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?

Talking of Wimbledon inspiration - I've seen this dress worn by Pippa Middleton that I really like. I've been thinking of making a grey and white dress for a while but had been thinking polkadots. This is very crisp and has good lines though. Course it could only really be worn in summer.

www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2014/06/23/wimbledon-2014/gallery/1205166

I like that too. Well in theory you could replace the solid grey with grey and white polka dots. The bodice looks like it has two sets of darts - waist and bust and the darts never cross the lines between two colours. Do you have a pattern like this?
Both dresses are really only for summer wear, so you'll have to get sewing!

I've ended up going for the plain grey but with a navy contrast. I'm reckoning that I should be able to wear it with tights and black shoes in winter as well. I've got a sleeveless pattern that's similar but need to add a cap sleeve to it. There's a YouTube tutorial which suggests that won't be too hard.

You started your Homage to Posh Dress yet?

I do love me a Colette pattern. Made the Hazel dress and the bodice was lovely, but would like to make another with a circle or a-line skirt as the gathering just wasn't that flattering on my figure - especially not in the slightly stiff linen-y fabric I used.

I finished the Boden style dress. It looks lovely. I had a faff over the stupid lapped zip but I managed to make it look presentable I think. Really chuffed with the pattern fit though - going to make at least another dress from it.

Well done, can we have some pictures please?!?

Hopefully this photo works? I refuse to put a photo of myself on the Internet so you'll just have to imagine a person wearing it rather than my fetching grey maniken

That looks really good. Did you change the neckline? Yours looks round, it's more of a v on the pattern. Or is that just the photo? Good work, anyway!

That looks great SunnyL! How long did it take you?

Those of you who dressmake for a hobby... do you have a manikin/dress form to your size? I've just going with dressmaking (having sewn everything else first!) and wondering if it would be worth asking for one for a birthday & Christmas & birthday & ..... (!) gift?

Mumof is the Winifred Aldrich flat pattern cutting suitable for fairly new dressmakers? or would you recommend experience first? I've just made the Sew Liberated schoolhouse tunic and have found the bodice fits perfectly but the skirt is a size too big. I'm finding this problem with all patterns as i don't fit anything perfectly within the sizes and I'm wondering about finding some sort of course that would help me learn to grade patterns but also to make my own patterns.....

Love this thread! I'm relatively new to sewing, have done lots of bunting and similar bits, but only a few clothing items. I'm really fancying making a dress, I have Simplicity 2369 which I'd like to make at some point, but I really fancy making Simplicity 2884 - although I have no idea where / when I would wear it!

Also, my sewing machine is stupid and I just can't get the tension right. It pulls up loops of thread on the underside. I've spent literally hours of my very scarce sewing time trying to sort it out.

Daisy I got an adjustable maniken a year ago and it was brilliant for working out how to adjust patterns to fit me. I've got a short torso and appear to narrower shoulders than most standard patterns. It was particularly useful when I was making free for me maternity wear.

This was my first pattern I ever made. Its really simple and is essentially just 4 pieces. I've since returned to it and made a fab by hot pink linen summer dress with capped sleeves. http://www.simplicitynewlook.com/6123/#.U8LjYctwbqA

oh Mrspennyapple I had similar issues for a while. It was because I hadn't threaded the bobbin thread through an extra hoop in the bobbin.

I wish my problem was that easily solved, SunnyL :( It trundles along fine for absolutely ages, and then decides to start dicking about for no discernible reason. I've tried different needles, altering the foot pressure, all sorts of different threads.... it's just a cheap machine, that performs like a cheap machine. I knew I should have saved up for a Janome, but hey ho, I took the chance and it didn't pay off. I can normally produce something reasonable, as long as I don't attempt to use any delicate or unusual fabrics.

Luckily, I have a shit-hot overlocker, and have produced a couple of tops for DS that I'm really pleased with :)

an over locker?

Lidl had them last year and I'm hoping they'll come back and DH will be feeling flush and generous

Overlockers are great, I love mine, both for jersey and a neater finish on woven fabrics.

Sunny that dress looks great! I don't suppose that you have any tips for setting up a tailor's dummy? I ended up putting a dress on mine and asking DH if it looked the same as on me; his answer we that her bottom needed expanding.
Homage to Victoria (now that's something I never thought I would be doing) may have to wait as I have two flower girl dresses to make and have been busy with stuff like bean bags and bolster covers. Her dress was from the Cruise Collection, so I don't think it will be too outdated if I make it over the winter in readiness for next summer.
By the way, what is a Cruise collection? Something for people who are rich and leisured enough to spend the winter in the Caribbean?

Thanks Sunny I started looking at manikins last night to get an idea of price, showed DH who went "where would it live?" so i then replied "this is why I want a small shed studio in the garden - you know, like on 'George's amazing spaces..." The reply? "Oh, ok then" ??!!!!!! I'm now planning how to fit a shed studio into our tiny garden!

MrsPA I was going to suggest a new needle as that's usually my cause of looping thread but you've tried that Could you sell it on and then add to the money for a janome? Or even a secondhand Elna or Bernina - all good machines.

Daisychicken I totally misread that, thought you'd been looking at mankinis! (It's mannequin, btw )

I could attempt to sell it, but I'm on a few local FB buy & sell pages, and there are already a few on there that just aren't shifting. I had stern words with it last night and managed to get it a bit better, so perhaps I won't throw it in the sea just yet.

Oops but what an image to have.....

Similar to Sunny's dress, I've just made the Gather kits Mortmain dress in a raspberry colour fabric from
Fabric rehab. I'm really pleased with it!! :) Here's the back

mmmm burrito (!) I really like the chunky zip on the back of that dress. Also that's another new pattern company I didn't know about. Thanks!

I just measured myself and dialled the things on my mannequin ( ) until it was right. It does have a flat bum but then so do I. I don't use it as much now for fittings but it was really useful when I was getting to know how to adapt patterns to fit me.

:D at SunnyL

Lovely dress burrito, I like the fabric. I've also never heard of that company, will look them up.

I must confess I've only ever used Simplicity patterns, and I'm a bit scared to try other companies' patterns.

Oops, my didn't work.

Sorry to jump in, I'm a very, very a mature clothes maker, I can do very basic skirts and pj trousers.

I want to make a vets/tshirt to go with the pjs for Christmas.

Does anyone know of any really simple patterns?

The ones linked to here, the Sew easy ones, are they really that easy?

I've been relying on online pattern and fabric buying so have become addicted to perusing fabric rehab website for fabric and backstitch website for patterns and fabric. I've also made the date night dress (April Rhodes) and it is super easy. I've found the colette patterns lovely but suspect I need to master a "bust reduction " (on the pattern- not me !) before I can make a good fit.

Oh and the danamadeit website cos she sees cute kids stuff- and I want her house!

Titsalina jersey, or a woven fabric? For a woven fabric the Sorbetto looks pretty easy and would probably make a comfortable pyjama top. For t-shirts, I've used two different Ottobre patterns, but I think most pattern companies do a simple t-shirt.