I recently started sewing lessons (yay!). It's one of those things that I've been wanting to do for a long time. I grew up sewing pillows, curtains and crafty stuff. I've always enjoyed sewing, but what I really wanted to make was fitted dresses. I had no idea where to begin. For this first dress I learned to make a pattern from scratch for a dress that I sketched out (wow…. so much more intense than I imagined). I had lots of help, made lots of mistakes and learned a lot. It was so much fun and I can't wait to use this pattern again to make another dress!
This project gave me butterflies. I really want to be the kind of person who keeps learning all throughout life. Don't you? Thanks for taking a peek at my first fitted dress! I hope there will be many more lessons to come… xo. elsie
P.S. For those curious, I am taking private sewing lessons from my talented seamstress friend, Missy. She works for Red Velvet and is currently working with me on our Spring collection. We love her a lot.
118 Comments
Wow, you did an amazing job!!! I love the collar! 🙂
Super pretty! I’m taking sewing right now… I hope my prjects will eventually look like that!
xo, Georgia
http://swonderfulgd.blogspot.com
wow.. is cool.. 🙂 http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
This makes me think of a sailor, so adorable! Keep it up!
feelingabovetheweather.blogspot.com
Wow! I wish I could sew dresses! I think all I can manage is hemming things. You did a great job. Love the detailed collar!
Really pretty! I have a sewing machine, but unfortunately no free time… Learning to sew is definately on my to-do list, though!
Looks great!! definitely alot better than the first dress I ever made…!
OMG! Your *first* dress? That is crazy good! You have some kinda talent and/or a heck of a teacher!
Yay Elsie! It looks lovely, I start sewing lessons next week! I can’t wait 😀
Ooo congratulations! It looks great! Sewing is so addictive, and you’re lucky to have a knowledgable friend to teach you! Have fun learning.
Not too shabby!
It’s beautiful! You did such a great job, what an exciting achievement. Kudos Elsie! :]
Learning to pattern and sew a dress is also on my list of things to learn! Great job, it’s beautiful!
that collar is so precious!
Gorgeous dress! I just love the collar to bits. I can’t wait to see more from you soon. So far so good. 😀
XOXO
This dress fits so well! You’re so good with your hands.
ooh – love this! It turned out so well! maybe add it to the next red velvet release? 🙂
Congratulations! Success! This belt is gorgeous. Where u did buy it?
Super cute!!! I too have been trying my hand at sewing lately 🙂 It is such a precise art… I am working on it. Thanks for the inspiration.
http://www.mythriftychic.blogspot.com
beautiful dress, love it
its gorgeous. well done!
That is lovely!!! I just started learning crochet and I feel the exact same way. <3
Looks great on you! 🙂 I’m hoping to learn how to sew properly (with a machine and all, and not just by hand) sometime in the near future too. Great job 🙂
I have also just started sewing courses! i am not that advanced, but indeed, it is so much fun!
your dress looks really pretty!
Wow that’s great! I would also love to learn how to sew a dress or skirt- it’s on my never ending list of things to try!
That looks really great 😀
I just started sewing classes too, with my mum-in-law. So far I did a drawstring bag for a 1920 party 🙂 Now I’m doing pillow case… I can’t wait though to get enough skills to do flared pants 😀
Wow! I’ve always wanted to make my own dress! I bet it’s a great feeling 🙂
I’ll have to save my pennies and do a course at the local uni maybe 🙂
x
Lovely! Nice job!
I’m in love with your belt! Where did you get it? Thanks a lot! x
Now that is one fine dress!! I made my first with my gran when I was 13 and it didn’t look as good as that by any stretch of the imagination. Congratulations!
Cute!! Congrats on somehow fitting learning to sew into all the other things you do! I’m learning too!!
Love the dress & your tattoo!
xo Emma
beautiful dress! I’m getting a sewing machine for christmas, so perhaps I’ll be able to do the same one day, I love learning new things too!
The dress turned out lovely. Well done!
WOW- I love this dress!! Many congrats to you and your achievement!!!
Eek! SOOOO cute! You did an amazing job, but I have to say I’m not surprised. You are incredibly talented and seem to be able to do EVERYTHING! xo
Oh wow this is beautiful! I wanna have a sewing lesson too! Amazing! 🙂
http://intheworldoflife.blogspot.com/
Qué bonito! Yo también estoy empezando y, es verdad, de los errores es de lo que más aprendes! 🙂
Mucha suerte!
http://www.miprimeramaquinadecoser.blogspot.com
great work 😀 i have been sewing some lothes for a while but always fled from the idea of trying to draft my own patterns.. in the “way too difficult” basket.. am in awe of those who can!!
well done love it
What a great start to sewing … this makes me want to start lessons. You should be very proud!
