making a little better. It is important to understand putting everything together, the shape of the dress, the line of the dress to enhance ones figure, the feel of the fabric, and more is what makes dress making so much fun. Wearing garments that flatter the figure will make anyone happier.