Any dressmakers here? Need some inspiration

[SunnyL]

Actually this is open to anyone - not just sewers.

I like to make dresses and it keeps me occupied in the evenings when DH is at work and I'm tied to the house by sleeping DD.

Normally I make dresses for specific occasions to. So far this year I've had 3 weddings and a royal function that have kept me occupied. Now I've got nothing on the social calendar that needs a dress.

So what should I make next?

What are you sewing at the moment?

For non-sewers what is the best dress you've bought this summer that is fairly classic and can be worn again in future?

That patten in spotted fabric is lovely.
You are tempting me to dust down my ancient machine and get it to do more than mending things.

dress making is my new obsession! so glad to find this thread.
currently working my way through the new Tilly and the buttons book ' Love at first stitch'. Made the scarf and pj bottoms and nearly finished the Delphine skirt in red cotton with big white polka dot on (cheap fabric from ikea).
liking that Boden dress pattern!

Mumelie I'm pretty new to sewing too. My MIL introduced me to dress making 3 years ago and I've become a little obsessed.

The fabric came today for my new - its really lovely and soft. Looking forward to getting started now.

Where did you get your polka-dot fabric and are the dots properly large? I have been pondering a pencil skirt with large spots, a bit like one I saw on the Banana Republic website (sold out in my size).

My Thurlow trouser pattern from Sewaholic arrived, a long term ambition is to make trousers that actually fit my behind. Now to think about what fabric to use. I'm also waiting for a couple of Stylearc patterns, has anyone else here used them? They do quite a few "get the look" hotos where they show a celeb and then suggest which of their patterns you could use to get the same outfit.

Mumelie, the Tilly Coco pattern is very good if you fancy sewing with knitted fabric. I'm wearing a navy funnel neck version today.

Oh thanks - the coco one was my next plan this weekend. Just need fabric!

The large polka fabric is from Ikea about £4/m - a thick cotton almost canvas like. The Red is quite rusty - also came in black. Can't see on their website to link to though.

Cardi mine has quite small polkadots - 7mm. Its from this ebay seller www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321056868225?var=510096997090&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I'm intrigued by this Tilly book - does it include the patterns? Or does it tell you how to draft them?

Cardi - thanks for giving links to new sites with patterns. Of course my bank manager might not thank you....

I thought it was a very simple book to follow Sunny. It includes patterns but you'll need to trace some bits out (I traced all of it onto baking paper). here

Mumelie that book is on amazon for £10 - thats amazing value for money since its got 4 patterns in it. I'm just not sure the dress and skirt patterns would suit my shape. She's such a petite little thing I'd probably look like a big heffalump in those outfits

I love this thread! DH bought me a sewing machine for our anniversary/my birthday and I really want a new project

Don't suppose any of you live in Lancashire do you?! Fallen in love with a wedding dress (thread on style and beauty) but have been recommended to have it made as theres a few things I'd want changing (and it costs $4800 too!)

Evil look up thread mumofsnotbags is a dress maker from the north west - wouldn't that be lovely if she could help you

oh and MrsGSR my sewing machine will probably be cited in any divorce proceedings when my DH finally gets fed up of all my 'projects'

I've stalled on making this wrap dress. Am working out my own pattern for a very simple tunic dress, something like this but with pockets.

I've just finished making the Colette patterns Laurel dress and it's absolutely gorgeous .

Gaaaaarrg. The pattern I bought won't arrive til next week apparently. I neeeeeed to start something before that or I'll get bored.

Has anyone ever used the free Burda patterns? There's a fun looking floral lace blouse I could do with scraps I've got.

Hi evil Ive just emailed you back see your in Lancashire so not too far away from me.

If anyone is really serious about pattern drafting can i recommend Winifred Aldrich flat pattern cutting. Its available at morplan, but its a life saver, a brilliant starting point. You use your own measurements to make your own "blocks" - cardboard cuts of basic pattern shapes, so basic skirt, basic top etc.

