sewing a dress that I actually like this time ♥

hello again everyone!
this dress was so easy I cannot believe I found a way to make it difficult lol
as always all tips are welcome below for anyone who knows how to help :) thanks!
have a great day!!!

[@sharonwilliams1319]

You powered through and got it done! The fact that the fabric came from your grandmother's stash is "priceless"! You get a WELL DONE FROM ME!

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@sharonwilliams1319 thank you SO much!!! It’s absolutely priceless to me :)

[@johnettehaines6291]

That is so special to be from your grandma. No wonder why you wanted to make sure you had enough for the dress before cutting

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@johnettehaines6291 yes I had to be certain!! She’s a very special woman!

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

I’m totally one of those nostalgic people, too, so I understand completely how you feel about the fabric! You did a valiant effort and it looks cute on you. The next important thing is how you style it with jewelry, shoes, belt options, your hair, etc. I know I like to see that in the “reveal” after watching somebody sew something. I’m a Grandma who taught two (of five) sons to sew and one grandson, three granddaughters, a couple of friends, two neighbors over the years, and two of my granddaughter’s friends! My sons who learned to sew as kids don’t sew clothes - but they make the most amazing things from barbecue covers to reupholstering furniture with their sewing skills! Even kites! And a hydroplane cover. The sons who couldn’t be bothered to learn are always asking the sewsters to make things for them. I do my revenge laugh. I was glad to have girls come along in the next generation and we have great times sewing and watching movies together. I have a couple suggestions for you. ALWAYS wash (and iron if needed) your fabric before you start the project. I’ve seen many broken hearts when the fabric shrunk in some weird way when it was laundered after the item was sewn. Be super gentle washing that dress especially because it’s a vintage fabric. Next, ALWAYS take the time to make a mockup of at least the top. You don’t have to line it, or put in the zipper, etc. In this case you would have realized you wanted to take it in before you sewed your Grandma’s fabric. As long as you measure your hips and a simple bottom half will fit, it’s always the top and waist you should check. We buy sheets at the thrift stores, bleach them, and slash them up for fitting. Even wool I pretreat with a damp sheet overnight for shrinkage or “Dry Clean Only” fabrics. Next, just make friends with your seam ripper. I teach everyone to make some chamomile tea, put on your favorite playlist, and pick out the stitches when you want to change something. Nobody is ever sorry they did it right. I’ve made a million mistakes and a billion changes in my projects. I just sigh, get out my seam ripper, and in my case, put on Marvin Gaye’s Greatest Hits. 😂 Lastly, let your subscribers see the styled end product. We feel as happy as if we had done it ourselves! And bless your Grandma. When a granddaughter loves her so much, she was a good Grandma! 🤎

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@drummerlovesbookworm9738 this is the most wonderful comment🫶🏻 thank you so much for taking the time to write it!!! Comments like these make my day :) I’m so glad you shared your skill with so many people! Sewing is such a joy, even as I’m learning and making mistakes, and it comes in handy! I have so many great memories with my grandmother from childhood to now when she would teach me new crafts or recipes! I really appreciate all of your tips and I will be sure to show the finished product styled from now on! I hadn’t thought to wash the fabric before but that’s definitely something I’ll do as well. Thank you again for all your advice and I hope you have a lovely day! ❤️

[@reneemorgan9320]

Props to you for sewing a dress without the directions. I think you can normally clean finish the armholes using the burrito method. Anytime you have a lining or "facing" along the armholes, it usually works really well. Thats awesome that it was your grandma's fabric.

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@reneemorgan9320 thank you!! I will look into the burrito method thank you for the tip :) I’m thankful my grandma wanted to share!

[@pmclaughlin4111]

If you look up Burrito method. , you will probably get a shirt bag yoke. It IS the same principle but sideways. Try all in one facing too. I will be honest, I've been sewing for decades and I don't use it. I use something more like you did.

[@theseamstressatthecottage]

Really cute, that pattern will look nice in strech fabric or softer fabric.

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@theseamstressatthecottage thank you so much!!

