Hello, creative Hivers!
Do you know that sometimes all we need to make the world a better place is from the little things we do, the reason why I keep telling my friends that one doesn't have to be very rich before being able to render assistance, we all have what to offer someone to make their day, it could be just a smile that helps lift the burden of depressed heart, you never can tell, be one to add joy to others not the other way round, that's how we make the world a better place.
For a couple of months now, I've been committed to the vow I made to cloth at least one person for free with the dresses I make, sometimes I exceed this number, and other times it might take more than a week for me to have the chance to make a new dress probably due to school or work duties, but what I'm grateful for is the grace I've had so far, not relenting on this promise I made, and I've also shared some of these projects here in this community.
As sewing is my passion, I tend to have lots of leftover fabrics, other times, I just buy fabrics I fancy at the market when I can afford them and keep them till I am inspired to make something out of them, this has made my sewing room to be cluttered over time, but when I decided to take up this responsibility, so far, it has helped me a lot in decluttering, the overall satisfaction comes from actually putting the fabrics to good use and putting a smile on someone's face.
My main focus is mostly the girl child of all ages as I am more into the female clothing niche, this time, I made a dress for two siblings in my neighborhood who live with their aged grandma, and I couldn't help but admire their relationship with their grandma, how they help in taking care of her while their parent is usually at work most time, one wouldn't blame them as the situation of the country demands us to work twice as hard, still, affording most basic things of life like food and clothing is still difficult. To encourage the young girl to keep on with their good attitude, I gifted them this dress, the same design but different sizes as one is older than the other.
The materials used are ankara fabric which I recently bought, while the white lace fabric was gifted to me by my mother-in-law, but I didn't know what to make with it, until now.
Cutting and Sewing Process
- I started by drafting and cutting the upper side of the dress using a basic bodice pattern for both the front and back
- Then I chalked a semicircle around the front center pattern as this is where the unique design of the dress would be placed.
- Measuring what I chalked, I transferred it, cutting it out of the white dry lace fabric
- Next, I cut out a long strip of the edge of the fabric also known as selvage
- Using the long strip, I pleated it neatly around the white lace placed at the center of the front dress and finished it with the ankara fabric.
- I made sure to turn all raw edges with it's lining fabric and joined the front and back by the sides.
- Next, I drafted the sleeves, it a puff sleeve pattern, double the armhole measurement, because I pleated it in around the armhole and also used elastic to gather the hem of the sleeves.
- For the lower part of this dress, I achieved it by cutting the fabric in a semi-circle flare and also sewed it around the waist of the upper finished part of the dress
And here is the final look, they were so happy to receive their new dress and asked if I could make Grandma own, I was more than happy to oblige, I am not a pastor, nor a wealthy man, but I still get to feel the joy of giving to my society and that's the best feeling.
If you were to name this dress style what name would you give it? As I am also yet to find a suitable name for the flare dress design.
All images used in this post are mine