From these it will explain how to alter the shape to any pattern you desire, so you can start to make your own patterns. We were told to buy this at uni and to be honest i only started using it in my 3rd year but now im addicted and much prefer to make my own patterns, for people. Also a pattern master shape tool is fab and goes hand in hand with this book making it so simple to draft your own patterns.

The fabric shop i couldnt think of is actually called Fabric world - god knows why i couldnt remember something so simple!!. If your in or visiting Liverpool have a street of fabric shops on Stafford street, theres abakhan on 2 floors, roll ends in the basket are so cheap i always head there first as everything is just weighed. upstairs are all the rolls and trimmings. downt he street theres another one, cant remember what its called but it has all designer fabrics, I made some beautiful sequinned bodice Bridesmaids dresses recently, and just bought some Vintage mint green lace this week to do some other gowns. across the road theres also a £3.95 place, where everything is, yep you guessed it £3.95 a metre, mostly upholstery and cushion type fabric but you can get a bargain. For trimmings try Jaycotts, they have half price sales now and then so i stock up on basics like zips, cottons etc but you cant beat ebay or etsy for trimmings!

Think ive bored everyone anyway with fabric suppliers, congrats if your still awake!

And just because i get far too excited when i start talking patterns and dressmaking...anyone who is struggling to work out how to do a pattern, have a look on pinterest. There are so many pattern pins on there that show the dress made up and the layout of the pattern, so all you have to do really is make it to your own size.

Promise i'll shut up now though!

I've used one Burda download which was for a child's dirndl. Apart from the tedious taping of the pieces together it was fine. Have you looked at the Colette Sorbetto for a free easy top?

I tried to post earlier but the computer ate it; for fans of the Boden Ravello top, there are a couple of patterns which are very similar and for the cost of the Boden version you can get some very nice fabric:
Burda
Simplicity

Mumofsnotbags do you think that the book is clear enough for a layperson to understand? I can cope with technical drawings and thinking in 3d, so in theory it should be possible to draft my own patterns. The class I took last year was great but the teacher there only teaches sewing and not pattern drafting.

Does anyone here use sewing.patternreview? It's another place where you can see what people have done with the patterns.

I've made about 100 washi dresses from here:
www.made-by-rae.com/patterns/
as they can look really different in different fabrics. Very easy and clear fabric and instructions.

Cardi - Yes I think so. If you understand the use of blocks in pattern drafting then it is very easy to adapt them. The book gives you the instructions for every step along the way. with pictures of how the altered pattern should look too.

Ladies I've already learnt so much from you. Please keep posting!

I've seen that sorbetto top so many times but hadn't really looked at it. It might just be the perfect in-between project though. I'll have to change the sleeves as I really don't suit sleeveless - might put some ruffled cap sleeves or something. Which fabric to use though?

That book is going on my Christmas list though!

Thanks Mumof I shall put it on my wish list. Maybe the children's one too.
SunnyL if you google you can find a sorbetto top sleeve pattern. I like that fabric, especially the first one.

Now, I've just seen a small photo of Victoria Beckham at the Wimbledon men's final and am wondering how difficult it would be to recreate the diagonal stripes across the skirt in the dress she is wearing. Silly idea?

that Victoria Beckham dress is lovely. I doubt the skirt would be that hard to replicate - seems a simple skirt with pleats. Finding fabric with a good pattern would be the biggest challenge - or would you look at joining 3 different fabrics to get the colours?

I made a simple top at the weekend. It's a bit too simple on its own but I've ordered a lace collar off eBay to finish it off. Of course it's coming from China so will be a while before it arrives

I would join fabrics, actually I can't work out what exactly she has done as there appear to be more seam lines than just those next to the stripes, but it is had to see if they are there for shaping or just a design feature. I'd also change the colours so that the stripes were blue or sea green. More of an inspired by... rather than a complete knock-off.

So many ideas, so little time.