When making a DIY dress, it is important to use a very simple dress pattern. Some dress patterns may even come with instructions for a few variations of the main dress pictured on the front. These patterns will also usually indicate which type of material should be used to make the garments. A dress maker should also carefully measure the person who will be wearing the dress. Dressmaking instructions are also usually included with dress patterns, and they should be followed very carefully.
Choosing the right dress pattern is the first step toward making a great DIY dress. Novice sewers should generally start by choosing a very basic dress design. Dresses with sleeves and collars are generally more difficult to make than those without them. Sewers may also want to consider a dress pattern that has instructions for making a few different dresses. These are usually variations of the same basic dress, and some versions may be longer or shorter, or have different necklines.
A DIY dress pattern will usually include instructions for fabric to buy when making the dress. Some dresses may require stretchy knit fabrics, while others may require non-stretch fabric. Also, a dress that is supposed to be made from a light fabric will not usually hang or fit as well if it is made with a heavy fabric. Patterns will also usually indicate if any garment findings, such as zippers or buttons, are necessary when making the dresses.
Patterns will also usually include a sizing chart. The bust, waist, and hips of the person who will be wearing the DIY dress should be measured carefully. Not all measurements will always correspond to just one size, though, and the pieces of the dress should be cut to fit the person.
A sewer should carefully follow all of the instructions included with a DIY dress pattern, especially when cutting out the pieces. To cut out the pieces of a dress, all of the pieces of the thin paper pattern should be attached to the fabric with pins. This will ensure that the pattern does not slide on the fabric.
All pieces of the dress should then be sewn together according to the directions on the pattern. Usually, notches will be cut out along the edges of the DIY dress pieces, and these should be placed together. It is usually easier to sew the pieces of a dress together when they are pinned together. It will also usually help to iron hems flat before sewing them.