We are already 3 months into the new year, so it’s about time I told you about the dress I made to celebrate the beginning of this year. I have this personal tradition to make a new dress, or garment, for every New Year’s eve celebration, ever since I was 16. I think I only missed 3 years, when I wore something I bought, 1 year when I wore something I had previously made, and 1 year I only made a skirt. I tried finding pictures of every outfit, but it seems I also have a habit of not taking pictures of my new year’s outfit.
So I ended 2019 a bit on a low point. I had lost my job, didn’t found a new one and actually didn’t knew what I would like to do career wise. I had all these feelings of shame, anger, disappointment in myself and the world, and just felt lost. I actually just wanted to curl up in bed and stay there. But I also wanted to do something I knew I could do well, to feel proud again. So I started on the last dress I would make in 2019, and the first one to wear in 2020.
Ever since I got engaged in back in May, I’m always thinking about my wedding dress in the back of my mind. I want to make the dress (maybe even dresses) myself, and already have a big suitcase filled with fabrics to use, but the idea keeps changing. So I thought, why not try something out with my new year’s dress.
So I started with choosing a black allover lace, and an galloon band to match. For the design I wanted long sleeves, bare shoulders and a high-low skirt. I wanted to use the galloon band on the shoulders and neckline to have a nice scalloped edge. The overall look being simple but elegant.
Since I was using a stretch material, I also picked a stretch material for lining. I plain light pink jersey to keep the design of the lace visible. And since I was using only stretch materials I already had the basic pattern to start from. And another plus, no zippers or closures.
Drawing the pattern was pretty straightforward. I drew a sweetheart neckline for the lower part of the bodice, and then filled it again up with the galloon, so I ended with a straight neckline on top. For the back I did the same, but in a slightly dropping line, instead of a sweetheart. I continued the line where the galloon and allover matched onto the sleeves, to create a nice flow. For the skirt I used a 1/4 circle, and just created a fluid hemline going from kneelength in the front to anklelength in the back.
To stitch the bodice and sleeves, I did cut the lower part and lining the size of the finished neckline. By doing this I could simple put the galloon part flat on top, stitch it together, and cut away the allover and lining underneath.
The pattern and stitching was pretty easy and quickly done for this dress. And I’m absolutely pleased with the result. I was like I envisioned, simple but elegant.
I did however made a mistake with the some seams. The side seam in the bodice I did with the lining and allover together, so the seam allowance wasn’t showing through the lace. But I didn’t do this for the horizontal waist seam. So I redid this seam. For the side seams in the skirt I couldn’t use the same technique, since the lining was more of a straight skirt and thus not as wide as the allover. I did however flipped the lining inside out, so the seams where on the inside, and not showing underneath the allover.
Number of seams I had to redo: 2
If I recreate this I will: Try a different cutout in the back. Maybe more transparant, maybe a V shape, … But I will definitely use some elements in one of my future weddings dresses.
