Where can I buy dress pattens on-line?

[Katymac]

I want a long dress where it's made of panels which get wider to wards the bottom

Does that make any sense?

You can order them online from sew essential but I've never used them, I order from fabricland (I phone them, they usually deliver within 48 hrs) here. I look up the pattern no's from this site or this one

OK - now I am a bit out of my depth

I can do armholes & zips, but I can't do waists or setting in sleeves

Crap - where do I start?

I order from the US, or used to when I last did any dressmaking- Simplicity and Butterick. It was way cheaper than buying them here even when you pay postage. I have used Sew Essential for other things and they were pretty good.

If you can do zips, you will almost certainly be able to tackle a waist especially as the type of dress that you want to make sounds like a princess seamed dress. Armholes are a bit more tricky.
If you can't get someone to show you, I'd see if you can get the Vogue sewing book from the library, that has quite clear instructions. This sewing guide might be a bit basic here but, there is some tips here

I have made several dresses but the waists never sit right, whether it's pleats or gathering

But Princess line sounds right - I have made 4 or 5 in this style before (no waist no sleeves )

I need a ballroom dancing dress for a con=mpetition so I need to get sorted quickly

i like hot patterns katymac i thought i'd have a go and i made a skirt. it was vaguely successful in that it was constructed ok but it wasn't as flattering as i'd hoped. in an ideal world i would buy patterns and get someone else to make them.

this is gorgeous number 6318 - but it looks too hard

I'm a member on here and I find it a really useful resource, as you get honest opinions about how easy a pattern is to use.
I would have a look there after you've decided on a pattern. Put the pat no. in and if someone has made it, there will probably be a review.

Simplicity 5561 looks qite nice

The reviews say it's quite easy, it's boned isn't it?

Can't do bones - sure I can't do bones

How about newlook 6614?

I like it, it looks nice, no reviews for that one and I can't tell if it's boned or not. You would have to carefully ease the fullness of the skirt in when you sew it to the bodice.
If I make up an item that I'm not too confident about, I buy dirt cheap material (of the same weight that you intend to use) and make one up in that. That way, you would get to practice the bits that you are not confident about and you can adjust the fit aswell. Saves you making expensive mistakes aswell.
Just a thought but, when you mention you have a problem getting the waists to sit right, it could be a fitting problem rather than a sewing problem. I have to adjust the waist on most of the patterns I buy as they always come up too bulky.

I found the old pattern I used to use

Plus I found the material I was going to make (before I got PG) so fo you want to watch & giggle over here

You could be right about the fitting thing as I am successful with this pattern I used to use (no waist) - I generally struggle with fitted waists when I buy clothes so maybe it is just my shape

You have to take into account that sometimes patterns aren't cut very well either. An experienced seamstress once advised me to make up a 'toile' (trail run garment) in gingham. The squares on the gingham allow you to see how many centimetres you need to adjust to (iyswim), without having to resort to tape measures, you do have to remember to account for 'wearing ease', which just means the amount of extra material to allow you to move comfortably.

I might try that (If I attempt a waist again - I'll see how the dress goes)

Let me know how you get on, really must finish my dress and skirt that I started aeons ago. If you get stuck, post here, if I can help I will.