Monday, June 28, 2010

Twirl! (First Draping Project)

Circle skirt + horsehair braid + windy day = AWESOME twirling. This is my very first pattern that I designed and draped myself. I've been studying draping with my fantastic teacher Sharon and have learned so much - and now I'm seeing the fruits of my labors! Since this was my first real draping project, I stuck with a simple 50s-inspired design: boatneck, French darts, low v-neck in the back, and a circle skirt.


You can see how the horsehair braid shapes the hem here.


From the side! (With the help of a gust of wind.)


The fabric is a lovely hot pink textured cotton from Mood. Textured cotton is great: simple to work with, yet the texture adds a little extra interest. (Beginners, take note!)

There are things I'll change next time - I think there's a little too much ease in the bodice, for instance. But I'm trying not to nitpick. Every sewing project is a learning experience, and I feel that this one in particular is the step to a new level of sewing. I'm not going to let little mistakes get me down!

I made an all-in-one facing and interfaced it with cotton organdy.


After my post on stay tapes, I have been making an effort to utilize them. I used Seams Great here and clipped it around the curve of the neckline.


And, of course, I hemmed it with horsehair braid. (Check out my tutorial here.)


I can't believe I draped this pattern myself! It's opened up all sorts of creative doors - I'm already planning my next design.

In parting: Wheeee!

70 comments:

  1. Congratulations! The dress is lovely, and I particularly like the back view. And even more congrats on your new skill!

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  2. Gorgeous dress! Love how it flares, and the v-neck in the back is wonderful. Congratulations on finishing your first garment in your new Era of Draping! =)

    I really appreciated your tutorial on horse-hair braid btw, I'm going to try to find some here on the other side of the pond.

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  3. The dress is simply gorgeous! Well done on the draping & drafting work, you should be very proud of your efforts.

    Q: Did you not line the dress - or is it attached to the facing inside please (just curious!)?

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  4. It looks fabulous and to think you draped it yourself! Wow I'm speachless.
    Lovely dress and lovely pictures.

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  5. oh gosh its wonderful! that last photo is gorgeous! hehe

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  6. Well done you! It looks great and it must be fun to wear too.

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  7. What a fabulous dress, such a wonderful swirly skirt!

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  8. Fantastic job, its really gorgeous, the colour is spot on! Your classes sound really good, I really must take a pattern making course!

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  9. HI Gertie i love this dress is very very pretty....
    Hugs
    Deni

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  10. Wow! I am so impressed! I can't wait to try the horse hair braid. I think it might be perfect for trying to make one of those Louis Vuitton style dresses that have popped up everywhere with the beautiful circle skirts.

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  11. Congratulations on your first draping project! You look fabulous in it!

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  12. looks great, and such a fantastic colour! Where will you wear it to show it off first?

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  13. Congratulations, it is gorgeous! Thank you for providing the answer to my question too, now I've seen it in action, I will definitely use horsehair braid on my hem too, albeit much narrower lol.

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  14. That is gorgeous!! How incredible to be be able to draft something this beautiful yourself. I am jealous!!!

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  15. Beautiful! Very, very elegant looking.

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  16. This is my first time posting on your blog, but I read it daily. You did a beautiful job on your very first self drafted pattern. I love the dress. I can't wait to see what you create next.

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  17. You look ravishing, darling! I'm beyond impressed that you designed this gorgeous frock your own self. That back detail is amazing.

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  18. That's the prettiest dress I've seen so far on you. Absolutely gorgeous. You've made me really want to step up my sewing game.

    Seriously, hon, have you ever considered doing this (writing about sewing and inspiring others) professionally? I think you'd make a great editor/writer for Threads or Sew Stylish or any of the other sewing magazines.

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  19. OMG!! girl, that turned out SO PRETTY!! i love the color, the shape, and the body of the skirt. clearly, i need to get me some horsehair braid asap.

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  20. Bravo!!! Fantastic dress - and a fantastic shape on you (even with the 'too much ease in the bodice'). I only wish my monitor did not turn it into a tomato red dress instead of pink. I think every girl, no matter what her age, wants a skirt that makes her want to twirl like that. Great stuff.

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  21. Beautiful! Way to drape (and construct)!

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  22. Red is such a lovely color on you! You did a great job on your first draping project.

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  23. Do we get to call you "Gertie Draper" now? LOL. Beautiful. I really appreciate the horse-hair braid tutorial as well. Thanks for adding to my sewing knowledge base!

    The dress is gorgeous.

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  24. I absolutely love it! What a great dress! That color is soooo good on you. I'd love to learn to drape. Someday, maybe.

    I love your shoes too!

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  25. Wow - Stunning dress! I love the boat-neck and all the movement in the skirt. How amazing to have made it all - from inspiration to finished garment!

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  26. That is really pretty. I love the back.

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  27. Love the dress. It really looks totally vintage with the braid on the hem.