More @
Elegantly Academic
That dress is gorgeous – so impressive! I’m struggling to get my sewing machine to play nicely long enough to make the simplest thing at the moment – I can’t imagine being able to make a proper dress! Jen x
This is beautiful! I’m hopefully branching into dressmaking soon & am so excited.
Love the dress it looks so professional, I really like the collar and the belt finishes. I am currently making a hat for my textiles course – more news of success or failure to come on my blog…
littlemissmaisyblogging.blogspot.com
absolutely love the set out of your blog x
Fantastic! My grandmother was a dressmaker and made garments for ladies in politics here in Melbourne…..it was such a rudimentary skill years ago, but now, it’s cool! Well done:)
Congrats on your first hand-made dress! Sewing Rocks! You will be addicted now…
It’s my dream to learn someday how to sew my own clothes! Your first dress is gorgeous. I’m sure that we are going to see great things from you once you’ll be totally independent and free to use your imagination and turn it into new beautiful collections!
super cute! i love it, the belt is way awesome! it is more intense than ppl think.
great job, elsie!
You did an amazing job! I agree, the minute you think you’re done learning what’s the point??
wow the dress looks amazing, Elsie! I’m so happy you’re making true your dream of having sewing lessons! you go, girl! can’t wait to see what else you’ll ome up with 😉
Fantastic. That dress looks perfect on you. Way to go!
Loulou @ Loulou Downtown
Oh so perfect! It is an adorable dress.
How lovely! 🙂
Well done! It’s really cute.
Looks great! I love the fit of the bodice. My favorite part is definitely the collar!!
aww! I think it is so lovely! I totally want to continue to learn all throughout my life…there is so much I want to learn too! ..including making my own patterns 🙂 -Lo
i would buy that dress! absolutely LOVE it. way to go elsie! 🙂
I love the dress!
the dress is gorgeous and i love that belt! who made it?
it looks awesome
and those shoes are to die 🙂
Totally be proud of yourself…the dress is FANTASTIC! 🙂
Elsie! This is amazing! You have to be so proud of yourself! I can’t wait to see your own clothing line because this gorgeous dress is just the start! You should totally frame this dress so when you’re running things with your own line you’ll be able to look back at that very first piece and see the start! Simply amazing you are so inspirational!
Love the dress! It looks absolutely amazing for your first fitted dress. I’m actually wanted to get serious about my sewing skills as soon as I get my craft room set up. Luckily I have a super talented mother who is amazing seamstress [as her hobby].
OMg if this is your first dress I’m sure your are going to be great couturière!
http://secondopilar.blogspot.com/
I love it!!! That collar is just darling!
Oh my goodness! That looks incredible. Definitely would not have guessed it was your first try. I’ve really been wanting to learn to sew as well. I’ve always been able to do hand-stitching for mending and crafts and such, but I’ve never made a full garment. After seeing your accomplishment, I’m feeling rather motivated myself ^_^
http://www.thequirkypoet.blogspot.com
It is a nice dress! Keep up the good work 🙂
That’s beautiful!!! Amazing job!
wow. i am amazed. if this was my first fitted dress i’m sure it would have looked more like a halloween costume gone terribly wrong! it looks amazing! xo
love this dress, and it fits you like a glove!!!
it looks perfect, especially since it is your first! congratulations.
You are so amazing, it’s a perfect 1st dress! Can’t wait to see your other dresses. Makes me want to make a dress too!
Ash :o)
ftashion
wow, that is SO cute! great job!
i love the sailor feel, especially with that amazing rope belt.
i can’t wait to see more of your creations!
What a cute dress!!
TheLifeAfter
That dress is adorable! I wish I took the time to make clothing for myself. Can’t wait to see what you sew next–I’m sure it will be just as cute!
Congrats, Elsie. This is a beautiful dress and such an awesome accomplishment!
Ohhh…can you say more about how you did that collar? Also, is the belt vintage? It’s cute – looks very DIY-able…
that dress is ADORABLE!!! I’m totally in love with it! and it looks amazing for your first try! i want make dresses SO bad! i’m so excited to try it!
*herheartatmidnight*
Great job, the dress looks amazing! Such a perfect fit and I love the collar. I am looking forward to seeing more creations 🙂
Feeling Bold
Your hair looks awesome here too! The dress is phenomenal!
