DIY: Homecoming Dress

Jennifer Butler, Opinions Editor

If you hate trying to search your closet and every shopping center in St. Louis for a dress, you should consider making your own.

Sewing is becoming a lost art with the designer clothes and easy to find Macys’ and Targets. Sewing a dress or shirt is an amazing way to keep that art alive. With the plethora of patterns and fabrics to choose from, there is a microscopic chance that you would have the same dress as someone else.

The supplies that will be needed:

– Dress pattern from JoAnne’s or other local fabric shop

– Corresponding fabric listed on pattern

– Corresponding string

– Pins

– Scissors

– Sewing Machine

First, you will need to pick out a pattern. If it’s your first time sewing a dress, you should try to pick a pattern that’s easier so you don’t get confused halfway through the making of it. Patterns can be found by the cutting station at JoAnne’s or another local fabric store. Make sure to find a pattern in your size. Sizes are usually clumped in fours per each pattern packet.

Second, you’ll need to find corresponding fabrics for the dress. On the back of the pattern packet, there will be suggested fabrics for the lining and other layers listed. Find the right type of fabric and then it’s a matter of color you want.

By the listings of fabric, there will be a list of extra items you’ll need for the dress like a zipper or hook and eye, and exactly what size it needs to be. Find those while you’re there in the store.

Once you’ve gotten all the items you’ll need to make the dress, you’ll need to start cutting the fabric. You will need to cut the paper with the pattern on it first, cutting where the size says to do so. Then you will pin the paper pattern to the fabric. Make sure to mark on the fabric where marks are on the paper for darts or alignment. When you start cutting the fabric, the paper pattern is only going to be half of the piece you need to cut, so you’ll have to flip the paper over halfway through cutting.

After cutting the fabric, all you have to do now is follow the pattern’s directions and start sewing.