    Loved the photo of the staytape. I have never seen seams great used in this way. Sew down the center and clip for the curve. The wheels started spinning when I saw that.

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  28. Awesome first draping project! That dress is going to be so versatile for you too.

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  29. awesome dress, and as Rachel said, definitely the prettiest so far - a real ta da!!!!!

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  30. That's so awesome. You did an amazing job. How neat that you are learning so much. I love that last shot, very Marilyn Monroe, don't you think?

    Trudy
    www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com

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  31. very very cool! I love how it turned out, and that your draped it yourself! So inspiring!

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  32. Great Dress, Gorgeous shape, Fab color--this 'statement' style is really successful! I loved following your techniques in making it too.

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  33. Good work! That is a wonderful dress! Hope to progress to your level some day...

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  34. Fabulous dress and I love that gorgeous, eye-popping colour - just right for this stunning style!

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  35. I've been reading your blog for quite some time but have never posted until now.

    Wow. Just wow. I love this dress and need one of my very own.

    Will you be sharing draping tutorials sometime in the future?

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  36. Wow. The hem is AMAZING! Great dress indeed!

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  37. Now that's a dress! Wonderful

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  38. Magnificent! The color is fantastic on you and the hem adds such a splash of drama and surprise. Thank you for the very helpful horsehair hem tutorial.

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  39. Beautiful dress! So much talent! I love the deep v in the back.

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  40. Absolutely lovely! You've opened up a whole new world of possibilities with your new draping skills.
    Looks gorgeous, and how fun is the twirly skirt! Love it!

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  41. Love the color and the style! It looks great on you.

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  42. How exciting that you drafted it yourself. The sky is the limit for you! I really wish that I could pick up the grain and color of the dress. What I'm seeing is very different from what you have described. It is very lovely and you should be very proud of yourself!

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  43. Nice dress, you did a great job! I love red and that color really looks nice on you.

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  44. Gertie - absolutely marvelous my dear!!!

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  45. Its FABULOUS! I have a Vogue pattern I made last year that wants to be that dress and doesn't touch it. I am indeed humbled. Now I completely understand the horsehair braid hem...HUGE difference.

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  46. love LOVE that skirt! Have never worked with horsehair braid but will after seeing this!

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  47. LOVE this dress!! It's fantastic!! Yay for draping class!

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  48. whoo! that is some twirl! congrats on your first draping project, it looks great!

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  49. Wow, wow and WOW! I am speechless! How gorgeous.
    Vivian

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  50. It is so beautiful! And you look lovely in it! Great job, Gertie!

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  51. This is SO beautiful! Girl got style...

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  52. Stunning. That dress is wonderful. Well done Gertie.

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  53. GASP! Who needs vintage patterns? Certainly not Gertie! I am in awe of your skills! GORGEOUS!

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  54. love love love love love it. I also really appreciate all your comments/tips and photos- makes me want to race out and do it myself!

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  55. very impressive stuff, your commitment really shows, you're learning super fast!

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  56. I'm so impressed with how the skirt falls... I'm not sure if it's the horsehair braid or what, but it just looks to sit so perfectly. A look that I always assumed would need some form of petticoat or somthing.

    In short, well done! You've certainly convinced me that I need to try some of these techniques on my next projects.

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  57. Fantastic dress! I am just jealous of you because you can get such great draping lessons! I think you are right concerning the ease in the bodice... but the effect about the changed position of the waistline is just amazing!
    LOVE your dress! :-)

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  58. GORGEOUS, Gertie!!!! Wow--I just love the lines of this dress--and bravo on the draping success! I'm really speechless... this is just so beautiful and meticulously executed. I'm in awe!

    Thanks for the horsehair braid tutorial, btw (I'm a little late with that... my computer was down for a couple days!). I am itching to try it now... I've been meaning to make a circle skirt, and one that is super fully and swirly would be fantastic!

    I can't wait to see what you do next with your new-found skills!!!

    ♥ Casey
    blog | elegantmusings.com

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  59. Wow, what a stunning dress! It's gorgeous!

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  60. Wow! brava, brava! That is one beautiful dress! You've outdone yourself. If that is your first draping project, I cannot even imagine what comes next.
    Thanks for sharing all of it, including and maybe especially the brief setback on the darts. You remind me to take it easy and think my way through a mistake. Although I agree, bursting into tears is always an excellent first step!

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  61. This dress is a total WIN! Love how the wind played with the skirt, too. Very Marilyn Monroe. :)

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  62. Hehehe, I;m reading your post on 'Do men find vintage sexy' - and I think this dress is RED.. HOT!

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  63. magnifique elle vous vas très bien
    corichounette

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  64. your first draping project? wait werent you on project runway? am i getting you confused with someone else or something?

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  65. Great job! This dress is awesome!

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  66. What type of fabric is that?

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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