♥ Sewing More Dresses ♥

I bought some more fabric recently (I bought this and this), with plans to make more pretty summer dresses. One of my favourite dresses is this one I made in 2011 (woah - old photo alert!), so I picked out similar striped fabrics, but hopefully not too similar! Plus, the fabric was fairly cheap, at £5.50 a metre. (I bought 3 of each, but only used about 1.5 for this dress - oops!). I made this in a few hours the other day, again from scratch.
I always get asked what patterns I've used, but I never use a pattern to sew. The closest I come to using a pattern is grabbing an already existing garment from my wardrobe and seeing how it was made, and copying that. I did draft my own bodice pattern using that method, and made a fabric pattern that I sometimes use. For this one though, I made another pattern myself by making a muslin out of scrap fabric before cutting the proper fabric.

This dress doesn't really have a fitted bust, it's more of blousy effect, with elasticated waist. I have a picture of me wearing it on instagram (cupcakesloveme). I have recently discovered that regular old zig zag stitch is better than the overlock stitch on my machine which I had been using to finish my seams for years. I feel a bit derpy about that, since zigzag is much faster too, as well as neater & using less thread. I do still dream about getting an actual overlocker someday, but zig zag does nicely for now.

I finished the hem with pink satin ribbon, and I also for the first time ever made bias binding, which I used to finish the armpits. I have used bias binding before, to finish the edges of a quilt, but I'd not made it though. I really need to buy one of those little things that help you fold it exactly though, would be even easier then. The straps are just frilly broderie anglaise ribbon, which I bought as is, rather than assembling that myself. Finished with a pink satin rose & I have a dress perfect for summer! I don't know why I don't do more sewing, it's very satisfying creating things, as opposed to buying them.