I'm the kinda girl that doesn't really like clothes that are see
through or really low cut tops, but so many dresses fit both of those
categories. This is my fix to the problem. A very simple dress that can
be worn underneath another dress, while still keeping it cool, but
preventing light from shining behind and leaving nothing to the
imagination.
I was going to a Disney-Pixar themed 21st, so being a money
saving student I used my 'petticoat' to double as an 'Eve', from Wall-e,
costume.
So what do you need:
About 1.25 -1.5m stretch fabric (I used viscose lycra)
All the usual sewing stuff
Fold the fabric in half side edge to side edge, with the right
side of the fabric facing in. Use a dress/skirt/top that fits
comfortably to give you a guideline of where to cut. When in doubt cut a
little wider than what you expect. Also, remember to allow about 2cm
for seams.
I used the dress that I made
here,
as well as the skirt pattern that I cut when making that dress. You do
not have to cut precisely (stretchy fabric also makes this virtually
impossible!).
Cut and pin
Now
because it's easier to cut it a little bit wider and then correct, I
tacked along the edge and then put it on and loosely retacked where I
wanted it to be a bit smaller, while it was still on.
This
shows you how far out I was with my initial cut, and how much better
the final product will be if you just take a few extra minutes to
retack.
Sew along the tacking lines.
I only decided later to add on a piece of fabric at the top, so that it
would be able to be foldover, but not show a raw seam when it was
folded. Hence, the colour of the dress will now change (explained in my
next post).
Cut two pieces of fabric the width of the top of the dress when inside out (allow for seams) and about 25cm high.
(*You can angle the cut a bit so that it narrows towards to top edge,
to allow it to fit well below the bust once it is folded over.) It is
very important that the fabric is cut as if it being wrapped around you
with the sides of the fabric running down your sides (i.e. the salvage
running down your side, 25cm side parallel to the salvage). If you cut
it the wrong way it will not have as much stretch and is then quite
tight.
Sew
the sides of the top section, turn it right side out and place it
inside the bottom section, with right sides of the top and bottom
sections together. (*If you have made one edge narrower, then ensure that the wider edge is lined up with the top of the bottom section.)
Pin the top to the bottom and sew them together. (I failed to take a photo here, sorry)
To wear fold the top section inside the bottom section and then
fold it over. (This added piece ensures that you don't have any raw
seams showing.)
To strengthen the ends of the seams, I did a few simple (and messy) hand stitches in the seam.