If you get a dress pattern in a style very close to what you are seeing in
that picture you'd save yourself a lot of grief. Fitted bodice and fuller,
probably slightly gathered skirt. Instead of gathering the skirt fit it with
darts until the waist fits smoothly around the bodice. You'll also want
those skirt darts to line up with the front and back bodice darts and also
the side seams. It looks like these are also at the same level around the
skirt. Measure, measure, measure. The darted seams down the skirt are NOT
sewn closed, into a point like the tip of a bodice dart. That's what is
giving it a little flare at the bottom of the ribbon. I'd press those darts
flat before you apply the ribbon. This may take a little time for you to
get it all lined up but you have quite a few weeks so it shouldn't be a
problem...........do NOT wait until the weekend before your dance!! After
you get the bodice and skirt sewn together at the waist (with the darts
lined up) then I would put down the tape......I referred to the dark pink
ribbon as bias tape, didn't mean to confuse you into thinking that the dress
was cut on the bias. If you are able to get the double sided, WATER SOLUBLE
basting tape it would be very easy to apply the dark pink ribbon or double
fold bias tape with this and then CAREFULLY STITCH VERY STRAIGHT down very
close to each side of the ribbon. I might also suggest you take some of your
dress fabric scrapes and that ribbon, or tape or whatever you use for the
dark pink in the picture, and practice before you apply it to your dress. If
your machine has any fancy stitches try those out......it's just
experimental scrapes and you won't hurt a thing. Since you are making this
out of cotton I think it will be especially lovely because after all your
hard work you can wear it for a little summer dress too, not just a fancy
party or dance dress, yet it will still be most appropriate for that as
well. You just might get really brave and make a Bolero type jacket to go
with it later on. I wouldn't even worry about making the EXACT dress, just
close using the details you like most. I think what is most eye-catching it
the dark pink details and the sash tied in front is just darling.......plus
it will hide little oooooooopsies of an adventurous sewing project.

Just one more thing......when people are showering you with compliments DO
NOT point out any little errors or mistakes. Believe me nobody knows about
them but you and they are all but invisible to anyone's eye but your own. So
you just flash your beautiful smile, flutter your lashes and say, "Thank
you, I designed and made this myself." And then you go back to the lucky
young man who had the good sense to ask you to dance ;-)

Where do you live? If you were anywhere even close to me I'd take you under
my wing in a heartbeat. That's just the cutest little dress!! I'd love to
help you!

Val


"azalea" wrote in message
m...
Hey Val

I was going to draft my own pattern, but you're right, that's probably
going to be even more difficult to do. The skirts that I'd previously
made were "by eye", but then again, they were really really simple.
ie, straight cotton skirts with two darts at the back..not biased or
anything. I think your idea about finding a pattern and then modifying
it to fit the dress would work best (merci!).

I'm not quite sure where it's sewn on a bias...would you be able to
point that out to me? Is that going to be difficult to do for someone
who's never sewn biased before? (again, please say no, lol)

"I can see where a ready made pattern easily
could be used and darting the skirt instead of gathering would work, the
fact that it has a sash around the waist would save you grief from
trying to
fit a one piece dress all with darting. "

so there would be darts in two places...the skirt and the bodice? are
the darts on the skirt hidden under the ribbon details? Is that how
they achieved the vents on the skirt? um, would you mind terribly to
explain this part to me again? I totally appreciate this!

Unfortunately no one in my family really sews, so I think I'm on my
own for this one. But I'm up to the challenge...if this works, I will
be the belle of the ball! haha

PS: anyone know why it takes hours for my posts to post?