Just Plain Pitiful!!!
 

Ok guys, you gotta promise me not too laugh....too hard! :D

As you know, I am trying to learn how to sew. I took the beginning sewing class and learned a lot about reading patterns. So I attempted KS's first dress yesterday. I worked all day long and let's just say...it did not turn out too good. A lot of my sewing is not as straight as it should be, it did not sit right on her body, it was a little bunched up on the back where it should lay flat, and so on. But dang it, I tried! I ended up taking the D-ring off of this one after pix and tossing it. It wasn't fit to wear. I would've been embarassed for anyone to see her in it.

But I did decided to share my pix with you guys. I am hoping that this can be something I can look back on when I get a bit better. After cleaning up, I re read the pattern many times and did a lot of research. I do see a lot of places where I went wrong. So I am going to the fabric store asap and going to try this again. I am determined to get this right!!!

I put the dress (if you choose to call it that....LOL) on over KS's sweater she had on last night. But maybe you can tell and get a chuckle! I hope to show you a better one soon! But for now, laugh away! ;)

And please excuse our messy hairs! Tee hee! I hadn't done KS's evening grooming just yet! :)

Aymee it isn't perfect I won't lie:p ...but for your first attempt at reading a pattern and making a dress, I think you did pretty darned good. (PS... I hate patterns:D I make my own)

good job!!! not bad for your first time!!! youll get the hang of it...trail and error is how we learn!! ps KS is a cutie either way....not grooming or not!! what a doll.

to all beginers i recomend to use a seam guide, it helps a lot to keep your seams straight while you are learning, don't give up, sewing like everything is a Lot of practice,
here's a seam guide so you can see what it looks like, the goggy dress is not an easy item to start sewing with...LOL so is pretty good for someone that has never sewn a line in their life...:D
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Thanks guys! I appreciate all of your kind words and support! :) Love my fellow YT'ers!

And I will for sure check out that seam guide!

I think that you did a good job! You are a beginner and like said before, a doggie dress isnt an easy thing to make. When teaching someone to sew I usually start them out on pj bottoms (for people). Easy fit and nice long seams,so you can practise keeping them straight,5/8" seams are sometimes easier than 1/4" or 1/2" seams. A seam guide is a great idea.

Looking forward to seeing your next project.

You got the skirt looking pretty darn good...it's just the bodice that needs a little work:) You will have it down in no time. I think the pattern you are using a bit harder than some too. I'll be checking back and I'm sure your progress will amaze you!

I'm impressed! You go girl! Hurry up and make the next one so we can see! :) Katie Scarlett will be the best dressed girl on the block!

I think that is awesome for your 1st try! I wish I could do as good:)

This exactly....Not to mention patterns are a one size fits all type... Not all dogs are shaped the same, so pattern has to be adjusted for your pup. Obviously, like clothes for people, we aren't generic. This is why making a pattern off KS's sizes would be beneficial. I wish I were in PA. I could show you instead of trying to explain.

And I LOVE that fabric!! It's gorgeous!!

I know! I fell in love with the fabric the minute I saw it at Hobby Lobby! I am going to get more and hopefully the next one will look better. Thank goodness it was on sale! So I was only out my time and about $3 for fabric. LOL

Thanks guys! I appreciate all of your support! I felt kinda silly posting those pix, but now I know I'll be more appreciative if the next go round is better. :)

Find a dress you have that fits KS the way you like and study it. Use it to draw out a pattern of the pieces you'll need, adding an inch for seams. Look at the different pieces of it and take it apart in your mind. I fold the bodice in half and trace each piece and then label it. On skirts, I double whatever is there (on the dress i use as a pattern) to allow for ruffling (I always use the double fabric, turn it inside out because I hate hems trick)
This is how I sew. Pillows, dresses, beds, curtains, etc. I can't follow a paper pattern. I just can't.
I made allies valentines dress off of another dress I found a picture of on the internet. I studied other people's clothing from other websites and adapted the pieces I would need.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...3/6086d12d.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...n/301174e7.jpg first dress ever (for a dog) made out of an old pillowcase.

First attempt I think you did good. Practice makes perfect with everything.

I think it's great for a first try. My first few dresses were awful! The only way I learned was to make mistakes, then I knew not to do that again. Lol. KS is a doll.

I think you did good! Remember with sewing, you can always take it apart and do it over. That's what seam rippers are for, and I know mine very well....
The skirt looks great! Like others said, you'll have to adjust the pattern for KS as every Yorkie is different.
I don't use patterns, never did, as I make my own. As it happened with me, I used to sew clothing, and then with the stroke, it was in a part of my brain damaged and I don't remember any of it. So, I had time to re-learn, and I did. I think I know more now than I did before, and with enough repetition of making clothes, you will find you do also! Fun, fun! You will make your own patterns, and be a dress designer! You'll see, you will!
We each have a certain length, bodice style, etc. that we like, and that is usually what we do. You'll find yourself dreaming of dress styles in your sleep and waking up raring to sew them! I'm excited for you!!! Congrats!!!!!!

WHOO HOO.. you did it.. all thought you think it came out bad it came out good.. I think before you buy new material you can take that one apart and start over.. for the body of the dress use one of your old harness and trace it on a paper and take it from their.. the shirt came out awsome.. when you get better at it you have to show me how..good luck oh and you're so lucky you have a hobby lobby near you.. NY so sucks..

I think you did great for the 1st try, much better than mine. I tried PJs and yuk. All I can say is I'm a quilter, not a seamstress!

Hey... not bad! Only bc I have that pattern.... the stitching on the band is done under the band (I think), except for the last part where the band is attached to the skirt. It is a bit tricky to manipulate the material, I admit I had some trouble with it. I just looked at one I did... I ended up handsewing the band to the skirt, lol!

