I wanted in on recent 'Pinafore dress' creative wave but wanted to see if I could draft my own pattern, a friend has a shop bought version which I had a quick look at realised that her one is pretty darn basic!
So with pattern paper in hand and Sewphie my dress form all ready to go, I set about creating a very basic template. I was so flabbergasted at how quickly and easily I accomplished this that I began to doubt myself!! So I grabbed the 'front' piece my Kwiksew A line skirt pattern and made a little comparison...which was almost inch perfect!! Go me!!!!
Once I'd finished drafting the front pattern piece, it occurred to me that I only needed to alter the back 'bib' section (I wanted it lower than the front) and the 1 pattern piece would be good for front AND back. Admittedly it helps that my body is actually as shapeless as the pinafore dress I wanted to make - big hips, big bum, big belly, no boobs.
Still doubting my pattern drafting prowess (this is only the 2nd time I've ever attempted it), I was a good little dressmaker and did a toile first, using some calico I'd completely forgotten I had. Also helped me to work out the how, why's and wherefore's of constructing this terribly complicated 2 piece pattern.
(stage 1 of sewing toile for Pinafore Dress)
(stage 2 of sewing toile for Pinafore Dress...lol quickest bit of sewing EVER!)
Now, I was so chuffed at how quick and easy this was - well, of course it was quick n easy...there's virtually nothing to this dress...no darts, no facings, no pockets, no fiddly 'dungaree clip thingy's (they've got a more 'professional' name but for the life of me I can't think what it is right now) - that I decided there was no 'tweaking' necessary. I'd tried on the toil and it was fine.
Back at the end of December I ordered 2 metres of 8 wale cotton corduroy dress fabric in black from Minerva Crafts which I knew would be just perfect for this. So out it came, and it sewed up a treat and I'm pleased to say that if I used 1 metre of this I'd be surprised, which means I've enough left to make another of the Kwiksew A line skirts too. At a cheap and cheerful £9.99 a metre I'm sure I'm quids in ... I believe my friend paid £23 for her High Street shop version.
I managed to get a nice early (for me) start on Pinafore Dress proper this morning and can't tell you how pleased I was when virtually 2 hours to the minute after laying my pattern pieces out on the fabric to pin and cut out, it was finished, pressed and on Sewphie!!!
All finished and ready for a day out to work next week!!
This was SOOOOOOOOOOOO simple to do and provided I get some positive feedback from the guys at work next week when I take it on its maiden wear, I'll almost definitely make another - I've got some left over tan corduroy that should work just as well. I may even 'embellish' it with a pocket or two.
All in all a VERY successful weekend of sewing...well, I say weekend I was done and dusted, tidied away and vacuumed by 11am this morning!! I'm now continuing with my knitting project, which will go VERY well with this pinafore dress.
Some weekends are just ... perfect. Already looking forward to my next one. x
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