Great job, Elsie! I love to sew small projects but I’ve been nervous about taking the plunge into clothing.
This dress is super cute, and you could do so many things with that pattern now that you’ve got it all worked out! I’m envisioning a higher neckline with a patterned peter pan collar for version 2.0! 🙂
That´s so inspiring! That’s why I love your blog, this creative wisdom of yours!
That is awesome! Have you found all the free sewing tutorials, tips and tricks at http://www.WeAllSew.com yet? Good stuff for beginners!
SO cute! Nice work!
xo,
Sarah
This is stunning Elsie! You are incredibly talented 🙂 I am starting the Home Ec. course soon, hopefully I will graduate to this kind of project soon after.
You are so talented! It´s a pleasure to me to visit your site everytime! <3
Love the dress Great Job!
That is amazing, you are seriously so talented!
Oh my gosh I love that belt! Nautical but feminine. Lovity love!
Wow, love the dress! Well done.
And beautiful pics <3
your dress is adorable and soooo cute!!! Great job!! i love the glasses!! 😉
The dress fits very well.You did fine for your first dress. Cute belt.
love your tattoos
http://farnelldoodles.blogspot.com/
great blog
Beautiful! And you made it yourself!? Congratulations!
wow! awesome job! very impressive, seriously!!!
Yay! Elise, it looks beautiful! I can definitely say that my sewing, pattern making, tailoring, and textile design classes were THE MOST valuable classes I’ve ever taken!
I’m so excited to see what other gorgeous designs you dream up in the future 🙂
I love what you said about wanting to be the kind of person who learns continually throughout life. I definitely agree with you. Being stagnant is boring and somewhat sad. The world is too big.
Wow! It looks really good. I can’t even imagine making that on my own. I just now got a sewing machine and haven’t even started experimenting or trying it. Great job!
You did a great job! Looking forward to seeing more 🙂 I will also be learning to sew — to be taught by my 90-year old grandmother as soon as I get to buy a sewing machine 🙂 I wholeheartedly agree, I also want to keep on learning throughout my life. 🙂
Can we please talk about your belt?! It’s awesome!Where is it from?
Your dress is amazing and you are a true artiste with accessorizing–the nautical throwback with the rope belt and scooner-esque shoes…Genius!
elsie your sailor inspired dress turned out splendidly!
Congrats!!! You look amazing in your creation–fits you like a glove.
You are so talented and such an inspiration.
I got a sewing machine for X-mas last year and still have not taken it out of the box! I need to do that before my mom has to put it under the tree again for this year-haha!
xoxo
http://www.hourglass-fashion.blogspot.com
very cute dress!
what I want to know is: where did you get that awesome rope belt?!
What a great dress! Can’t wait to see what other fabulous designs you’ll make 🙂
Such a pretty dress! Congrats!
Mariaxx
http://www.cheekypinktulip.blogspot.com
Looks incredible! It’s always fun to try new things and learn new skills. So happy you feel the same too. kimxo
Next year you can go on Project Runway!
how exciting! you did a great job! I would love to take a sewing class- what a fun dress!
http://itsawant.wordpress.com/
beautiful dress!
http://forallthatjas.blogspot.com/
Whoa! Red Velvet needs to sell this dress! 🙂 (Or I just need to get my mom on board with her super awesome sewing skills to help me with making things…)
-Kat
http://certainsomethingvtg.etsy.com
That dress is beautiful!
I am absolutely in love with all you dresses with peter pan collars. I think they are just the chic-est neckline ever.
I made a tutorial for an embellished collar, check it our if you’d like here: http://desartsplastiques.tumblr.com/post/12230534098/diy-embellished-collar-what-youll-need
Amazing! I envy you, I wish I had someone to teach me too formal weekend schools are so expensive… Oh well it’s not the same but there is always youtube haha. I want to be a person that keeps learning too. So inspiring. 🙂
The dress is adorable!! You are one talented chic! 😉
Beautiful! Very Beautiful!
Want to share the lesson? It would be really fun to make one!
Love.
this is awesome! are you taking a class, or learning from a friend?
wow ,welcome to :
http://www.vogueboom.com/
http://www.vogueboom.com/
http://www.vogueboom.com/
http://www.vogueboom.com/
Hi, i love the dress. Would be good to learn to make things like this and mini ones for my soon to be little miss.
http://ilovesixpence.blogspot.com/