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Sewing: Couture Dress
13 kudoz

Couture Dress

Learn It

This project was made as part of a Craftsy course:
The Couture Dress »
Difficulty:

Category: Sewing

Type of item: Clothing

For: Plus-sized

Style: Retro / Vintage

Materials

Lace (Cotton, Nylon) for the bodice and sleeves; Linen/Cotton for the skirt and midriff

What was your inspiration?

I have seen a LOT of very textured garments this season and until I watched Susan's video course all the way through, didn't have enough courage to select such fabrics for myself. I haven't been this excited about making something for myself since I was young and still had a waist.

 

34 comments

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Sewing by water on craftsy.com
Sewing by water
Apr 27, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Love your fabric choice. I am thinking of taking this class when I finish projects of the other classes.
DPMERCER on craftsy.com
DPMERCER
Dec 04, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Before I sign up ... I'm curious. There was a time when I sewed everything that my children & I wore. From 5th grade until my late 30's. Then my husband became ill (he was the minister of the largest church in the area) my sewing stopped abruptly. I went to work & took care of him. He died at 49, I was 45. I had to move, & had additional responsiblities, so the thing I use to spend my lunch money ss a child on was shelved. My Elna assumed a place in my hall linen closet. Years went by, my children graduated from highschool 2 yrs apart. Both went to college & thank God were excellent students, but in the beginning of my sons' junior year he: caught a cold > bronchitis > pneumonia > viral pneumonia> > cardiomyopathy w congested heart failure secondary to the viral pneumonia. My son wasn't even 21 & needed a heart transplant. He had only 20% function of his heart. For 10 years we waited. He died waiting for a heart & by the he also needed a lung. Only 31 years old. I've gone into fabric stores & people are using 2 & 3 different types of sewing machines, for one item. I have an old Elna. I can't afford to purchase a new machine, can I return to sewing with a dinosaur machine? When I lost my son I went through depression (at the same time I cared for my son, I also cared for my Mother and she passed just a couple of years be before my son, well I gained 100lbs. Here I go again - Praise God I've lose 50+lbs. I am wearing depending on manufacture from a 18-22 dress. I'm now a apple shape, does that pattern look good on an apple &/or will it come in my size. I am delighted I will make a muslin & not destroy a lovely piece of fabric. Thanks & sorry for the caution but until I totally pay off my son's medical bills ... everything is about the money. I would really like to put on something nice for a change & I realize methods have changed. I pray I'm not too late to relearn how to sew; how to create! :-D Have a great week!
Nanna Val on craftsy.com
Nanna Val
Mar 30, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
WOW!!! Well it is never too late. I would think your machine is still good just give it a good clean maybe take it in for a service and you will be good to go.Good luck.
Davesmom on craftsy.com
Davesmom
Sep 22, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Have you up dates on your dress? I am interested to see how you are doing making this dress.
kiwestyle on craftsy.com
kiwestyle
Jun 26, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
is this a pattern you created yourself or did you purchase it somewhere? I love the style and really want to make something for myself but i heasitate because I am very plus size and dont want to look like im wearing a tent. I think this style would give me a better portion look until im able to loose the weight please let me know thanks LaDawn
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Jun 28, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
It's the Vogue pattern #V8648 that came with the couture class. I scanned the image from the view I planned to use and played in Photoshop - expanded the width, etc. I too am more plush than I used to be and so far, the muslin looks like I'll have to do some very basic adjustments to fit my frame better. I've been too busy with work to have time to sew as much as I would like, but the class has opened a whole new world for me to sew for myself with more confidence - that what I make for myself will ACTUALLY look flattering. I too HATE wearing either a tent or a dress that makes me feel like a sausage.
Carefree Mary on craftsy.com
Carefree Mary
Sep 06, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I love your planning -- how smart to scan this in and choose the fabrics. Way too organized! ;)
Janet Berry on craftsy.com
Janet Berry
Apr 22, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Hi Renee From one valley girl to another.. How are things going on your dress?
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Apr 29, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I FINALLY got a chance to work on the muslin yesterday. I had already cut everything out and traced it. Yesterday I thread traced all the pieces and sewed most them together. I found that the midriff didn't lay right, so I cut out new pieces early this morning. I haven't had a chance yet today to trace/thread trace/sew them together. So far, I really like how it's comging together.
Janet Berry on craftsy.com
Janet Berry
Apr 30, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Glad to hear you are on your way. I am almost done with another modified couture dress. I used a lot of what I learned but also took some short cuts that let me get a dress done in less then a month Look forward to seeing your progress..
LittlePink Kiwi on craftsy.com
LittlePink Kiwi
Apr 01, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I love your fabrics, the colour is beautiful and the lace pattern is so pretty. Wonderful idea to use different textures in the same colour. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished dress.
Janet Berry on craftsy.com
Janet Berry
Mar 30, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Thank you! Me and my coupons will have to give that Hancock's a shot. My "construction project" way beyond a dress, should be done next week. I just went cheap for my first run and used a cotton print . Thank goodness because that pattern did not have you get enough material. I was not able to match up a thing. Not to couture at all!