[@aoide00]

Wonderful job pushing through! I agree with others who commented about the fabric… the pattern is probably meant for a fabric with more drape like a rayon, fine linen, a knit or even a thin gauzy cotton. The fabric you used looks like more of a quilting cotton, which is better for a more structured pattern. Learning about fabrics is my favorite part of the sewing journey❤

[@pmclaughlin4111]

Ill be honest, I use quilting cotton a lot although I love rayon challis (currently on a vintage shirt dress kick) The cotton is fairly structured but over time it softens begins to drape more with repeated laundering

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@aoide00 this is great to know, thank you!! I appreciate you listing out what types of fabric will work :)

[@gingerwells8210]

I think that you can email the pattern company and they will send you the instructions for an out of print pattern. I have this pattern and I absolutely love it, it was one I used when I first started sewing

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@gingerwells8210 how cool is that!!! Thank you so much for sharing that valuable info!

[@bubuchoe1935]

The house fabric is so cute!🏡🏡🏡

[@Sally-ih6ls]

@@bubuchoe1935 dress looks good! Nice and comfy too I bet?

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@bubuchoe1935 thank you I love it!!

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@Sally-ih6ls thank you :) it is very comfortable!

[@lauraallwood9625]

If the neck line in big enough, you can make it without a zipper and pull it over

[@jensewsvintage]

sometimes people will comment what you should improve and give no credit where credit is due. Well I loved the fabric choice, I can tell you're really trying by not giving up!! Don't worry the more and more you sew you will improve just focus on small improvements I'm sure you learned alot from this project 🫶🏻😊 getting a cheap muslin or thrifted fabric to "mock up" (make a first draft and more if needed) and checking the sizing chart on the pattern will help in fitting. You got this !! ❤ subscribed (: i know this is lengthy comment lol but u seemed so sweet and enthusiastic keep it up!!

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@jensewsvintage this is an unbelievably kind comment thank you so much🥹 I’m relatively new to sewing and I am always grateful for words of encouragement, especially from others who are so talented (I just subscribed to your channel and WOW YOU’RE INCREDIBLE!!!). I am always thrifting so that’s a great tip thank you!! Thank you for your lengthy comment it means a lot to me!🫶🏻

[@jensewsvintage]

⁠@@MaryAnnaReadsomg yass id love to follow ur insta if you share ur creations I can definitely help or share resources (: but ur welcome and thankyou 🥹 sewing girlies unite !

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@jensewsvintage my insta is mostly just my life, not really sewing related! But id still love to be mutuals! :) thank you so much for offering help it’s much needed and ALWAYS appreciated haha!

[@des_des_00]

I'm surprised it was so big when you had the pattern envelope! 😮 Did it not mention any finished garment measurements? Looks like you needed an xs or even xxs! That likely would've solved a lot of the fit problems. 😊

[@pmclaughlin4111]

Get yourself a good basic sewing book. It will get you through basic order of operations, directional stitching, understitching, pressing...basic fitting.. Fastening interfacings etc. It sound redundant because you've got the internet but get the book or ebook If you were plus size, I'd recommend Jenny Rushmore. I have heard good things about Mimi G, Fully and the Buttons, and Gretchen Hirsch (Gertie of Charmed Patterns) They all have patterns included.

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@pmclaughlin4111 thank you so much!! I will have to get a book then! And thank you for all the recommendations!! :)

[@Suezee66]

Yup the belt when you go out without at home 🎉

[@secretfox8940]

You did a great job getting it to be more fitted. It is really hard learning to make something fit to your form. I would suggest darts in the back to get more fitted without messing with the zipper and pulling too much. It looks cute on you as is though.

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@secretfox8940 thank you so much for this tip! I hadn’t thought of that but that’s a relatively easy solution (my favorite kind of solution haha)!

[@Lu_babbles]

lol saw the title and thought it was going to be Graces dress

[@MaryAnnaReads]

AWE that will be next!!

[@karenchampion3368]

What about a belt

[@as5592]

Tip when it comes to using patterns....measure yourself, then the pattern width and compare. Tip 2. Do a mock-up. Even intermediates come across problems. You should redo that dress.

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@as5592 I’ve never done a mock-up before (clearly haha!) so I’ll have to try that! Thank you!

[@Sally-ih6ls]

What type of fabric are u using?

[@maryann1187]

It looks and drapes like quilting cotton.

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@Sally-ih6ls 100% cotton! Would something different work better for this? :)

[@Sally-ih6ls]

@@MaryAnnaReads wondering if it was like a poplin or a quilting cotton? I don’t know if something else would work better sorry, I was just curious. Looks fine the way it is👍🏻

[@sararamos3903]

Shuda gone outside so we could see it better. Your house is dark. 😊

[@MaryAnnaReads]

@@sararamos3903 oops next time I will turn more lights on and see if that helps! I forget when it’s just me in my house sewing haha!