The making of...

Yesterday I started to make my dress for my major project. See below the images of I have done it with explanation.

As a first step I folded the fabric in half so that I had 2 sides when I cut it.

After this I put my own top on the fabric so that I had a pattern. I measured the size of the holes and marked it so that it was easier to sew later.

After this I pinned the top.  With a white pencil I made the lines next to the top and 1 cm extra for the hem. I also made the top 40 cm longer and measured everything with a spirit level so that it is straight

I pinned the fabric so that it wouldn't slide when I cut it

After this I fastened the fabric with a sewing machine so that I could put the dress on the mannequin afterwards to make sure everything went well.  I am very happy that my mother was there so that she could guide me with the sewing machine. She first explained how to do it and then I did it myself. I could never have done this alone

I actually wanted to make the dress asymmetrical but unfortunately I saw that where the dress had to be longest was too short. That's why I decided to leave the dress as is. I did see that the dress was too long and I removed another 8 cm.

You don't see it very well, but here the dress has been made shorter.  You can see that there is more shape right after the dress is shorter

After this I did the edges with a zigzag stitch because it was very frayed. I have set the width of this to 4.

After this I removed all the fraying with scissors.

Because my mom and I are neither experienced seamstresses, we did not secure the hem with pins but with a needle and thread so that the fabric does not shift.

After this I used a straight stitch to make a seam in it. Then I cut the white thread out again with scissors.

I had a piece of fabric left and tried this as a belt to get more shape and waist in the dress. I also tried that with a belt but I didn't get that much shape.  After this I decided to make a belt from the remaining fabric. I made the belt so long that it can go around the waist twice and comes behind the bow. This makes the belt a bit wider and gives it more shape. This belt I am going to use as an accessory. 

I took the same steps with the belt. First used a zigzag stitch to remove all the fraying, then folded in half and put a seam in it.

Details

Final result

Front

Side

Side

Back

Reflection: 

I am very happy with the end result. It is beautifully finished and there are no flaws. i'm glad I used a belt to give the dress even more shape. Also that the belt is in the same fabric, it fits better together.  Luckily the sewing machine also went well and worked with needle and thread with a little help from my mother. Now that I see the end result, I am glad I did not go for my first design. This dress is more special and less simple. I have been creative to reinvent the top and make it a completely new shape.  Making a dress for the first time, I am quite proud of myself. It turned out better than expected. In the future I would like to attach the belt to the dress so that it is a whole.  I have developed new skills such as sewing, working with patterns, pins and needle and thread. Even though I am not going to do anything with fashion design, I found this very educational and I think that this knowledge will help me in the future

Tomorrow I have a fitting with my girlfriend to see how the dress looks with her together with the accessories because I received them yesterday. Next Thursday I will do the photo shoot.