Today we have Justine with us. Justine came to my attention because she was posting links at a lot of the same linky parties I was, and I kept clicking on her projects. Then she started sewing along with Project Run and play. I love her use of vintage patterns, and today’s project definitely has a vintage feel to it.
Hi I’m Justine and thank you Melissa for having me guest post at Melly Sews!
I’m a stay at home mother of four, who moved out to the country from Los Angeles with my family to live a slower life. I started sewing and making things to keep busy and started my blog Sew Country Chick almost two years ago.
Since starting the blog, I have started doing freelance costume and fashion design locally. Blogging can open new doors for you!
My tutorial for you today is for the
Easy And Chic Maxidress
Isn’t it funny how when the hot weather comes around we all want to cover ourselves up with maxi dresses? They feel so floaty and comfy to wear on a hot day!
The pattern for this dress is taken from the chest measurement and it consists of 6 rectangles.
1 bodice piece
1 skirt piece
4 strap pieces.
You will be making some elastic casings , some gathering , a few straight lines, and that is it.
Maxidress tutorial
materials:
1 .5 to 2 yards of fabric
1/2 yard cotton knit for lining (optional)
3 yard 1/4 inch elastic
matching thread
I have the instructions printed on the photos but I will also place them below a few photos which are hard to read.
Measure the chest to determine the width of the bodice.
It will be the chest measurement x 1.5
Determine the length of the bodice piece.
For a developed bust measure from the top of the bust where you want the dress to be, up and over the bust to where you want the bottom of the band to be.
Obviously this will be more straightforward for children!
Add 1/2 inch seam allowances.
Cut out your skirt piece.
The width will be twice the chest measurement If the chest measurement is less than 30 inches you can fit the skirt onto one piece if your fabric is 60 inches wide.
If not, you will have to make two skirt pieces.
Measure from the bottom of where the bodice piece will be to the floor and add a few inches for a hem. if you are making this for a child you can add several inches so you can let the hem out as your child grows.
Sew up the side seam and gather the top part to match the width of the bodice.
(A note about gathering.)
I like to sew 3 parallel lines closely spaced in my seam allowance. it gives a more professional and evenly spaced gather.
Attach the lining under the skirt and overlap the bodice on top and pin together.
Sew across all three layers on the first line you sewed for the elastic channels.
Make sure to space your straps evenly and not tto wide because they will slip off the shoulders.
I tried to be brief in my tutorial here, so if you have any questions or I may have left something out, feel free to e mail me at justine(at) sewcountrychick(dot)com or you can contact me at my blog or facebook.
Thanks again to Melly Sews!
Thanks Justine! While you’re looking around Justine’s blog, make sure to check out her Granny Chick Blouse
And her Flamenco Ruffled Tank
And don’t forget to come back tomorrow to see what’s in store from Susan of Living with Punks.
Justine of SewCountryChick
Thanks for having me Melissa. It’s been such a fun series!
Lynnette
This is exactly the look I think of when I think summer or maxi dress. It is absolutely lovely. I am not quite able to figure out the bodice part though. I’ve read this through many times now and am stuck. Just looking at pix I thought the bodice part was sewn with elasticized thread and I’m figuring out it’s got elastic woven through sewn channels but it just isn’t making sense to me. (When you say, “Sew the side that you didn’t draw on closed.” You lose me. I’m thinking this through: If I mark the fold at the top with a pin and open the panel, and with right sides together make a tube shape, and sew the raw edges of the unmarked part of the bodice rectangle together halfway down the panel -stopping when I get to the pin marking the fold- then continue the seam allowances that I just sewed but only pressing the remaining part of those just sewn seam allowances in place and refold in half in the same way it was I have a long tube with the “front” sewn up and the back –where the markings are– remains unsewn. OK, I think I’ve got it now! *30 minutes of “craft math” and sketches later* It clicked-I got it-the lightbulb went on!) I wouldn’t even post this now but my concern is I’ll come back in a year and have to think this all through again! or aybe this comment will be helpful for anyone else who thinks like me! !) Seems like you’ve got a cool concept for fitting the bodice that could be useful for many projects. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wendy Boyd
The picture looks as though the bottom of the bodice has a rolled hem edge. I don’t see that in the directions. Am I supposed to roll hem the bottom edge before I attach the bodice and shirt?