About to embark on first attempt at dressmaking - top tips please?

[RachelLynde]

I have the material, the pattern, and a fair bit of sewing experience of basic items i.e. Cushions, a quilt, a couple of bags, and recently a huge pair of fully lined curtains. Tracing paper, a seam gauge and a tracing wheel are on order.

I've never sewn from a pattern before though or done things like darts (whatever they are), and words like grain and selvedge are scaring me.

Can I have top tips, big no-no's, and friendly advice please?

I agree it is a good pattern choice for a beginner. One thing I always do before I start a pattern (or often before I buy) is check out the Sewing Pattern Review site Then I can read reviews from other sewers which often helps with sizing and knowing which bits will be tricky.

Another piece of advice (that I ought to listen to more myself) is to keep sewing the same pattern several times until you get it perfect. Even after many years of sewing I rarely get something 100% perfect on the first try. Making 3 or 4 (or some say up to 10) tops from the same pattern will help you gain in confidence.