Need a dress pattern that looks like 2 pieces

Hi all,

This is my first time posting here. I recently bought a dress at Dillards on sale that hides my tummy so well. I would like to find a pattern so I could make myself a couple more dresses like it. I will try to describe it.

It is a one piece dress with a overblouse type top sewn to it. The overblouse hangs loose out over my tummy.

In looking at the construction of the underdress, the skirt is a beautiful satin from the waist down, sewn to that at the waist is a cheap looking piece of fabric that is meant to be concealed, that forms the underdress. On top of the cheap fabric is an overblouse sewn to it, (including being sewn to the zipper in the back) of the same beautiful satin as the skirt.

In other words, it looks like a two piece top and skirt, but is a one piece dress.

Any help in locating a pattern like this would be appreciated. I have looked in the major pattern books and wondered if there are any online pattern resources that you might recommend.

Janice

Reply to
Jan
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It sounds nice, I have never seen any patterns like that. Have you ever read about using an existing garment to create a new pattern? If you know the basic construction steps then it might be your best bet!

Michelle Giordano

Reply to
Doug&Michelle

Dear Janice,

You can use a straight skirt pattern that fits you; instead of putting on a waistband, use a scoop-neck bodice. The zipper for these pieces can be either in the side or the back. If you really, really, want to attach a top, adjust the armhole on the scoop-neck bodice to match that of the outside, and baste the armholes together, then sew in the sleeve (I'm assuming there are sleeves). But the outside top doesn't really have to be attached; just made of the same or contrasting fabric.

Couture uses this technique lots of times to give a smooth look to the skirt, then the outside top is made separately, or attached at the armholes, and sometimes the neckline, if the necks are similar. Make sure that the two fabrics are compatible, i.e., they can be cleaned in the same way, and will wear about the same.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

"the outside top is made separately, or attached at the

Teri, thanks for saying it much better than I did. It IS attached at the neckline and has sleeves.

I guess I am going to get a skirt pattern that fits, cheap material and just experiment.

It is a lovely dress that is soooo flattering to me, I want a couple more.

Reply to
Jan

Reply to
cea

CORRECTION--sorry-- "This dropped the over-skirt..." Should read: "This dropped the _underslip_down long enough to cover my knobby knees..." My eddddddditor is making too many boo-boos Cea

Reply to
cea

Does it really have to be a one-piece dress? The reason I ask is because most of my dresses are, in fact two piece. I make whatever skirt I fancy, and whatever overblouse I fancy, both out of the same fabric. Now, if you really do want the blouson effect, you are going to have to make the overblouse extra long, then stitch it to the waist of the underdress to hold it there so that it will indeed blouse out. This style usually requires elastic in the waist to give the right line. Personally, I prefer the two separate pieces, so that if I have both hands raised to hold my hat on in the breeze, my skirt stays in place and only the blouse rises up at the side (and they are all long enough that I do not show a bare midriff or a slice of slip.)

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Just as a note to clarify why someone would like a one piece dress rather than a skirt and a blouse/jacket. There are some people (like me) whose "waist" droops. Therefore, anything that depends on the waist will not look good.

My measurements are so odd that finding a dress for my son's wedding was more than the usual exercise in frustration in clothing shopping. I am definitely a great big triangle, or would that be quadrangle, big front, back and sides. Most dresses these days are column dresses. I just end up bulging in some places and have too much room in the bust area, the only area in which I am underendowed. I actually played with the idea of making a 14th century houppeland

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(shorter than floor length) in order to adequately cover up my bulges. In the end I bought a two-piece dress and sewed the waistband elastic where my bra band lays. This also took care of the hemming problem with the skirt. I'm very short and the below knee length skirt ended up at my ankles even when positioned where my waistline *should* be. So I gained room at the stomach/abdomen and hips by bringing the flared area of the skirt up.Still looked like a beached whale in the photos,AK in PA

Reply to
AK&DStrohl

Janice, I would get a tank top pattern of an appropriately loose fit. You may have to widen or flare the bottom of this depending on your figure. This would be the underdress under the top and to which to attach the skirt. Make sense?? I would do it in a color matching lining fabric, not too cheap, you wouldn't want it to fray or pull apart.

Hope this helps, AK in PA

Reply to
AK&DStrohl

I can relate to that! Although, I have the opposite problem in that I am top-heavy, so one-piece dresses can ride up at the front hem if they are not cut just right. Before dd's wedding, the family told me to go buy something instead of all the work of making it. Well, I can tell you!!!!! I spent three days shopping, visiting all the department stores and a lot of upscale boutiques. I was carrying checkbook, plastic and cash, to cover all eventualities, but couldn't find a thing I was willing to wear. Finally woke up, went home, and the next day went to the fabric store, bought the very stuff I wanted, made it up in the style I wanted, and was very happy. The outfit got lots of compliments, too.

Since I bought the pattern drafting software, I can now make myself anything I fancy but without all those time-consuming pattern alterations.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Janice,

Your mock-two-piece dress sounds lovely. Depending on how much you intend to spend, I thought I'd throw out the idea of taking it to a local dressmaker or tailor and have a pattern made from your dress. If you want exactly the same thing with exactly the same fit, it may be worth the cost. (And it may not cost that much, either.)

Pora

Reply to
wurstergirl

AK wrote: ...

Caftan?

HTH

--Karen D.

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Veloise

Reply to
Pam

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