Not only did I sew this dress myself, I designed it. Well, sort of anyway.
In the past I have made a dress from a pattern before, or tried to do a simple skirt by myself. What I really wanted to learn though, is to draw my own patterns from scratch. I would love to be able to design my own dresses. That’s why I decided to take sewing lessons. I started by measuring about every part of my body, and transforming that into a general dress pattern that fits my body perfectly. The idea is that once I would have that, I would be able to draw any dress from that basic pattern. I used the basic pattern to make the pattern for the dress above. It took me a long time to get there, but here is my first tailored dress. I actually finished this dress during the summer, but hadn’t gotten around to posting it yet. I kept the design quite simple, as it was my first trial. I am looking forward though to making more complex and quirky ones!
And yes. I did consider buying a different fabric than polka dots, but hey, they just kept yelling my name, so I really didn’t have a choice you guys.
What would your dream dress look like? I would love to hear!
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39 Comments
Dorien
November 19, 2012 at 22:01
Amazing that you can actually do that! One of my goals is to learn sewing but I can’t find lessons that would fit me (or time!).
Magical Day Dream
November 20, 2012 at 07:50
Too bad! If you would live in the neighbourhood I could help you with that.. I think there are many online tutorials and courses too though.. so maybe that’s a possibility too? Or someone you know; I learned most of what I can do from my mom when I was younger.
Marlen
November 19, 2012 at 22:25
you making/designing this dress is amazing! it’s so pretty and has a gorgeous 1950s flair. i love it :)
Magical Day Dream
November 20, 2012 at 07:51
Thanks! :) I love 1950s dresses, maybe I should make one even more like that!
Lexie
November 19, 2012 at 23:43
This is so cute. I love polka dots! And I find zippers sooo hard to sew onto garments, so congrats on doing a really great job with the zipper!
Magical Day Dream
November 20, 2012 at 07:52
Thats still really hard to me too. Little confession from me to you: I purposely put my hair over the top part of the zipper in the last picture, because actually it is a bit uneven. Whaha, still learning ;) ssst
sparklesness
November 20, 2012 at 00:04
that is a beautiful dress!
and one can never have too many polka dot dresses. they are perfect for nearly every occasion.
Magical Day Dream
November 20, 2012 at 07:52
I completely agree with you :D
Beckie
November 20, 2012 at 00:41
Hey I am of the mind that one can never have too many polka dots in one’s life, so the fact that you chose this fabric is a-ok by me ; ] And it turned out great! I like that it’s a fairly simple pattern–it fits the fabric nicely. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with!
Magical Day Dream
November 20, 2012 at 07:54
Very true! (it must be otherwise my wardrobe will be decreased way too much). I was thinking maybe I should make the different parts in different colours and fool a bit around with the pattern. We’ll see
Erica
November 20, 2012 at 01:29
Oh wow!! You are my hero. I’m dying to learn how to sew. In fact, I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas. You’ll have to give me some sewing tips… :)
Magical Day Dream
November 20, 2012 at 07:55
:D That would be the best present! My grandmother gifted her old sewing machine to me for my birthday. And just ask me anything. No guarantee I will know all the answers, but I can at least try :)
Anne Lien
November 20, 2012 at 10:11
Ah so cool you made it to perfectly fit you! It looks amazing =D
I also love to sew! I recently made a fitted jacket by adjusting an existing pattern but I love to actually make something from scratch like you did.. Need to set myself a new goal!
And btw the fabric is a very good choice ;)
Xx
Magical Day Dream
November 22, 2012 at 08:18
Yes I also like to adjust existing patterns. I also made a dress a while ago by just copying a dress I bought. So many options :)
Kristin
November 20, 2012 at 13:12
The polka dots are too cute! And go you for drafting your own pattern! Give me a pattern and I’m still clueless; making my own seems like a catastrophe. But your dress looks great!
Magical Day Dream
November 22, 2012 at 08:19
Well, you can learn anything. there are so many things that i wouldn’t have a clue how to do. But by simply trying you will get a long way
Dana
November 20, 2012 at 20:03
Wow that dress turned out great! That would be awesome to have custom fit dresses, I’m jealous! :)
Magical Day Dream
November 22, 2012 at 08:20
Thanks! Well, for the moment I just have one.. ;)
Raquel Casado
November 22, 2012 at 02:02
Wow! Beautiful dress! Thanks for your comment on my blog…Its so nice :)
http://doitnaturalnow.blogspot.com.es/
Magical Day Dream
November 22, 2012 at 08:20
Thanks :)
Miek
November 22, 2012 at 09:57
Oh WAUW, hij is echt suuuuper gaaf! Geweldig dat je dit zelf kan maken….. moet eerlijk toegeven, ben een tikkeltje jaloers op jouw naaikunsten ;D
Magical Day Dream
December 5, 2012 at 19:50
Haha dankje :) Maar niks om jaloers over te zijn, gewoon een kwestie van tijd in investeren ;)
Cravingforbarneys
November 22, 2012 at 20:57
Beautiful dress!! I think hats are impractical too!!
Magical Day Dream
December 5, 2012 at 19:51
Haha yeah but you do wear them!
Melanie
November 23, 2012 at 03:35
Wow! This is amazing, I am envious! Wish I could sew something this cute one day!
Magical Day Dream
December 5, 2012 at 19:52
You can! If you want. Just start small :)
Hena Tayeb
November 26, 2012 at 02:08
That is amazing.. I can’t even hem pants properly. I can’t wait to see the creations you come up with
Magical Day Dream
December 5, 2012 at 19:53
Yeah, but who needs to hem pants anyway ;) I will post if I make something new!
Mariana
November 27, 2012 at 09:41
Wow! Congrats!!
You’re amazing.
And your dress is so beautiful.
Magical Day Dream
December 5, 2012 at 19:53
Thank you :D
justicepirate.com
December 5, 2012 at 13:24
I adore this dress. Looks so pretty on you too! It is wonderful that you made this on your own!!! I’m impressed!
+Victoria+
Magical Day Dream
December 5, 2012 at 19:53
Thanks! I simply lope polka dots, I think they look good on anyone ;)
Bekuh Browning
December 6, 2012 at 03:43
I’m so impressed. What a great dress, and it’s perfectly suited to you.
Alex and Arthur
December 23, 2012 at 23:27
POLKA DOTS! You did such a fantastic job.
Magical Day Dream
December 28, 2012 at 13:25
@ Bekuh & Alex and Arthur: Thank you :)
goodbadandfab
March 12, 2013 at 06:51
What an amazing post! Love!
http://www.goodbadandfab.com
personal style and fashion musings of a LA fashion lawyer living life in the fab lane!
frankie bean
June 5, 2013 at 09:23
I would love your pattern, if you did one? I love this dress, and its the only nice pattern i’ve seen so far :)
Magical Day Dream
June 18, 2013 at 21:29
I made it myself. So I followed basic instructions for creating a ground pattern that fits your body by measuring everything en drawing. It takes a loooot of time. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are planning to sew a lot of dresses based on the ‘basic one’. Then I just decided to make it somewhat wide and drew the shoulders&neckline the way I wanted them. Hope that helps :)
Frances Bean Jardine
June 25, 2013 at 09:34
Yes it does, thank you :)