2013 DW Fashion Design Challenge: July 2013

2013 Fashion Design Challenge

Entry #36

My inspiration was the 80s and their trends.

I put together this Polyvore set to show my general idea.

Next, I started on the stirrups. I made the patterns and used stretchy legging material. I hand-sewed the stirrups on.

Next, I started to work on the leg warmers. Rainbow leg warmers were very "in." We made them a bit long so I could scrunch them over the shoes and pull them over the pants.

Then, I started on the big part-the sweatshirt. It needed to be baggy and off the shoulder. I created the pattern but first I tested it on scraps. Then I started using the sweatshirt material. It originally had long sleeves but, I cut them off and added a small strap. I modified it to make it to my liking and made it as "80s" as it could be. I think my final shirt turned out nicely.

For the accessories, I made some black lace gloves and used jelly bracelets.

I made some giant hoop earrings and put a big scrunchie in her high side pony.

She is wearing flats that I did not make but are bright and fun and go with the outfit.

The result is a totally 80s outfit!

Thank you for your entry!

Vote for this outfit via comment on this post or by emailing us

at nora.demington@gmail.com.

One vote per person.

You can vote for yourself.

You can vote for more than one outfit.

Hence, you can vote for multiple outfits. :-)

Information about this contest:

http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2013/06/dw-2013-fashion-design-challenge-starts.html

First Outfit Tasks Due July 14th, 2013.

Second Outfit Tasks Due August 25th, 2013.

2013 Fashion Design Challenge

Entry #35

From Forever Friends Doll Clothes

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Forever-Friends-Doll-Clothes/264633626973627

This rainbow dress was designed for my grand daughter on her 4^th birthday. She wanted a rainbow for her theme and a twirl-y rainbow dress to wear. Of course, I said I could do it though I had never designed even a handkerchief before that.

It took 3 weeks worrying about how to do it. Like how long to make it, how to adjust the colours so each was just a bit wider than the one above it. Ho much to gather so the dress would not be too bulky but still twirly.

It took 2 days actually determining the length and width of each colour. A precise amount of fabric added to each new colour to give the right effect.

Then it was time to actually sit down and cut with trepidation and begin sewing. Tedious amounts of gathering and pinning, sewing and zigzagging.

Coming down to the doll dress size required almost the same process as again, it was my first attempt to design anything. But I was so pleased with the finished dress!

Of course a big step too was choosing the fabric. Personally I have trouble with anything containing polyester so the dress was automatically made in pure cottons. To get the best effect I wanted the best fabric so actually purchased fabric from a quilting store. Plain red, orange, yellow, green and blue just didn’t have enough life. So mottled fabric was selected. What a difference that made.

Probably the 2 hardest parts involved determining how to close the back and whether to use elastic around the top of the dress. Elastic seemed a little harsh for the underarms, so none was used. Closing the back of the doll dress was quite simple but for my grand daughter it took more thought. In the end, both dresses came out beautifully and several more doll and child dresses have been completed since. Some how, though, each dress has the same hurdles.

Then,- accents. Though this dress definitely flows and suggests no shoes, I suppose sandals would be best and chose silver AGD sandals. A beaded bracelet and hair bow will finish the outfit.

Seems every little girl loves her AGD. Every little girl dreams of a twirl-y dress and every little girl loves rainbows. Combining these loves has been a big hit!

The Rainbow Dress

Step One: Choose the fabric

Cutting the fabric. Many fabrics fray so pinking sheers is a good idea –

I did not have them with me today.

Pin orange fabric to red and sew using 1/4 inch seams

After zig zagging joining seam, fold top or red down ½ inch then ½ inch and sew.

This will be the top of the dress.

Sew sides ends of green and of blue fabric, then serge or zigzag

Run 2 gathering threads 1/4 inch apart along top edge of yellow, green and blue fabrics

Sew 2 rows of stitching ¼ inch apart in large stitch size. (Shown in red) Match center of yellow and of red with right sides together pull gathering thread to create gathers

Stitch then serge or zigzag seam

Join sides of yellow fabric by sewing up ¾

Gather and pin green fabric to dress. Sew and serge or zigzag seam

Fabrics will fray and all these threads need to be carefully removed after each step along the way.

Dress will look like this at this point. Many sew-ers feel that the seam allowance should be sewn to the top col our, but I like how this dress flows . Sewing that seam up, seems to stifle the flow. I do sew it up when making children’s dresses though.