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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
*HAB*
I'm thinking about trying to sew myself some new dresses. I just can't find the fit and style that I want in stores. But, my sewing skills are limited to children's stuff and crafts. I've never sewn clothing for myself like this.
Can you recommend some resources to help me? Simple patterns to try? Also, is there some essential equipment for sewing adult dresses that would be necessary outside of the normal stuff?
(In terms of patterns, I'm looking for something that I can make longer and that has sleeves.)
Re: *HAB*
Colette patterns is a good resource. Personally, I find their patterns a pain in the ass to cut out. But once you get that part done, I hear they come together well. I have like five of them but have yet to sew one. I'm really pretty sad that way. She has a book but you'll have to try to find it in a store. They're pretty much sold out online everywhere since even Amazon can't get their hands on a copy and send it to me.
http://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/colette-sewing-handbook
Have you sewn clothes for your kids? Because there isn't much different between that and sewing for adults.
You should also try Burda Style. They also have a book which would be really useful. I'm about to order it for myself. But their site has downloadable patterns that you tape together and go to town with. I see plenty of options for longer sleeves, longer hemlines, etc.
http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns
As for help, both burda and colette patterns have a fairly active online community. The latter has a whole host of easy to follow tutorials for working with their patterns that you can apply to other patterns as well. You can also use the sleeve pieces from one pattern on other dresses.
Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing and Casey's Elegant Musings are both really good, helpful blogs for home sewists. If you search either of their blogs, you'll also find tutorials.
Since you're looking for modest dresses that accomodate breastfeeding, I'll also suggest Sensibility patterns. The regency patterns in particular accomodate nursing and might be what you're looking for to wear to church. Her directions are also quite detailed and she'll personally answer questions and help out if you get stuck.
http://sensibility.com/category/patterns/regency-era/
I think it's pretty much the same stuff as far as equipment and such. I'll have to think.
Click me, click me!
Thanks so much! I would love to sew some shirt dresses that unbutton for nursing. I can't find any that cover my knees or that aren't too tight on the bust. Dresses are such a pain when you're nursing, aren't they?!
I guess I am worried about getting it to fight right on me. With the kids, I can try the stuff I sew on them, and pin and hem it myself. I'm not sure how I would do that for myself. Maybe I'm just overthinking this.
Thanks again!!
I'm not that faboo in the fitting department, tbh but some of the biggest fit issues are pretty easy to adjust.
It sounds like one of the first things you'll be learning to do is a full bust adjustment. You'll want to choose your pattern size by what's called your upper bust measurement (basically, just below armpit level, before you get to the sisters) then you'll follow a tutorial for how to enlarge that pattern to accomodate your chest size. If you like, when you find a pattern you want to use, page me and I'll find you a tutorial that works for the style of the dress.
Since you'll be doing that, you'll need Swedish tracing paper, masking tape, a mark b gone fabric pen, a ruler, and a regular marker. www.clotilde.com is where I get my swedish tracing paper. What's awesome about that stuff is you can actually sew with it, try it on, and then go from there without ripping it the way you would if you did so with standard pattern paper.
As for the length, just take note of the finished measurements and compare them to a garment you own that you like the length of.
Click me, click me!
Thanks so much! I'll definitely ask for your help when I get to that point. I have some other projects I need to finish first - the boys' Easter ties, my Easter headcovering, and some new diapers for Gracie. My plan was to make my own Easter dress this year, but I'm the queen of procrastinating and there is no way I can do it now.
Gracie's church dedication is on Mother's Day, so maybe I can shoot to finish my dress by then.
Click me, click me!
Awesome. That's good to know.