This is probably my favourite outfit at the moment. I do have a lady bug caplet in the works but I haven’t come across the perfect lining yet.
Self drafted the dungarees based on a vintage Busybodies pattern I found at the dump for some shorts. Added pockets, a bib, ruffles, straps, adjusted sizing, changed the waistband and essentially just looked at the front of the envelope for inspiration on the shorts shape.
For the blouse, I altered the milkmaid dress pattern from Lydia Naomi, adjusting fit and changing it from a side zipper to a back corset closure with inbuilt back pannel.
All the fabrics and notions are 2nd hand. The lace, strawberry fabric, blouse lining, dungaree lining and gingham fabric are from the dump. The eyelets for the corset and ribbon are from a garage sale and the ladybug denim was gifted to me by my best friend who found it at a charity shop.
This is the sort of project that make me want to get a sewing machine and make some cool stuff!
How long have you been making clothes? Do you think it’s a high bar of entry to start making clothes?
I’ve been sewing since I was a kid but it was mostly homeware stuff/tote bags/plushies and not seriously until I got a job at a clothing factory where my desk was near our clothing developer. She made it all click into place and seem a lot less complicated. Patternsnare just a more fun version of geometry class. The Very Deep Dark trade secret is cutting as neatly as possible, pressing all your seams, finishing your raw edges either with an overlocker, binding, flatfelled seams, french seams etc.
For construction, all you have to do is follow instructions on a pattern. Even self drafting is just creating your own pattern then using the same series of steps you would find in a commercial pattern. I recommend pdf patterns from indie pattern companies for beginners over the ones at bigbox stores as they can be printed again if you stuff up sizing and they tend to have better instructions and even video tutorials.
Fascinating thank you for your answer! I’m keen to make some cool menswear silhouettes as so much of the stuff you get off the rack is so incredibly boring.
This all makes a lot of sense, it makes me want to get going on small projects and then build up.
Once you get a feel for sewing this patterns archive will be your best friend. You can see the shapes of over a century worth of patterns. I would start with a simple linen tunic or jogging shorts. They make great wearable first projects and only have a few peices so you can figure some things out before wasting large amounts of fabric or adding complexities.
I always use old sheets in a similar feel to the fabric I’m picturing for the finally look as a practice run. I try to find cute sheets so if it fits well the first go i will wear it.