Minerva Crafts Blogger Network – New Look 6048

AMY’S LEARN TO SEW DRESS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s really more of a “learn to iron” dress – but either way, you are learning something! As everyone can probably tell by now I’m a sucker for black and white, so here is another black and white make 🙂

For my January Minerva Crafts Blogger Network look I decided on a cute vintage inspired dress. I came across the New Look – Workroom 6048 from Project Runway pattern. I liked it because it has a sweetheart neckline, flattering waistline, full skirt and POCKETS! I think for now on I am going to sew pockets into everything I make.

I made a size 10 for the top and size 12 for my waist. My measurements are 34-28-38. Turns out the bust part should have been more like a size 6 or 8. I’ve found when I make dresses with this same type of bodice I need to downsize a couple sizes. The 12 waist worked out very well.

This was my first time using a New Look pattern. I found the directions weren’t as detailed and obvious as other Simplicity patterns. While making this I also had a bad stomach virus so I wasn’t paying 100% attention to what I was doing and sorta, kinda, totally sewed the sweetheart neckline wrong. It actually ended up okay because I like how it looks from the outside… the inside is another story:

I know I could have unpicked it and redone the neckline but since I ended up liking it so much I figured it would be fine. Granted, I’m not too proud of the inside but no one (besides the whole internet) will really see it. Other than that little mishap everything turned out very nice.

Since the inside of the dress is not lined, I did serge all of my edges for a neater finish. For the hem I serged the bottom, then folded it over once and sewed a straight line.

I really do love this dress. I’ve made a few dresses similar to this but so far this is my favorite fit and quickest one to sew. I find the bust fits more comfortably and flattering than my dresses. Also, the straps are different from my other halter garments, these are angled just right and seem to hug my neck instead of pulling on it. One last rave about the dress is the pleats on the skirt. Most of these dresses use gathers and I find those to make my hips look huge instead of curvy and feminine. One thing I would change is to make the belt about double the width, currently I feel it’s too skinny.

I’ll be using this pattern again and again! If you want to make your very own “Learn To Sew” dress you can buy my kit here!

guinness loves to be in the pictures <3[/caption]

BONUS: The pin-up styled headband I am wearing is actually from my own Etsy shop: That’s Sew Amy Shop and you can purchase it here for $10. The headband is actually contoured so it sits more properly on your head, meaning less slippage! I have lots of other designs and will be adding more soon 🙂