Janet Berry on craftsy.com
Janet Berry
Mar 29, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Hi Renee. When I saw your beautiful fabric I was surprised to see you live in Madera. I am in Clovis and can not imagine any of the local stores had this fabric. Did you order it or some shop I am missing?
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 29, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I found both at Hancock Fabrics on Blackstone in the Northgate Shopping Center. I was getting frustrated with fabric choices available at the other shops in the area and just wandered in there as a "last resort". I was pleasantly surprised at the tool selection and some of the nicer fabric choices. They didn't have a wide selection, but thankfully, I found just what I was looking for at that time. I ordered silk organza from Dharma Trading Co. in San Raphael because NO ONE in town had it. I found Marie's Fabrics in SLO after I made my choice and noticed that they have a LOVELY selection of fabrics.
KathyGM on craftsy.com
KathyGM
Mar 28, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
This is great. I am also seeing texture everywhere (even behind Susan on that dark dress) I am trying to decide if I want to try the lace on top and sleeves. Are you thinking of a slightly different color for under the lace? What about the sleeves, I don't know what to do about them.
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 28, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you. I am acutally thinking of the same color underneath so that the ensemble is mono-toned. I'm very tall and NOT skinny, so I think the dress will look a bit more attractive on my body as simply a play on texture. I haven't been able to find local sources of satin organza or silk crepe de chine in neon pink. I will have to resort to the internet when I get to that bit.
Lexley on craftsy.com
Lexley
Mar 27, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Stunning choice of fabric texture and colour. Can't wait to see the finished item.
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 28, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you. I've had a brutally busy month at work, so I've only managed to cut out my muslin so far. I hope to at least finish that this weekend.
Jackie G. on craftsy.com
Jackie G.
Mar 12, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Ah Ha! I am envious! I was hoping you used something "free" available on the net. I do have a paint type of program but don't know if I have the patience for fiddling with it.
Jackie G. on craftsy.com
Jackie G.
Mar 11, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Renee, what method did you use to make the drawing of your garment in the color of your fabric? I am trying to color a photo copy of mine, to determine if I want a black accent piping or other embellishment, but coloring on paper isn't working well. Thanks for any tips you can give me.
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 12, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I work as a graphic designer, so I have some lovely software tools at my disposal. I used Photoshop and Illustrator to create my idea "sketch". Photoshop has an eyedropper tool that actually lets me measure the color of my fabrics, then lay that color onto a design. If you have software tools like this, I find it helpful to leave everything in "layers" - I change my mind a gazillion times before a project actually gets finished. Sometimes those changes stem from unexpected features of the fabric or the fit, so I have to adapt.
ramonamp on craftsy.com
ramonamp
Mar 22, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Agree with Jackie, you did an awesome job with the design alterations. Can't wait to see your finished product.
Jackie G. on craftsy.com
Jackie G.
Mar 04, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Your selection is beautiful and I love how you have shown your modifications. You have inspired me to press on with my project! Thanks for posting this for us to see.
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 12, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I am glad my doodles inspired you. I have so many other things in life vying for my attention, putting my ideas on paper in this way keeps me focued when I can return to one of my favorite passtimes.
Emesse on craftsy.com
Emesse
Mar 04, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Very nice !
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 12, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you!
lisap on craftsy.com
lisap
Mar 02, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I love your fabric combination. That colour is gorgeous.
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 12, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you!
Essoblu on craftsy.com
Essoblu
Mar 01, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
are the dress pattern sizes American or UK on the sign up page?
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 01, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I logged in from the US, so the sizes available to me were American.
Davesmom on craftsy.com
Davesmom
Feb 28, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I love the colors and fabric you have choosen. My colors!
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Mar 01, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Mine too!! I view hot pink as my power color and as my hair gets grayer, I like that color even better.
2strings on craftsy.com
2strings
Feb 27, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I'm sure it will turn out beautifully. Be sure to post it when you've finished it. I love that feminine styles have come back into fashion.
Renee_Martin on craftsy.com
Renee_Martin
Feb 27, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I know what you mean. After I posted this, I started to daydream about creating a hat to go with my dress (linen crown/band with bias covered cord (like the dress), silk organza brim). Hats are still popular across the pond for special occassions, but haven't been as popular in the states since I was a kid.

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