Nairaland Forum

@wizb: using 14" wouldn't be adviceable as u would have little to make your gathers with unless you aren't looking to do a gathered dress and want to just work with the flare and tulle. I would suggest you use 18" from the tip. Mark it out like you are working with a pencil and compass just like in maths class lol! I.e hold down the tape head to the fabric tip(you wld begin at the edge of the fabric so you actually begin at a 45 degree angle), using 18" would leave you with about 38" which is cool considering your waistline is 28" and you only need 14" excluding seam allowance for the back piece.

Follow this link just incase you can't match up the steps with the uploaded pics http://www.thatssewnaija.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/sswd-sew-along-sewing-skirt.html

@jadareese- yeah I cut it folded, n there's also a pic of it spread open.

@jadareese- I didn't because the second post was all about the main skirt. The 3rd post for d sew along is all about d linning. Re-read the schedule. Tafetta wouldn't really fly as it would induce heat. Try tailoring shops for net.it isn't difficult to find.

Morning all, have a productive week ahead!

Please go through the photos according to the numberings in the text. and why isn't anyone posting their work? Not cool guys!

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Finally!

I'm trying to upload but can't!

cant seem to upload any photos would try again soon

I chose to cut my skirt in a semi - circle form so that it flares out prettily, although I wouldn't want my skirt to be overly gathered as I’ll be using tulle as well and don't want too much volume. Feel free to add some more gathers if you prefer as it all depends on how you plan to rock yours!
1. Mark out the wrong sides with your marking tool (chalk or marking pen)
2. From the margin, make a cone, the bottom being your waistline. Here, I’m using a waistline of 26'',(i.e. 13'' each for front and back, excluding wrap overlap allowances) so the waistline marked out is 38''. Note that we are starting out with the back of the skirt so only 13'' in required asides seam allowances.
Be sure to make an equal marking from the tip as shown in the photo i.e. if you are using 15'', then it must be 15'' from the centre tip all round the cone.
3.After marking out your cone, cut at the bottom and it should like the photo below. from the same bottom of the cone, mark out whatever skirt length you want (you must have measured out your dress length) here, I’m using 22''
be sure to mark the same length from different points, from top to bottom and you'll find that you have a semi circle kind of shape.
4.Here's what the back piece looks like spread open
5.Fold your back piece in two and spread on you remaining fabric. NOTE: the edges must be aligned
6.This piece makes one part of the front of the skirt. In all, we would require three pieces - back= 1piece, front = 2pieces the extra marking you see that looks like seam allowances, are actually our overlap allowance (as it is a wrap dress we are making) Do this twice, to complete your skirt pieces.
7.After you're done, make a notch at the top centre of each skirt piece.
8.Here’s the back piece spread atop the frontal piece, notice the overlap allowance? here I used 4''
9.Pin the sides together i.e. frontal pieces to either side of the back piece, right sides facing each other.
10. Sew together. Here, I used a one inch seam allowance. For the insides, you could use an overlock, ziz-zag or hem stitch for finishing.
11.Here's the side seam after I joined the pieces together.
12.hem the bottom of the skirt,
13. make your gather stitches at the waistline
14.make two stitches when making gather stitches just in case one gets cut as you pull
15.Pull the first and second threads facing you. Don’t pull all four
16.And the skirt's done. Don't hem the overlap edges. Just leave the skirt as is, till we resume in the next post!

Happy sunday all! Just posted on the blog, copying onto nairaland in a bit. It's been a busy day!

Hello everyone! Today our Sew – Along commences and I am so

happy! I worked a few hours today, got back and rushed to begin

posting!

So we begin by taking our body measurements.


Asides the basic measurements we come across and are more

familiar with (as in the image above), there are a few more we

would require in making garments, so in that regard, I’ll type out a

list of what you’ll need to get measured and how.

The Basic Blocks in garment making include the bodice (torso),

skirt(below the torso), Sleeves(arms) and trousers, but for the

SSWD see – along, we would only require the bodice and skirt

because it is a sleeveless dress, and no trousers involved obviously!

So here’s what you’ll need to get measured: ( Stand erect and have

someone assist you, and try to take this seriously as the success of

your dress depends on this J

Shoulder (measure the length of your shoulder from one end of your collar bone to the next)

Armhole (measure around your armpit)

Bust (measure your bosoms at the fullest/highest point)

Apex (measure the length of your shoulder to your Tip)

Empire (measure the length of your shoulder down to your under bust, as well as the circumference)

Natural waistline (measure the circumference of your waistline. This is the narrowest part of your torso and is normally about an inch or two inches above your belly button)

Bodice (measure the length of your shoulder down to your belly button, as well as the circumference)

Hips (measure at the fullest part of your hips) - we wouldn't be working with this though.

PS. Take your measurements as you would like the dress to sit on you i.e. do not add any allowances.


see you on the next post.

@ efosaval - i love your enthusiasm thanks lots!

We should all collectively, keep praying that this country doesn't experience yet another war, now or ever again. I wasn't born during biafra but from what my parents told me of their personal experiences, it was a nightmare.

