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?

What's your favourite thing you've ever made?

Mine is a wool cream and gold cape I made my mum last christmas mccallpattern.mccall.com/m5913-products-10395.php?page_id=994

I'd meant to make it for myself but was running out of time to finish my mum's christmas present so gave it to her instead. I'm always chuffed when I see her wear it but also very

A summer dress which is now old enough to vote, drive a car and buy itself a drink. I wore it yesterday, but I will sadly admit that it is on its way out. The fabric (a batik over a print) has faded and is getting dangerously thin. The princess seams had to be redone about four times until I was happy with the fit and then it still looked like a lampshade until I hacked 6 inches off the skirt. If I had know that I would still be wearing it so many years later, I think I might have tried to do a better job of the zip.

Tits - a fab, free and very easy tshirt pattern is the kimono T by Maria Denmark. You have to subscribe to her newsletter to get the pattern, but it's lovely, comfy and easy, not to mention super quick.

eek - I'm pregnant! Anyone come across any good maternity patterns? tops and dresses specifically....
Especially special occasion dresses

Congrats Eatscakes!

Finally I feel like I can be useful to someone! I used a few free maternity tutorials when I was pregnant last year. Here are a few helpful links

sewlikemymom.com/diy-maternity-clothes/

This twist top I made into a maxi dress for my friends wedding. It was quite easy to convert to a maternity dress as well
rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/2006/05/twist_top_with_.html

This is another nursing dress but has space for tummy too
sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-knit-wrap-dress-for-nursing-mamas/2012/02/22/

I also paid for this pattern - it made a nice loose wrap dress that grew with me. butterick.mccall.com/b5860-products-44678.php?page_id=147

Thank you. I really like that wrap dress. Not done any Jersey fabrics yet but I have a shiny new overlocker so I'm ready for it. What Jersey fabric would look special occasion-y?

Dunno really. Jersey doesn't really tend to be that dressy a Fabric. I went for a red and white stripey fabric but it was definitely day wear. The few dresses I bought were block colour dresses so I could wear different accessories. hope that helps

Congratulations! I can't find the tutorial I used for converting a normal top pattern for maternity wear, but it involved swinging the side seams out below the bustline and curving the bottom seam. It worked quite well although I should have used a size bigger than usual because I had forgotten that it's not just the tummy that grows.

Found it: rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/2006/04/full_tummy_adju.html

Is anyone still here?

I need some inspiration again. Anything I make now needs to be suitable for Autumn/Winter. What colours, fabrics, styles are you working on now? Every time I look at fabric I get a brain block because all I want to wear at the moment are pretty summer dresses.

Yet again my social life has shrunk to nothing so it needs to be suitable for daytime rather than nighttime.

Still sewing here but recent creations have been for other people. Another liberty lawn top for a friend who kept admiring mine. Since we are about the same size it was quite quick. I also made a second wrap dress from Vogue 8379 as my sister liked mine and again we are more or less the same size. The third dress is a sailor dress for dd2 from a 50s pattern. Remind me again why I thought it was a good idea to put white cuffs on a dress for a toddler?

I've just realised that that is three repeats of items I have already made, must be a record.

My style arc and sewaholic patterns arrived, so I will start on them when we are back from holiday. The sewing machine won't fit in the car :(.

Still sewing here too, still haven't made a dress though. I've been churning out sun hats for friends' DCs. I have made eight hats this summer. No more hats. NO MORE, I tell you!

Can anyone recommend somewhere online to get modern floral fabric from for dressmaking?

Cardi what is a Liberty lawn top? Do you have a link?

I'm trying to not buy fabric for a while so have been making little tops and dresses for DD with my scraps. last night I made her a black and pink floral cord tunic dress. That's sounds quite weird but it looks good!

I actually started a blog recently for . my sewing. No idea if anyone will read it but it's working as a useful diary to record when I've made mistakes or done something useful.

Inspired by Burrito's post i made a tea dress this week - finished it with a crochet collar. (will try and get a photo later).
I now have that Gather pattern so will have a go at that one next - am looking forward to trying the feature zip.

Made DS skull PJ bottoms this morning .

Here is my dress.

Looks great kitkat, the collar is a nice touch.

Ooh was on my phone so hadn't realised we were sharing photos. Here's DDs latest dress. It's one to grow into and will be good for autumn winter

Thanks Mrs Pennyapple. SunnyL - that is very cute, she looks lovely in it.

After looking for months I have finally found a dressmaking course near enough for me to go to - 2 hrs on a Tuesday evening - but for 20 weeks. Not sure I want to go for that long (also costs 180) but really want to learn a few new techniques so will have to mull it over.

I've just signed up for evening classes too. Our council runs adult evening classes. Its 40 quid for a 7 week course which is amazing value - fingers crossed it's worth it.

How about a full circle infinity dress? I have 2 of these in maxi and midi (knee) lengths. I wear them in a variety of ways depending on the situation, the shorter one I also wear as a skirt.

I have made a bandeau to go under them so that I could have more torso coverage if I wanted. Also bought a biggish metal ring to loop the ties through and create a feature.

There are many sewing plans on line for this style of dress.

I'm fixated with Tilly and the Buttons and her patterns. Have her coco and miette patterns from the website and her book. The patterns are so easy and can be customised in lots of ways, which is what I really like about her style.

I have 5 coco dresses and 2 tops and 2 miette skirts. I buy my material from eBay and have used Minera crafts as well which I think someone else mentioned. I only use eBay as haberdashers just don't seem to exist anymore. When I was a kid my mum was always in them buying material. I'm 32 and wish I could find more like there used to be, it's far more fun to make your own stuff.

40 for 7 weeks sounds excellent Sunny. Is that starting in September?

I've just seen that Tilly and the Buttons does the Lisette patterns as well - which is what I used for my dress above.
(her picture below).

Yep Kitkat it's that cheap. I paid up today and kept thinking they were going to realise their mistake and charge me more but that's actually the price.

All you people who like Tilly's patterns - what shape are you? I'm hourglass with a short torso (god i sound weird) and feel like I need clothes quite structured around the waist and bust. Tilly is such a petite model I'm struggling to work out what body shapes her patterns would suit.