| Frequently Asked Questions |
| I'm often sent emails asking bits and pieces about making dresses. Once again I remind everyone that I am very much an amateur and my way may not necessarily be the best or right way!!!! I have no formal training in dressmaking, but ... if you are desperately seeking some information maybe this will help you. If you have any further questions that are not answered here then please email me your question and I'll be happy to try and answer them. Perhaps I'll be able to add them to this page for the next person! |
| Q. How can I draw this design from your site to the size I want? That is a good question and I'm sorry that I have no easy answer for you!!!! If you are clever or artistic enough you can hand draw it to scale. Some people have used overhead projectors to enlarge or otherwise used a light table. You could also offer to pay someone like a graphic designer to draw it to scale for you. Even though this will cost some money it should still be cheaper than having to pay for a new design. If you have a computer program like Photoshop you could try resizing each pattern piece. You can do this by measuring for example your front panel. You will need to decide to use either the width or the length but only one. Do each panel individually and save them. When you enter in the desired width or length the program should work out automatically the other desired measurements eg if you enter in the length the program should automatically work out the width. It will not be exact but will be fairly close to what you want. You will then need to print out your design. It will be on several pieces of paper and you will need to put them together a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. Best of luck!!!! |
| Q. Is the stiffening attached to the skirt panels before you appliqué, and do you appliqué through the whole lot? No, applique only the fabric of the dress and the interfacing. The stiffening is ironing on when all the applique is finished. The only exception is if you are satin stitching around the bottom of the skirt or making shaped panels. I always wait to do this part once the stiffening and lining are ironed on. Then I cut the shapes. Othewise the edges aren't strong enough and they just shrivel or scrunch up (very technical terms there!!!!). You may find you need some sew and tear as well as the interfacing - just depending on the quality of the interfacing. A few dressmakers do use the stiffening when appliquing but I find it very difficult to manoeuvre around the machine. |
| Q. What type of stiffening would you recommend? I always use 1085F. I buy that from Freudenbergs in Melbourne. The number is 03 9464 1022. The F stands for fusible and it irons on. While I do not sew it into the side seam allowances I always sew it into the waist. Some people recommend using a dry hot iron but I find the best way is to use steam but do it quickly. It does go soft when it is hot but lay it out somewhere and it goes very stiff as it cools. |
| Q. How stiff an interfacing would you use on the bodice pieces? Firstly I have a question for you! Are you making a shaped neck or will it just be round. I would recommend round for your first few attempts. But if you want the neck to be shaped then I would iron on one piece of stiffening under the part where you would satin stitch around the neck. Otherwise the interfacing I use is just a good quality iron on woven interfacing not terribly thick. Our teacher doesn't like the bodice to be too thick otherwise it will look too stiff. I've also started to put less interfacing on the sleeves. Even just for glitterball now I tear off the interfacing after I have finished the applique. I'm told it helps the sleeves to have a softer look - apparently that helps with arm movement. Sometimes I find it necessary to use some sew and tear as well as the interfacing, but I always try sewing with just the interfacing first to see if I can get away with that. |
| Q. Do you carry any sort of appliqué into the pleats of the dress or is it all on the front faces of the panels? Normally the applique is just on the front, side panels and back. I have never appliqued in the flash. Most people just let the fabric you use there work alone. A few people do have some little bits of applique in the flash and in the lining but I wouldn't worry. Of course the trend at the moment is to use very out there fabric in the flash, people are using things like polka dots etc. I'm not going there either. In my Jessica's next dress it is the only place where I am using very expensive fishscale sequinned fabric. |
| Q. I have heard of a course available in Canberra teaching the intricacies of making Irish dancing dresses, but am unable to find details of this course. Would you please help me? Shirley Capon runs a course through the Canberra Institute of TAFE. The course runs for eight weeks but usually has a school holiday break near the beginning. You can contact Shirley through her website www.shirleycapon.com |
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