pattern for this dress?

It's just a plain ol', plain ol' A-line dress, short sleeves, slightly scooped neck, French darts. You should have no problems finding something like this if you look in a regular pattern book.

I just picked myself up off the floor and resuscitated myself after seeing what she was charging for that dress, which is identical in style to the one I made for my 8th grade home ec project except that mine was knee-length and had long sleeves (read: It is almost criminally easy to make, to the point where I don't see how she can get away with selling them as RTW for that much). I guess I should have gone in business making them after 8th grade -- I might have been a millionaire by now.

If you are going to make it, what will give it value is to match the plaid *PERFECTLY*. And the plaid looks like a Madras-type plaid, and if so, those can be a little tricky to match while laying out and sewing, so be careful, but it's not *complicated,* only *time-consuming,* and not really that much so at that.

Any references numbers you'd be able to give me? I've plowed through Simplicity, Vogue, etc. patterns and there are so many bells and whistles for some of the more contemporary dresses. Would I be able to make a pattern of this dress myself?

I am very much interested in getting a perfect fit (I tried this on in the store in New York) and I'd very much like to emulate this cut exactly!

Thanks!

Mel> > Hi,

I've made various skirts in the past, but never a bodice and never an entire dress. I guess you can say I'm kind of a novice.

Thanks for alert> Her Subj. wrote:

What size range do you wear? Junior, Misses, etc. I'll look for one.

Then you need to go back to the store to try it on again and, while you're in the fitting room, dig out your trusty measuring tape in secret (watching out for hidden cameras in the dressing rooms so you don't make anybody mad) and take LOTS of measurements, then compare to the pattern you buy.

You can do it.

It's easiest if you make a duplicate of the dress front pattern so you lay it down flat on the fabric and match the plaid down to the thread at the bottom of the dart and the very bottom of the side seam (making sure that , and then cut one of the dress backs, match the plaid with the front horizonally *and* vertically at the very bottom of the side seam, then FLIP IT OVER (unless you have a double-one-way plaid, that is, in which case you are going to have to decide whether it will look okay to have one piece that looks like it goes in reverse) and lay the piece down on the fabric to match the plaid horizonally and vertically at the back seam (so that when you zip the zipper closed, someone 6 feet away wouldn't realize it's two pieces of fabric right away) I know that sounds complicated, but it's no more complicated than cutting out something with a lot of intricate details and having to cut precisely on the line -- i.e., it just takes being careful.

Then when you sew, pin every half-inch and match the plain down to the correct thread. That way you have a thread or two leeway for slippage as you sew.

The time you spend in matching the plaid will be rewarded a hundredfold in how wonderful your nicely-matched plaid dress will be, and you will be both ecstatic and shocked at how much money you saved.

I nosed around a bit, and I think that Kwik Sew 2627 looks almost exactly like it, no patch pockets, but I can't tell if the darts are French darts -- angled ones -- or not. Neither McCalls nor Butterick have anything, but that's okay, because Kwik Sew patterns are generally more true to size.

Take a look at

may be close to what you want.Juno

Hey, Juno, I think you also need to post the pattern number, because it didn't come up -- unless you are talking about 2627, which is the one I found.

Yeah, $165. !

This one is even better:

$250.00.... gasp, choke, giggle....

And for a novice, (which OP said she is) may I suggest it be made in an *even* plaid the first few times. The OP's link is to a dress made from an *uneven* plaid, even more difficult to get matched perfectly. In fact, *I* would ask a novice to make it up in a plain fabric, or all-over print, which would not suffer from not being matched. But, that's just me....

Simplicity "It's So Easy" 4523 might work:

Look 6673 might work but would require neckline modification: 2538: a dress with the requisite dart shaping, but would require modification to the neckline and sleeve, and is probably overkill anyway, with the coat and all.McCall's 8108: 9172: probably be made to work as well.HTH,

Beverly

Bad Day around here,I seem to have a severe case of brain freeze Thanks Melinda

2833& 2627 Kwiksew

Juno

It might, but I tend to skip those patterns, because I have heard so much that the reason they are so easy is that they are so shapeless.

Ooh, one of the alternative views looks REALLY close...

Yeah! I once made a dress with those "easy" patterns and it looked like a box on me. I have the figure of a little boy (I'm a girl), too, so it was absolutely shapeless!

With patterns, I have NOT CLUE what size to buy. Can anyone suggest a rough size for me? I am 5'9", about 140lbs, 34A, 28, 36. Pretty wiry.

Thanks!

BEI Design wrote:

> Wow, $250.00.... gasp, choke, giggle....>

> New Look 6673 might work but would require neckline modification: >> Vogue 2538:

has a dress with the requisite dart shaping, but would require> modification to the neckline and sleeve, and is probably overkill> anyway, with the coat and all.>> McCall's 8108:

Does 34A mean that you have a bust measurement of 34 inches with an A cup, or does it mean that's your bra size which means your bust measurement is something else?

With an A cup, sounds like you would need junior sizing, but if you check sizing charts, I think you'll find that for pattern sizing (which bears no resemblance to RTW sizing), you are between a 12 and a 14.

I had another idea. If you want to sew more dresses than just one for yourself and you have a few dollars, you might want to purchase a Click and Sew pattern:

would end up fitting you without a bunch of alterations, and then, of course, you can make different types of dresses and blouses from it. (Disclaimer: WG doesn't know I am recommending their excellent products, but I am an enthusiastic user)

Trouble with that one is, it has *no* bust-waist shaping darts. I really think the Vogue comes closest, but I don't know if OP is up to modifying the sleeves and neckline.

Beverly

Pattern companies have entirely different sizing than RTW. You'll find a good size chart here:

on the "Tech Center" link, and then on the "Standard BodyMeasurement Chart" and then select "Misses/Misses Petite" you will see a chart listing what is a fairly good standard for the *pattern industry* sizing. There is also a good diagram on that first page about *where* to measure your body. If possible have a friend measure you with a dressmaker's measuring tape, then compare *your* measurements to the ones on the chart. Buy the pattern size which is most closely similar to *your* measurements. If there is a vast discrepancy, you are better off getting the size dictated by your bust measurement, and altering the waist and/or hip, IMHO. I suspect you are going to be needing a size 12, because the flared A-shaped skirt and unfitted waist of this pattern style will accommodate your slightly larger waist-to-hip size. But that's just a guess, you really *need* to have those measurements taken....Beverly

Not sure about size, but I would rather have your fitting problems than mine!!! ( I think you sound tall and slender and I am sure the dress will become you..........)

You could have a look at one of the patterns in this ebay auction

(or - the photo's not that clear, but the shape looks similar.

> (or - the photo's not that clear, but the > shape looks similar.OP is posting from an account at the Museum of Contemporary Art, in Los Angeles, CA, USA. That eBay auction is in Australia, and shipping worldwide is AU$20, plus the "Buy it now " amount of AU$10. So I think OP can find a new pattern for far less, $30 Australian = $22.45500 US. ;-)

Beverly