Thread: Baladi dress pattern? Fishnet finishing?

I want to make a fishnet baladi dress! If you've seen Mona's or Dina's, you know what I mean.

I want it to be semi-fitted (fabric will be 2-way stretch) and have deeeeeep belled sleeves OR flared sleeves.

I can make up a simple pattern on my own, but I'd rather have a more sophisticated shoulder/sleeve assembly than what I'd use on my own, with an underarm gusset or opening. Anyone know a good pattern?

Also, anyone have tips for finishing fishnet edges? (neckline, sleeves, hem?)

Here are the fabrics I found, I think this will be FUN! I'm thinking gold OR black/gold, with gold boy shorts & bra underneath and my heavily fringed gold bedlah belt, but lime green and tye dye orange look pretty appealing.


Spandex World Inc. spandex fabric, lycra stretch fabric

Can't help you out, but I love your idea. I too was so inspired by that fishnet dress Mona Said was wearing in one of her clips. Very cool.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I want to make a fishnet baladi dress! If you've seen Mona's or Dina's, you know what I mean.

I want it to be semi-fitted (fabric will be 2-way stretch) and have deeeeeep belled sleeves OR flared sleeves.

I can make up a simple pattern on my own, but I'd rather have a more sophisticated shoulder/sleeve assembly than what I'd use on my own, with an underarm gusset or opening. Anyone know a good pattern?

Also, anyone have tips for finishing fishnet edges? (neckline, sleeves, hem?)

Here are the fabrics I found, I think this will be FUN! I'm thinking gold OR black/gold, with gold boy shorts & bra underneath and my heavily fringed gold bedlah belt, but lime green and tye dye orange look pretty appealing.


Spandex World Inc. spandex fabric, lycra stretch fabric

Do you want it straight up and down or with some flare to the skirt? Here is one I've used: Design Viewer You can flare the sleeve more into a bell. Change the neckline but cutting as a jewel or boat neckline if that is what you are after. Here is one I haven't made but have some cool mesh to make a nekid dress out with: Adira Dance and Costume: B.D. Pattern #2011 Semi-Fitted Beledi Dress with Back Zipper and Long Sleeves

Love your idea! If the mesh is fine you can probably just cut and add trim to the edges. If it is bigger fishnet you might have to add some kind of binding. Can you tell how they finished on the Mona video?

Souzan

Oh, I like both of those Souzan! I think I'd be happy with either a straight or flared skirt.

I'm thinking of adding a tassel at the bottom of each belled sleeve (Dina has them on hers) and a few dangly-tassels around the hip line that would hang down below the fringed belt.

I'm starting to think red and gold now -- red fishnet, gold bra, boyshorts, and belt. (I already have the shorts and belt).

Years ago I used that type fabric for several projects. I used a narrow bias tape in compatible colors. If you wanted to trim or bead the edges the bias tape would give you great stability.

If you cannot find ready-made bias tape in your preferred colors purchase a gadget in the fabric stores to make your own bias tape quickly and easily. Simply cut (or rip, much easier and exact), a fabric you like and pull it through the metal bias tape maker. You can use a broadcloth or a fancy fabric. Works well on anything sturdy but without stretch.

When I needed multi colored bias tape I used unbleached muslin and created it with Rit dye. Broadcloth is another option for making your own bias tape. Very affordable.

Of course we want to see lots of pictures. A story-line of your progress could be inspiring.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, I like both of those Souzan! I think I'd be happy with either a straight or flared skirt.

I'm thinking of adding a tassel at the bottom of each belled sleeve (Dina has them on hers) and a few dangly-tassels around the hip line that would hang down below the fringed belt.

I'm starting to think red and gold now -- red fishnet, gold bra, boyshorts, and belt. (I already have the shorts and belt).

The thing you would need to be careful about with tassels and fishnet is that they don't get tangled in the fishnet while you are dancing. I think the BD Pattern dress (the one with flared skirt slit over front leg) would be wonderful in net or lace. The BD patterns are sized from a 6 to 22 so you can easily adjust to get the fit you want. And they usually have neckline or sleeve variations in the same package.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Souzan

I have some fishnet material, I haven't had a chance to sew yet, but here are some of my ideas.
(Please test take to make sure the seams hold up, under stress)


Eleminate some of the seams.
i.e.
Cut out the front and back pattern pieces with the pattern pieces already joined at the shoulder on the seam allownance.
Or, if the material is wide enough, have ONE seam around the body (zipper up the back), re-draw the front and back pieces to make one LARGE piece with just the seam up the back.
Insert zipper as usual, with a 5/8 seam allowance. From the zipper to the hem, use the methods below.

Before you sew, put a piece of tape around the toes of your pressur foot, to avoid getting caught into the open holes of the fabric.

You will need tissue paper (cheaper, and easier to tear the better) that's as close to the fabric color you can find.
Cut into long 1-1/2" wide strips.

Baste the fabric pieces together just inside the seam allowance, using a short straight stich.
Then using a very short and narrow satin (or button hole stitch), sew ON the seam line.
Gently tear off the tissue paper.
Trim seam by hand.
Or, instead of using the satin stitch, use the solid selvage edge of the fishnet material as a binding, wrap it over the baste stitches, and sew again with a short straight stich, or narrow zig-zag.

If the selvage edge is 'pretty' (doesn't have a lot of puckers or or holes, left by the machinery) you could also use it to bind the neck, sleeves and hem also.

If you can find a thread that matches, you could also finish the neck, sleeves, and hems by crochet, and use a lovely shell pattern.

Good points, Gothique! I use stay tape for stetchy fabrics for sewing shoulder seams. I have only seen it in white but I think it could be dyed with Rit if need be. Like your idea about using the selvege for bias tape.

Souzan

Those are great tips, Gothique, I hadn't thought about any of the challenges of working with the fabric. I think I've seen some kind of fusible stabilizer that melts away in water after you're done sewing -- am I making that up or is it for real? I think the PBS sewing show lady used it before.

Tape around the presser foot = pure GENIUS! I like the idea of minimizing the number of seams, too.

Much as I like that BD pattern, I'm starting to think I'd better keep it REALLY simple. The Dina one was super simple, that keeps it folkloric-looking I think, and will be much more manageable. Maybe I should stay with the black/gold instead of the brighter colors, too.

I think the black will look less see-through than the bright colors.
Which could be a good thing, depending on what you want.

Some fabric stores carry that soft scallop edged elastic for finishing lingerie (like panties). I've found it in black, white, and off white. When we had our Hancock's it came in rainbow and bright solids. Bummer they're gone now, but back to the subject at hand, it would be a good way to finish stretch mesh or net as long as you didn't stretch it much as you stitched it on your edges. If you can manage it, wooly nylon is good for working with knits. I'm not sure if you put it in both your top thread and bobbin, or just in your bobbin. I've also used a narrow/short zig zag with knits if the presser foot pressure is decreased along with thread tension. Can't wait to see photos!

There is a water soluble stabilizer available.
Making Sense of Stabilizers
It's been a long time since I've used it.
I'm not sure how it will feed between the fabric and the feed dogs.
If I remember right, it felt 'rubbery'.
It will dry out in the package, and turn to flakes.