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From: debsews
Date: 01-08-2006, 04:34 PM (1 of 4)
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I read the thread about deconstructing a dress to get a pattern and decided today to rip apart a dress that I loved and fits great. The dress is a shirtwaist button front with sleeves and a collar. What do I do now? Be specific because I have never done anything like this before and usually pick the easiest patterns at the store! I'm assuming I need to trace a pattern but that's where my creativity stops. Thanks in advance. |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-08-2006, 08:43 PM (2 of 4)
Oh boy, you jumped right in, didn't you?! Well, good for you  While deconstructing, did you try to notice the construction sequence? I mean, did you try to figure what must have been done first, next, etc? Yes, you'll need to lay out the pieces and trace them. When I did it this summer with a funky pair of pants I had, I layed them out onto an old sheet and cut them out of that first. That way, I could practice figuring out the sewing sequence and making sure I got the fit right, and then I used those fabric pieces, all marked up with pen, as my pattern pieces for the real thing. I would try to trace a dotted line along the stitch line, and then, since it's my habit to sew with a 5/8 seam allowance, I'd be sure and cut it out with the 5/8 seam allowance too. Some people prefer to use a smaller seam allowance, and the serged seams of our ready-to-wear clothes certainly don't include 5/8, so make a conscious decision about that before you cut. There are all kinds of fancy tools you can buy just for the process of copying a garment, but I just used that old sheet and a pen and some pins. If there are darts, you'll need to open them out. To trace the stitching line, I just folded the seam allowance up a little at a time, and drew a dotted line beneath it. There are more precise methods, but again, by tracing onto cloth, it became so easy to sew up a "muslin" and test it--"Exact" didn't matter to me anymore.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: debsews
Date: 01-08-2006, 08:59 PM (3 of 4)
| Well I didn't exactly pay a lot of attention to the sewing sequence but I have ironed the pieces and traces a couple of them onto tissue paper. I added a 3/8 seam allowance to those because I figured with the little bit there was already that should be about 5/8. Then I figured I would make a test one and see how that goes but I'm just playing at this point because I don't know what I'm doing. This dress is a straight dress with a couple of darts around the waist so I've marked those. Oh well if I get it done I'll be sure to let you know. |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: Carol in ME
Date: 01-25-2006, 02:01 PM (4 of 4)
| The trick I learned from my first tailoring boss: take apart only half the garment. Then you have the other half to refer to when you wonder about the order of construction. Good luck on your project! |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
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