Wyndie Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I am trying to determine if I can help my friend make her dress. I am not a very experiences seamstress at all. All of the dresses I have made were Simplicity easy patterns. ;) Here is the dress pattern she wants to make. As you can see it's just beautiful. It's also complicated in the fact that it is multi-layered. What I mean by that is that the dress has a lining and the coat has a lining. I have never worked with linings or layers before. If you are experienced in this area, would you have tackled this when you were still new to sewing? She needs it in about 3ish weeks... that alone may keep me from being able to help her but I want to try... IF it's practical. I am willing to tell her to take it to a professional if you with experience think this would be crazy to try. I don't want her to buy yards and yards of expensive fabric and us mess it up, kwim? I was thinking we would just tackle the dress first and leave the coat for another time. I honestly can't get both done in the time frame allowed. Thank you for any thoughts on this! :) Oh, and she is not paying me and is aware that I am not a professional. She just wants me to help her and we're good enough friends that we will not hate each other when it's over. ;) I just want to do right by her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) Check here on patternreview.com to read reviews from others who have tried this pattern. It should give you an idea of where you may find pitfalls, what kinds of fitting/checking to do before beginning, etc. If your friend's body type is close to what the patterns are drafted for (e.g. B-cup), then it will be easier than if not (e.g. petite DD-cup). If the occasion is critical (wedding) vs. not (costume), that would factor in as well. And if your friend is a perfectionist, vs. if she is easy-going, that's something to consider. ETA: Bust fit is critical in this dress. Be prepared to make a muslin, and to treat it as a learning experience, fitting-wise. Do not skip the muslin, at least for the top of the dress. Edited November 12, 2011 by askPauline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 If you are very new at sewing, no. If you are able to sit and visualise the directions before doing it and understand directions well, then yes...if you have the time also to put into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndie Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 Check here on patternreview.com to read reviews from others who have tried this pattern. It should give you an idea of where you may find pitfalls, what kinds of fitting/checking to do before beginning, etc. If your friend's body type is close to what the patterns are drafted for (e.g. B-cup), then it will be easier than if not (e.g. petite DD-cup). If the occasion is critical (wedding) vs. not (costume), that would factor in as well. And if your friend is a perfectionist, vs. if she is easy-going, that's something to consider. ETA: Bust fit is critical in this dress. Be prepared to make a muslin, and to treat it as a learning experience, fitting-wise. Do not skip the muslin, at least for the top of the dress. Oh thank you for the review link. I'm sure this will be very helpful. I don't know what a muslin is. Is there a website you would recommend where I could look at what that is and how to do it? I'm sure I could google but I'd rather go somewhere others recommend. She is a very easy-going homeschooling Senior. :) It is for her drama group. In addition to using it for drama, she will probably use it for her Princess business she started this year. So there is some pressure that it be good, but it doesn't have to be perfect. If you are very new at sewing, no. If you are able to sit and visualise the directions before doing it and understand directions well, then yes...if you have the time also to put into it. Thank you for this. I have been studying the pattern and think I am doing well with this. :) I don't know how much time I will have to put into it. I cannot imagine how long it will take. We do not get busy around holidays b/c we have no family here so the holiday doesn't factor into my time, but homeschooling 3 does. My husband is currently unemployed; he may have to chip in with housework for this to get done in time. ;) Thank you for your input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I don't know what a muslin is. Is there a website you would recommend where I could look at what that is and how to do it? I'm sure I could google but I'd rather go somewhere others recommend. I'm not Pauline, but a muslin is a mock-up of the garment using other material. It can be actual muslin, or any inexpensive material. Some people even use old sheets or thrift shop sheets. That way you find out where changes need to be made without the possibility of ruining the material you bought for the garment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndie Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 I'm not Pauline, but a muslin is a mock-up of the garment using other material. It can be actual muslin, or any inexpensive material. Some people even use old sheets or thrift shop sheets. That way you find out where changes need to be made without the possibility of ruining the material you bought for the garment. Ah, that makes sense. Thank you! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 If I was a new sewer -no I wouldn't. The pattern design itself is not too difficult - it's the fact that those commercial patterns are always so way off in sizing that would turn me off. You will definately need to make a muslin because you will probably find meausrements and sizing to be way off. You will need to know how to adjust the fit and sizing pretty well if you want to try and help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndie Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 If I was a new sewer -no I wouldn't. The pattern design itself is not too difficult - it's the fact that those commercial patterns are always so way off in sizing that would turn me off. You will definately need to make a muslin because you will probably find meausrements and sizing to be way off. You will need to know how to adjust the fit and sizing pretty well if you want to try and help. Thank you. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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