Please help my dd with this so-called "very easy" pattern!

[swampwitch0]

Hi 👋
My dd has agreed to make a dress for a friend for a ball.
She's just done gcse textiles and is hopefully going to do a F&T btec 🤞
The pattern is Vogue very easy make 9343. It says "very easy" 🤔 and the skirt has been fine, but we can't understand how to put the top halter piece together (other reviewers say its really not suitable for beginners but.l to late now...)
Has anyone made this dress? Any tips? She's very stressed 😫
Fabric is black crepe back satin.
Help!

Well, it is quite hard to advise without seeing the whole pattern. I would guess that the bodice has a high back and maybe 4 sections or it might be all one piece. I'd think, join the side seams, then the back seam. That should give you the basic bodice shape. Add whatever neatening the pattern suggests for the neckline and armholes . I would expect a facing of some kind. That should give you the basic top. All you need to do now is join the two. Again I would guess a running stitch along the bottom edge so that you can gather it to fit the skirt. Pin in place and machine to give you the completed dress. Hem as needed Press, and you should be ready to wear I hope that gives you an idea of where to start. Do have a really good look at the pattern because the instructions should be there. Good luck and I hope the finished article is stunning.

Thank you very much

I'll try and post the actual top pattern tomorrow

Are there not step by step instructions in the pattern? Is she following the instruction steps or just trying to wing it?

She's following it, but its not clear at all
Far too late we checked the reviews of the pattern and even very experienced sewists have struggled 😞

Sorry me again. I just realised that the top is fitted so it almost certainly had darts which need to go in before you start on seams

I don't know if this helps at all. She doesn't detail the process but shows, and talks about, the finished result. Fast forward to 10:40.

I can't help her at all...I can just about do a hem and sewing a button on 😫

If you post the instructions people will be able to help interpret them. They aren't always easy and there is a bit of a knack to them.

Thank you...I'll post them when I get home x

Is it lined?

I suspect it is. This might be how you do it.

Sew shoulder seams on lining and dress
Sew armholes of lining and dress together but not the side seams.
Sew neck lining and bodice together.
Turn it all inside out via open side seams.
The sides will be unstitched raw edges.
place right sides together of these side seams.
Stitch lining,across armhole and bodice together.

just realised someone else posted a YouTube vid. This is always my go-to when i don't understand a pattern, there is usually someone else who has worked it out. Then it is a matter of finding a vlogger you don'T hate watching.

Good luck!

ETA: i expect the top part is "bagged out"? that can seem counter intuitive the first time you do it

Hi 👋
Sorry its taken me so long to take the photos of the pattern..
We are really struggling to understand it.
The top collar?
The way ot drapes...everything
Skirt is ok, its the shorter (robe A) version with no pockets
Help!

More...

More...

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow
Not lined, no

@SirBasil
We've watched that video a couple of times, but its not that clear how she made the top part

So you have to sew the top bit to reinforce it, which just means sew a line along the wiggly bit about 1cm in and in line with the edge of the fabric.
Then make the pleat by putting the two bits with the spots on together on the inside of the fabric and then ironing it towards the head hole bit.

That should get you to the end of instruction. 2

Have you got some spare fabric, an old sheet or something, she can practice with.

Sometimes the only way to work it out it to just do it and follow each step exactly even if you think you don't understand it.

Shes made a mock up with sime old fabric we had on the loft (probably not the best fabric, but its all we had..)
The skirt is fine...ita just 4 x panels but the top/collar at the back is SO confusing...
Even the lady at the local haberdashers had no clue 😬

Can I ask...
Is it best to do fit checks as two separate pieces (skirt and top) or put the zip in then alter if necessary by the side seams?

How far through the instructions for the top have you got?

I think we may have figured it out...😬
It's not "very easy" <side eyes vogue patterns> 👀
Dd is just putting in the zip and hook and eyes...
If she needs to alter it it'll be altered at the side seams I'm assuming?
The finished article (in the video posted) looks a bit unfinished to me edge wise?
Any advice on how to put on the bias binding in the arm holes? 😫

Thank you for asking @Geneticsbunny 💐