Thread: Slightly OT- but sewing none the less

I'm working on making myself a maxi dress- and I hear they are easy to make- but thsu far its been a bit of a challenge. I guess I"m a little MR with the none pattern construction sometimes and I have to make things harder than they are...

I have a none stretch material- and I'm trying to class it up a little- its got basic triangle/halter top with the band in the middle tying in the back... and I wanted the back to drape... so there is just the tie- then open skin below that... plus its getting a gore inset in the back...

but I have no idea how to make it drape!!! right now it seems like there is too much fabric in the back- it hangs down to just at the crack location which is obviously NOT going to work!!!

so- how do I get the back of this thing pretty- oh wise ones! I can post pictures up tonight when I get back for referance help!

thanks!

MR?

Do you want the drape at the top or the bottom of the skirt?

It's hard to know exactly what you are describing, but as far as I can tell, you need to make the top of the rear skirt shorter (in the horizontal dimension) to cover your crack. I see three possible solutions: put in a waistband, put in a fitted half-back underskirt, or pleat/gather the heck out of those rear sides (to make it tauter across the top edge of the skirt).

I hope my ideas make sense to you!

I need a visual, too. Are you talking about wanting a loose cowl effect like on the dress at the bottom of the page here (even though this isn't a halter) Backless wedding gown | Backless wedding gown?

MR- would be mentally retarded... and no that isn't meant to offend anyone- I have a family with an autistic kid whom I love dearly.

I want it to drape like a boatneck- only at the small of the back.

the problem is the fabric is a poly silk- it has ZERO stretch and doesn't sew well to elastic- I tried that on the same type of fabric for a straight skirt.

The issue is it has to either fit over my shoulders (fairly broad) or my butt- which- if it goes over the butt- well then its not staying anywhere- because its about 43" of awesome.

hence the draping- I figured that would give it some shape but still let me pull it on over my head. I'll have the BF take pictures when he wakes up!

You may have to nip the fabric in a bit more under where you want it to drape, at the hip/small of the back junction... also, if the drape needs some encouragement to fall how you want it to, you may have to press either a tiny crease or partial dart into the fabric where you want the drape to start... I'm guessing at the side of the bustline/armpit region? Sounds like a pretty design... it may just take a bit more tailoring.

I'd recommend searching through Craftster.org - A Community for Crafts and DIY Projects with Free Craft Ideas, Inspiration, Advice and More for tutorials, similar final projects, and advice for this. Just entering "maxi tutorial" in the search box brings up a good deal.

You can also search for vintage maxi-dress patterns on Etsy.

And, I know your intent was not to offend, but in the future it might be best to avoid comparing having problems sewing without a pattern to having a developmental disability. I sat slack-jawed for a bit and it was hard to set my reaction and knee-jerk judgement aside and give advice to your question.

Originally Posted by vanillacherry

You may have to nip the fabric in a bit more under where you want it to drape, at the hip/small of the back junction... also, if the drape needs some encouragement to fall how you want it to, you may have to press either a tiny crease or partial dart into the fabric where you want the drape to start... I'm guessing at the side of the bustline/armpit region? Sounds like a pretty design... it may just take a bit more tailoring.

the more I fussed with it the more it seemed like it needed to just be taken in as in there is just too much fabric.- good call on the creasing/darting- I was fussing with that along the way but doing it behind your back in a mirror is challenging!

Originally Posted by ozma

I'd recommend searching through Craftster.org - A Community for Crafts and DIY Projects with Free Craft Ideas, Inspiration, Advice and More for tutorials, similar final projects, and advice for this. Just entering "maxi tutorial" in the search box brings up a good deal.

You can also search for vintage maxi-dress patterns on Etsy.

And, I know your intent was not to offend, but in the future it might be best to avoid comparing having problems sewing without a pattern to having a developmental disability. I sat slack-jawed for a bit and it was hard to set my reaction and knee-jerk judgement aside and give advice to your question.

thanks for the links :)
meh- point taken- and thank you for being patient with me. being PC is not.. well not in my nature. And considering I fall I do register on the autism scale- I don't find it to be that offensive- but I understand how people can be. I just have a hard time coming up with the right words for I'm retarded and get this to work - because well.. usually I can't see the nose that's plain in front of my face as far as a solution (because usually I go by way of my elbow to get to my ass when it comes to sewing issues if you know what I mean).

we need more descriptive words for bumblef**s like me!

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