Another suggestion... use a color thread that won't show up as much, probably that green for this material. I even bought clear nylon thread, lol. Unless you plan to do a decorative top stitch, then I would use a contrasting thread color. (If you have a marker (for paper) that is close in color, you can go over those stitches to hide them a bit.)

Then, when all else fails... put a biggish bow on it to hide any mistakes you can't fix, lol!

Also, pressing all the seams down real well may help it lay better....

I give you a ton of credit though, that is not the easiest pattern to do. The ruffling on the skirt looks great, the seam at the bottom of the skirt and the curve look fine, very good job... the D ring... they are tricky... I can't say I've seen too many that look better than yours!

I can't really see much more to comment on... I am serious though, I'd get a big white or pink ribbon and put a bow at the top of the skirt just above where it meets the bodice.

All in all... really good job! :bravo:

Hey, I think that it's pretty good! I really like the material you used :)

I totally agree! You can't expect to have a masterpiece the first time! :thumbup: Plus, it's the Yorkie that makes the dress, not visa versa. So, you'll be good all the time anyway! Lol :D

Haha! I think I am better at uncrocheting at this point in time than I am at crocheting!

Thanks guys! All of your kind words and advice give me so much encouragement! I can't wait to try the next one! :) You guys are GREAT!!!!! Big hugs!

Aymee, I've been looking at these pics all night! Did you use the small size of the pattern? If yes, then the pattern is too big for her, and you can resize it before you try again.

Measure her girth, just behind her front legs. (You can add a tad so it's not super tight: however you would like it to fit her). Then pin pattern pieces #4 and #1 together at the seam and measure the pattern where it goes around her middle. Subtract 1 inch from that number (for two 1/2 inch seam allowances) and 3-5 inches for the velcro to overlap and then compare it to KS's measurement. The pattern small size is made to fit a dog with a 11-13 inch girth, from her pics it looks to be 1-2 inches too big.

Take her measurement from where her neck meets her shoulders down to about 2 inches before her tail starts. (I believe the skirt on this dress is shorter than most, most go to the end of the butt). Divide that number in half. Then measure the bodice from the neckline to the girth, and subtract 1 inch for the seam allowances. Compare and note the difference.

Then pin the pattern to decrease by that amount. I've done this pattern to decrease an inch.

Attachment 363202 Pin these two pieces (1&4) together and measure, allowing 1 inch for the 2 seam allowances.

Attachment 363203 Separate the two pieces and fold them in half, matching the neck parts together. Measure 1/2 inch for the fold (to decrease by 1 inch), pin the fold lengthwise. You may want to make piece #1 a bit bigger than measured to allow for sewing. If that piece fits her chest, you can leave it and just make the decrease on #4 bigger. Be sure it fits around her neck before you cut the material. Make the decrease on the band (#8) also. The width of the band can be left alone or decreased, either way.

Attachment 363204 Lay the folds to one side, then make another fold at the legholes, to decrease the length of the bodice. This may make the holes oddshaped, just cut the material as rounded as you can (to match the look of the original pattern as best as you can.

Then pin this to the material, and follow the pattern's directions.

Hope this helps...

Oh Wow! Thank you sooo much!!!! I did use the size 'small' for her. I really appreciate you taking the time to take those pix and share that info with me. I will definitely use this!!! I am going to the fabric store tomorrow. So hopefully I can try again on Thursday or this weekend. Thank you again soooo much!!! I wish I lived close to you! I'd pay you to teach me sewing stuff!!! :) I'm a hands on type of learner, so the pix really helped me to understand!

Well...I actually do live kinda close to you! LOL. I'm about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Baltimore! I'm heading that way mid March to hop a flight home. It will be KS's first flight to Bama. I love Baltimore! Such a nice place to visit! We've been several times!

And again, THANK YOU!!!! You are too kind!!!!!!!

If you want to PM about anything I check YT quite a few times a day. or I can give you my number if you run into any problems... if I know which days you'll be working on it, I'll find something to do around the house...lol. Would more pics help? I have two dresses I need to sew, I'll take pics of each step as I do it...(except if I mess up, lol)

You did a nice job !

Sewing is alway hard for a beginner. A couple of things that might help are:

To get your machine set to the right tension by using scrap material. Do as many test runs as you need until you get it just right.

Than practice your seems using the seem edge on a folded peise of scrap material first before you do it on the article you are sewing.

It is always better to do your mess ups on scrap than you have to tediously use a seem ripper to undo everything that you just done.

Also keep a eye one the amount of thread in your bobbin once you start your project. Because when you get on a role it can be frustrating if you are sewing along only to find out later that you ran out of thread and have to redo everything.

Just remember to Have fun, and just think. Once you master this. . . LOOK OUT .... Doggy Clothes Overload..:D

Thanks Dawn for all your helpful tips! :)

Thanks Kathy too! I think I will probably work this weekend. I have re-read over the pattern many times. I'm looking at it now.... (under 'sewing directions)

I am having trouble understanding what to do on steps #2, 3, and 4. That was where I first got confused on the first try. I know I did not follow those parts right. I also got confused after step #7. The picture shows the skirt sew in onto a couple of the top pieces, but then it is not shown anymore. I did stitch it on at this point, but when it came time to turn inside out my skirt was going the wrong way. Like it would not fold out right. I used my seam ripper from that point and took off the skirt and then just attached it to the sewn top part. Is that what you are supposed to do? Just attach the skirt after you have sewn the top right side out? I skipped the whole bow steps all togther after I saw that I had messed up, but I think I can do that part.

It looks to me like you did very well for your first one! Every time it'll get better & faster. Katie Scarlett looks adorable.