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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on July 20, 2010 4:10 PM.

« real life + natural lives | Main | in the making »

japanese dress class

So, finally... I took some pictures of my dress from the Japanese Dress Book class at the workroom! I kind of love it. I think I was the most beginner sewer there, but I picked the most complicated dress (pleating? buttons?!) which is a very Aprile thing to do. I am so glad I did though, because I learned some really important basics, and I have since even altered another dress I had but didn't fit me well.

I always assume I can do anything (and I'm rarely proved wrong, hehe) but I couldn't have done this awesome dress without Karyn's wonderful help. Also, the fabric I picked is so nice, it's Japanese (theme fitting) and has some little pinecone like things on it. I've decided this is my winter dress--it's a light cotton but it's long sleeves and length and the print make it a bit wintery.

(Some pretty details).

(Gathering at the neckline).

The dresses all of us made fit quite large, as they apparently wear them in Japan... Plenty of altering was needed to make it look less sack-like. Mine was perfect in the front, but I brought the back in with some shirring. Turned out well I think. I took a look at the dresses in my closet, and it turns out all of my shirt dresses pretty much have shirring. Who knew!

So now I think my sewing machine and I are a little more friendly, and hopefully I will have some ambition to make some more dresses. Or anything really. New hobby!

The best part is that I think I can do it again, and I can whole wardrobe of clones of these dresses if I really wanted. (I'm not going to do that). I actually already have the next pattern picked out and fabric purchased...

I found sort of randomly this 1940's floral print gray cotton in the TheresaMarieRose etsy shop, so beautiful. It's quite similar to the Japanese fabric I used (gray + floral print), but the print is much bigger and brighter, and it's quite summery. The gray is brighter as well. It was kind of a steal at $8 a yard! And the dress I am going to make with it is the one of the cover. Excited!

Comments (10)

soso:

This is a great work! I love the fabric.

Whoa, amazing! I love the fabric and it fits so nicely! Super work!!!

Great job! And I love the print you chose. It's a gorgeous dress : )

wow! I am so envious! it must be so great to learn to sew! i have this idea of altering clothes from thrift shops but alas, im very afraid of needles, esp. sewing machines. i think you did a great job! not even considering it was your first time.:)

Aww, thanks guys! It was the first time I have really made anything, and now I just want to make more things : )

you were so diligent with all those tiny pleats! it turned out so lovely, aprile. can't wait to see your future dresses.

Wow!
It's great, one day, in this lifetime, i am going to learn how to properly sew and make myself clothes, although i imagine that i might never stop after i begun!

Just wanted to let you know that i included you on a list of Toronto Blogger/Artisans that i admire in my post today! Thought that you might like to know!

Have a great day and i look forward to seeing some more of your creations!

I love this! I love the idea of making your own clothes and the idea of making clothes not for the sake of "fashion". The Workroom is such a lovely idea as well, I wish we have something like that here.

What a beautiful dress & well done for sewing it!

How cute is that dress? What an amazing job, you're super talented!

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