(no subject)

[kittyhot.livejournal.com]

I just thought I'd check myself with the experts. Do you think a month and a half is enough time for a total beginner to complete a dress, or should I hire someone? The dress looks rather simple, and there are certain parts that I could probably buy and alter...but there is a lot of flowiness, you know?
If I do happen to make it myself, this will be my first EGL accomplishment! How exciting!
ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Comments

[agentscuiy.livejournal.com]

If you're really dedicated, you could finish a dress in a day. But I'd say you could complete it in a week...

[tigerbalmer.livejournal.com]

Seriously, sewing any one garment doesn't take -that- much time, especially if it is a simple design, as long as you plug on through it and finish it. :) But the real problem is that everyone procrastinates, especially on the parts of garment construction that they hate/avoid. Then it lies in a little clump on the sewing area, and you always walk by it going 'ahhh, I should work on that, but maaan I hate doing _____.'

I'd say a good thing is to commit to doing it in all your spare time, until it is done, but at the times when it gets frustrating, take a break. Just be sure to get back to it again. Because if you leave it all until some sort of deadline or event, then you will be sewing really frustratedly and EVERYTHING will go wrong. It's a murphy's law for sewing.

[clarice.livejournal.com]

If you're a slow worker or like to work in spurts, definitely plan ahead. But if you're the get-everything-done-in-a-weekend kind of girl, then it doesn't matter too much. Remember, though, that if you're really an absolute beginner, chances are you're going to have trouble with a lot of things you never would have guessed would be hard, and you'll probably be frustrated if you put yourself on a really tight schedule. If you attempt to make yourself, try to find someone to help you with the basics (pining, cutting, seam allowances, turning seams, etc) and do something really, really simple, even if it's just an A-line skirt to practice before you cut your better fabric.

Either way, good luck and share pictures! :)

[lady-vader.livejournal.com]

I'm an experienced seamstress (amateur ;)) but I sew things over a long times span, like a month for one blouse and such. I like it this way because of that I can think over the choice of lace trims, placements of them, hand sewing etcetera. I like to have my unfinished garment on my dress form to gaze at, fondle with and such and I always come up with new ideas. so I'd say that I'm a very slow sewer.

But I think that one month and a half is OK if you're determined. If you're a total beginner I'd suggest to sew something simple first like tote bag or something like to get the hang of the machine, before you're moving over to make your dress.

I've got some tips. Have a lot of patience is the key. Do not feel stressed. If you're stressed, irritated or angry, put down the work and let it wait. Better do so than ruin the work.

Be very exact when you're cutting out the fabric pieces ,making sure to get exact seaming allowance widths and such. Pouring in more patience in this moment saves you a lot of stress after hand with mismatching fabric edges.

Then remember to always press (with an iron) after every seam done on the machine and finish the seaming allowances. I know that there's some people who skip the pressing moment and it causes the garment to look VERY homemade (in a bad sense of word).

And lastly: Have fun and good luck!! ^^

thanks!

[kittyhot.livejournal.com]

Thank you all SO MUCH! I feel so much better now! I hope you all see this ^^; I promise to show pics when I'm done!

heh :)

[aaluha.livejournal.com]

yep. I'd say a month is a long enough time if you keep at it. I am one of those procratinates 'cause I hate sewing sewers:P
I love the end result tho. My big problem is the directions in patterns. I totally hate them. My advice is never read ahead on directions do one at a time & slowly. I haven't been sewing very long either so sometimes I get frustrated.Then I figure out another way to do the instruction. I think this is bad, but I learned it from my mom :) She's teaching me bad stuff :)
I am currently in only planning stages for about 7 costumes(The Renn. faire & fairy variety) And I know I am not going to get all those done by end of season.
What's funny is I seem to have an easier time with japanese patterns because I make up my own directions from what I see rather than patterns in english that do nothing but confuse me. I think it's because they need better pictures in their directions.So keep at it, don't let it make you crazy & good luck :) I can't wait to see pics:)