199 Days To Go - Bridesmaid Dress #1

Bridesmaid Dress Construction #1

This weekend, I began the process of cutting out the pattern for one of my bridesmaid's dresses. 

How exciting it is to begin this project!!! 

After laying out all of the pieces, I slowly laid them on the fabric, and did a minimal cutout around the patterns. 

 Cutting out the patterns always takes the longest in this process, and with these dresses, I had to be extra careful because I'm not sewing for myself, but for my sisters. 

I used a water soluble ink that fades after 24 hours.

Thank goodness for razor sharp rotary cutters!

 After cutting all of the pieces out, I double checked to make sure the cutting process was done.

 Sewing the Bodice 

I hope this turns out correctly! I sewed the darts exactly like the pattern. 

Usually, I can wing it a little because I can put it on and adjust it on myself. With these dresses, that is not a possibility, and once I put the dresses together, alterations will need to be minimal!

 I pinned the waistband to the bodice. 

 Because I do not have a serger, below is how I adjust accordingly. 

I sew a double straight line with the zig zag middle for a few reasons:

1.) It helps it to not frey.

2.) The left straight line keeps the pattern from undoing itself in normal wear/ tear.

3.) The right line gives me a 1/4 inch guide to follow.

 Once together, I ironed it all down, and made sure to pull the bodice from the waistband.

I did this so the fabric folded at the seam instead of before it.

 Skirt Gathering

To gather the skirt, I sewed two straight stitches. 

One was 1/4 inch from the edge, and the other was 3/8 inch from the edge. 

Both had the maximum setting of stitch length on my machine: 5

 I pulled one of the threads from the top, a little at a time, then moved the gathers down, 

as I slowly pulled and gathered. 

 When I do this, I always gather way more than necessary, 

so that I can loosen it to fit the waistband pattern. 

Then I pin to the waistband, and sew three stitches (two straight, one zig zag).

 What the waistband looks like after attaching the skirt, waistband, and bodice.

 Here is the front of the dress, after ironing the gathers down, and smoothing it out!

 I did the same for the back pieces, 

and then realized I forgot to purchase the zipper...

 I'm so excited at how smoothly dress #1 is coming along. 

Still a few more things to do before it is completed, 

but at 199 days until the wedding, I think I'm on a roll. :-)

Update: 197 days until the wedding:

Bridesmaid Dress #1 is "Done"!!!

Other than sewing in the interfacing, adjusting, and final fitting for one of my beautiful bridesmaids and beloved sisters. 

Let me know what you think!