Spent 2 hours sketching a wrap dress pattern and it actually worked

Last month I was at Joann Fabrics in Portland and just grabbed a bolt of this cheap cotton jersey on a whim. I traced a dress I already own but made the waist higher and added these little pleats instead of darts. Sewed it up last weekend and the fit is not perfect but I actually wore it out to get coffee and nobody laughed.

3 comments

3 Comments

butler.finley17d ago

The whole "nobody laughed" thing is cracking me up a little. I mean, were you expecting a standing ovation from the barista or something? Getting coffee is a pretty low bar for social approval, like wearing pants to the grocery store. But hey, congrats on the pattern working out, that part is actually cool. Just maybe don't overthink the public reception of a jersey wrap dress.

hollyc9216d ago

That cotton jersey from Joann Fabrics is probably a poly-cotton blend, not 100% cotton. Just a heads up because pure cotton jersey behaves totally different when you sew it, it stretches more and can get wobbly seams if you don't stabilize them. I learned that the hard way after ruining two dresses thinking all jersey was the same. Also, low-key impressed you did pleats instead of darts on a first attempt at copying a pattern. Darts are tricky on stretch fabric because the point can pucker bad, so your choice there was actually smart even if you felt unsure about it. And about the coffee shop thing, I get what you mean. It's not about needing a standing ovation, it's more that little voice in your head saying everyone can tell you made it yourself. But for real, most people are too busy with their own lives to notice a seam or two being off.

lewis.troy17d ago

Man that's basically the exact same thing that happened with my first real sewing project. I tried to copy a shirt I liked but made the sleeves way too short and the collar was all wonky. Still wore it to Walmart because I was proud and nobody even looked twice. But that feeling when something you actually made fits your body and doesn't fall apart is pretty great. Getting coffee without any disaster is a win in my book, especially with jersey knit which is slick and hard to work with. The pleats sound like a smart move too, darts can be a pain to get right.