This dress is such a lovely surprise! My plan was for a maxi dress which would be comfy to wear to work (so many of my skirts don't fit me any more and I still have 4 months to go!). Instead of buying another pattern I thought I would use the
Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank pattern. I raised the neckline slightly (next time I'll raise it more) and then just extended down from the waist in an A shape making a front and back pattern piece, each 38cm wide at the bottom (the only reason for this figure was that this was the maximum width of the fabric). The problems started when I left the cut fabric sitting over a chair for weeks before I got round to sewing it up - it had stretched quite a lot! I really thought that was it, game over, and left the dress for a week annoyed at myself for messing it up.
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| One very stretched maxi dress |
However a while later I started thinking of how I could fix it so tried it on again
inside out, pinned it in quite substantially at the waist and hips, and
marked a new hemline. Voila - a maxi dress that fitted! Then I followed
the
advice I got on the Kimono t-shirt from
The Toile and Trouble and cut the neckline band 30% shorter
than the neckline and stretched it into place. I didn't stretch it quite
enough at the start so ended up really having to stretch at the end
which resulted in some wonky tops stitching. The neckline sits so much better than on my Kimono t-shirt so I do think cutting the neckband piece shorter worked. I used a twin needle on
the neckline, arm holes (which I just folded under), and hem and used a
zigzag stitch with a jersey needle for the rest.
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| A success! |
Details:
Pattern - Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank - already bought
and well used so no cost for this make. The alterations were really
straightforward to do, just lengthening it and widening it out to the
bottom width of 76cm.
Fabric - £3 a metre from Saeeds fabric shop in Walthamstow and I only needed 2 metres for this (with some left over).
Thread - in stash
All in this cost me £6! I'll definitely be making this again but raising the neckline slightly to make it more work suitable. It's so comfy and perfect for my expanding tum!
This color is very flattering on you. I have a similar jersey that I need to sew soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Milena! It was quite a thick jersey compared to ones I'd used before and I found the thicker jersey a bit easier to sew with as it didn't slip around so much and just generally behaved a bit better under the needle.
DeleteIt is really pretty on you, nice save!! I like it with the belt, very cute :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly, I was so pleased I could save it! the belt is stretchy - definitely need to get myself some more like that!
DeleteThis looks beautiful on you! And I hadn't heard the 30% ratio with jersey neckbands, good to know!
ReplyDeleteThanks Morgan! I could have done with with a smaller ration and I think it would still have worked. Such a big ratio might not work so well depending on the fabric, this was really stretchy (as I found out when I left it hanging over a back of a chair!) so it worked fine.
DeleteWhat a great idea! It looks great on you! I might have to try this!
ReplyDeletethanks Fiona! it's nice to feel I've gained the confidence to adapt patterns as I would have been too scared to do this when I started out. You should definitely give it a try, I'd love to see!
DeleteLove this colour on you and with the belt on the perfect way to show off your tummy! Great save!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirsty! I just inadvertently bought another 2 metres of jersey of a really similar colour (the perils of buying online) so it will be popping up again soon!
DeleteWhat a beautiful dress, and such a great colour choice! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen! The first photo shows the colour better I think, the sun seems to have made it look much brighter pink rather than the purpley pink it really is. That Saeed's shop in Walthamstow is so good for jersey!
DeleteLove it Kathryn, you really suit that colour!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hazel! I just bought more of a jersey fabric in pretty much the same colour by mistake so there will be more of it to come!
DeleteLove this color and good for you to not give up on it! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Margo, yes I'm glad I didn't admit defeat!
DeleteLooks great on you, so glad you managed to get it to fit. I never thought that jersey fabric could stretch just from hanging!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erin! I know, I think maybe it's a particularly stretchy jersey. Either that or I stretched it terribly when I was sewing it up.
DeleteGorgeous colour and it looks absolutely beautiful on you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolyn! I've just been gobsmacked by your amazing re-fashioned dress this morning - so clever!
DeleteThat is a lovely dress! It looks great with a belt, and what a great color on you. :) Great job saving the dress!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becca! it's great learning how to sew with knits and gaining a bit more confidence in doing so. You sew with knits a lot don't you - any important tips you've learned along the way that might not be obvious to a beginner?
DeleteGreat dress, the best tutorial I've found for stretch neckbands is this one: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8413/how-to-sew-a-classic-t-shirt-neckband
ReplyDeleteNever fails! Thanks for your comment about my bracelet. I checked out your bloglovin too, you have found some great blogs. :)
Hi Zoe, thanks for commenting. That tutorial looks really clear, I'll need to remember that for next time. Glad you found some other blogs to read from my feed - there are so many great ones out there!
DeleteThis looks amazing! Great use of the tiny pocket tank pattern, we love getting value for money. The colour really suits you too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! I'm going to draw the pattern out again properly on tissue paper as I used baking parchment/greaseproof paper and the sellotape to keep all the different pieces together has come off so I don't think it will last long - and this is a pattern I definitely want to make again!
DeleteGreat dress! I often have trouble with stretching and then topstitching nicely.. I'm sure it won't be too noticeable on the finished dress. It looks great with the belt and the colour is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim! Yes, attaching bands to jersey is definitely a skill to master! Thankfully sewing up jersey is so quick that at least it's only one small part of the process that's tricky!
DeleteThis is beautiful! I love the idea of using the tiny pocket tank pattern as a dress - it's the perfect summer frock! And that fabric is just beautiful. What a great tip about making the neckline band shorter. I'll definitely have to try that out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kacie! This pattern really works as a maxi-dress and I can't wait to try it as a shorter dress when I get my sewing machine unpacked and back in use. The neckline band tip did seem to work out really well.
DeleteHello Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteI return after a long absence. I find it interesting that making clothes, knitting, or some variation thereof is currently very trendy both in the UK and in the US. More liberal metropolitan areas are the epicenter of this movement. In Washington, DC, where I've been living for five years, I see it all the time.
My girlfriend has a blog similar to yours where she shares patterns with her audience. I've always been curious to know how trends begin and end. I bet this sort of thing will never go away.
Best to you.
Hi Kevin,
DeleteNice to hear from you! Sewing/knitting/crafting in general is definitely very popular at the moment but like you say they've never really gone away.
I'm glad it turned out well in the end. The colour looks great on you too!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Almost 2 months on from posting this though I can confirm my suspicions that the fabric is stretching - it's definitely getting longer. A lesson to me to always check the stretch content and direction of jersey fabric!
DeleteHi Kathryn, I've been having terrible trouble leaving comments! I meant to say when you posted this how much I like the dress. Hope you are well . Jacq x
ReplyDeleteHi Jacq! Have you just been having trouble posting a comment here, or trouble posting comments in general? Thanks for your compliment, I'm really enjoying sewing with jersey!
DeleteSadly trouble posting everywhere! It's worse for Wordpress blogs (apparently this is a common issue for Blogger) but the weird thing is if I link to a post via Bloglovin (but only on the iPad!) I have all sorts of issues. I'm sure there's a very reasonable technical explanation.. Trouble is I think I've commented and then realise I haven't! :)
Deleteoh how annoying! I've noticed a few people mentioning recently they've been having trouble commenting on blogs. I use Disqus to comment on Wordpress blogs which does seem to work but it did mean signing up for yet another account!
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