Hello all! Hope you had a great night? (For those of you awake already :-) Today, we begin our sew along with taking our body measurements so watch this space cos as you know, the Sew Along is a blog thing so after I post up there, I'll post here as well instead of referring you there.
Please get you sewing tools ready and your work space prepared as we begin marking and cutting tomorrow.
There's a new post about sewing without patterns here: http://www.thatssewnaija.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/thats-sew-patternless.html
Catch you later!

PS- I encourage you to post pics of ur fabrics, work-in-process and also share your experiences and 'wahala' as you progress. Thanks.

Bless u osezyblessing, this hread is indeed a breath o fresh air! Love d look buh woulda prefered Unclad or metallic shoes, as I feel this one on, looks too predictable and matchy

@shilees bless u!
@omo ibo- saturday is lready here na! Lol!

@nikkishyne- well, it helps to give d@ 'Sika' look. As d dresses r always styled with tulle petticoats. It's optional tho.

@jslimz &leoness- no worries. The posts, myself, as well other participants wl guide u thru.
@wizb- a yard wl do. Size doesn't really matter for the quantity of net. Ensure to get d medium thick I.e don't get a soft net e.g d type used for bridal veils, n don't get tooooo thick.
@fpeter - pls read thru t knw what u'l nid t get
@profkomolafe- sadly it is a female thing I.e a dress is going to be made @jslimz &leoness- no worries. The posts, myself, as well other participants wl guide u thru.
@wizb- a yard wl do. Size doesn't really matter for the quantity of net. Ensure to get d medium thick I.e don't get a soft net e.g d type used for bridal veils, n don't get tooooo thick.
@fpeter - pls read thru t knw what u'l nid t get
@profkomolafe- sadly it is a female thing I.e a dress is going to be made :-)

Lilimax: Hmmm...this is what I've been waiting for.
I have a similar site I've been following online over the years- Danamadeit.com.
It has been so inspiring except that they deal mostly on children clothes.I have made quite a no of children clothes from these.
Good to know that 'Sew Along' will be dealing on adult clothing made with African fabrics.
I can't wait to participate....

Really? Would visit d site. N ur welcome!

metamorphus11: am in! i hope am not too late!

No u arent- it commences ds saturday. Read thru to know what sewing materials u r to get.

@favour- don't worry ur head so much! We'l work it all out during d sew - along. No zipper, so d dress wld hav tie-belts. It is a wrap dress remember?

@ favourhascome - no zipper is needed as tis a wrap dress. :-)

@deeyor - sent u a mail

crispgg: That should be the Nollywood actor Victor Osuagwu...

Thought the same too lol!

What if some photo editing software were to be responsible

So finally, a date has been fixed for our Sew - Along! Anyone as excited as I am? *dancing across the room*
The chosen date is May 18(Saturday).
Please don't feel sad if this is what you voted for,due to the email votes, blog and Nairaland.com votes, it's obvious that this baby is our winning dress!
The dress is the Scope Wrap Dress by Sika Designs, a Uk based Ghanaian label owned by Phyllis Taylor. Their fabrics are sourced from Ghana and pieces handmade in Ghana by Ghanaian seamstress.
<<this dress was styled with a 50s inspired petticoat also by Sika Designs, but for our dress, we would attach the tulle to the underlining>>
Now as mush as I would love to be overly thorough about the schedule with respects to dates, I absolutely can't and here's why: First of all, I'm not a full time blogger- I got a full time job and you how restricting that could be!and let's not forget the unreliable Internet access here in Naija! Phew! In other words, do not despair, the posts would be uploaded thrice weekly, well detailed and orderly BUT I just wouldn't restrict my self to set dates.
Before I go on to upload the schedule, I'll do a quick intro on the chosen piece, and then list our required supplies for making the piece.

SUPPLIES:
1- Ankara fabric
2- Underlinning
3- Interfacing ( iron-on)
4- Net (for making the tulle)
5- Thread (a match for your fabric of course)
6- Measuring tape
7- Scissors
8- Pins
9- Marking pen/chalk
10- And of course, a sewing machine.
Optional- An overlock machine.

SCHEDULE:
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #1 > Body measurements
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #2 > Sewing the skirt:
- marking out/cutting out the skirt
- sewing gather stitches on the skirt
- joining side seams/seam finishes
- sewing the skirt hem
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #3 > Sewing the skirt's underlining:
- marking out/cutting out the underlining
- sewing gather stitches on the underlining
- sewing the underlining hem
- sewing the tulle to underlining
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #4> Sewing/turning out the belts
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #5> Sewing the bodice:
-marking out the bodice
- cutting out the bodice
-sewing layers of the bodice together
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #6> Cutting the bodice to shape
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #7> Attaching the belts to the bodice
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #8> Sewing the skirt to the bodice
Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #9> Showing our dresses off!!!!!!!

I've set up a thread on www.nairaland.com for the Sew - Along where participants can easily upload photos do their fabrics, work-in-progrress and finished dresses.

Culled from www.thatssewnaija.blogspot.com

Hi all! Date is to be announced soon. D@ as well as schedule wl be announced on d blog n then pasted here. Luk @ the coming week, more ppl r gettn involved so I'm tryn t fix a suitable time for us all. Pls hang on :-)

Happy birthday my favourite mod! may u encounter many more years of God's guidance and astounding blessings!