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Pattern #1347 - New Fantasy Dresses - design

6/25/2014

13 Comments

 
Picture
Why did I choose these particular dresses to put together in this pattern package? Of course I am looking for costumes that people will want to dress up in. Costumes that are the current popular characters.  But, why this mix??

Well, look at the basic shapes.  In order to get more that one outfit in a pattern, I have to figure out how to re-use the same pattern pieces from garment to garment. 

Here are some of my planning sheets that I sent to Simplicity while we were working this out.


Picture
This is my basic concept sketch. You can see the original plan was to just have three outfits, but I realized a fourth could be squeezed in without one additional pattern piece, so why not!
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You can see how each of the garments has the same high waisted silhouette.  The wide belt changes the shape for two of the dresses.
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The next sketch explains this a little better.  I was trying to make this set of costumes particularly comfortable to wear by elasticizing much of it. But, I didn't want the skirt to have an elastic waist (the pattern department asked if I could) and actually the final skirt has no elastic.

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I photograph all the fabrics I plan to use before getting started.  They are not always approved.  But, this time everything I purchased was OK ... lucky me, this time.
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These are the fabrics for the skirt and midriff top outfit.

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These are the fabrics for the brown dress with belt and gauntlets.  The dress is the smaller swatch in the middle and the pleather is for the belt and gauntlets.
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These are are the fabrics for the two long blue dresses.  They look remarkably similar, but the Mother of Dragons does wear blue A LOT.


Next time I will show pictures of my muslins and explain some of the construction.
13 Comments
Tarisa link
6/25/2014 03:00:02 am

I love these!!! I can't wait to get this pattern <3

Reply
Tara
6/25/2014 03:44:41 am

I love reading your blog and getting a glimpse into your work life. So interesting how you go from design concept to final product. Can I ask where you source your fabrics? They are lovely!

Reply
Andrea
6/25/2014 03:52:58 am

I live in the suburbs of Washington DC and shop everywhere. A lot of fabrics I use come from one of the 3 Joann's that are near me. I order on line from Fabrics.com and FashionFabricsClub. And and I very lucky to have a cool independent fabric store owned and run by a Vietnamese family. They keep it stocked like many of the fabric stores in the New York garment center. The secret is to just keep looking!

Reply
Mai Sheri link
6/25/2014 10:45:38 am

I'm looking forward to picking up this one and your other Game of Thrones pattern in the PatternReview sale!

Reply
Ginger
6/25/2014 11:18:37 am

I'm so glad you share this part of your job. It's very interesting. While I've never seen the show that inspired these dresses (gotta wait until it gets to NetFlix), I think the blue dress on the bottom would work for a quick prom dress or other formal dress.

Reply
Jill link
6/26/2014 01:18:23 am

Definitely a pattern I'll be purchasing. All the outfits look amazing.

Reply
Erica
8/31/2014 12:04:06 pm

What type of fabrics did you use in letter D? Looks like suede and some type of wool but it's hard to tell from the picture :) Love these costumes btw, can't wait to make mine!!

Reply
Andrea
8/31/2014 09:47:37 pm

I used whatever looked right regardless of the fiber content. So, for the skirt, dark green and white sash, a synthetic suede cloth. For the front of the skirt a boucle knit and for the top a wool like tiny check. Look at the photo in this blog that shows the swatches.

Reply
Emily
10/8/2014 11:27:36 pm

Love your Blog is inspire me

Reply
Andrea
10/9/2014 12:39:27 am

Thank you Emily!

Reply
Sharon M.
11/20/2014 10:10:25 pm

. I've been wanting to sew for years, and your "D" dress inspired me to get started.
I hit up thrift and hardware stores, yard sales etc for material, and the Internet, Joanns, and library for helpful tips.

It's an honor to "meet" the artist who created this.
Thank you. :)

Reply
Andrea
11/21/2014 03:01:33 am

Best of luck, Sharon, write if you have any troubles or to share your success.

Reply
Sharon
11/21/2014 09:38:50 am

Thank you I will! :)


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    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

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