Let's make a Dress 👗// The art of creating

I got one of my first dress orders and here is a pictorial step of how I did it. I used up over 20 working hours to make this dress up till finish and was happy with how it came out. First step is obviously getting my fabric ready, I worked with the normal African print (Ankara) combined with vintage lace for the sleeves and upper shoulder area.

I didn't need a pattern for this outfit as I already knew what I wanted and just went with the flow...and accurate measurements of course..lol

Photo 1. My fabric, along with measurements of the client.

Photo 2. A cut out of the upper bodice front and back.

Photo 3. I cut out the skirt part of the dress, along with matching linings for the inside.

Photo 4. A cut out of the upper shoulder of the blouse, I did this so I could attach the lace quite neatly and it did work out in the end.

Photo 5 and 6. I cut out matching lining for the upper bodice and got my air stay ready.

Photo 6,7,8. I ironed my air stay to each piece of cut out and got my panned result.

At this point you start to feel a sense of relief that 20 percent of the work is done and completed...at least that's how I feel. Lol.

Photo 9,10 and 11. I join all matching pieces together on my sewing machine, and I iron each joined pieces individually to give a clean finish before the big finale.

Photo 12. My shoulder cut out gets joined together with the lace.

Photo 13, 14 and 15. Measuring my darts, 5 inches starting from the under bust for a perfect fit, I pressed it out for a near look. Okay now, we are getting somewhere right. Pressing out your pieces as you go along really goes a long way. It helps you see if there's any fault for early adjustments and also you get to see the form of what you've been working on.