First dress, and how to make it

I was looking around the web at various site and blogs for a quick, free and simple pattern that would look good on a curvy girl, and I couldn't find what I thought was easy enough for someone that had never made anything without their mum looking over her shoulder and giving hints, such as how to use pins correctly. So I decided to make a dress pattern. So I wondered along to a fabric shop remnant kings, and got a thick, textured jersey -blue floral- and some squared pattern paper. I knew I wanted to make something similar to a skater dress. Unfortunately the vest I used wasn't a great fit, so excuse the neck line! 

Things you need:

4 m of jersey fabric

a good fitting vest top

pattern paper (I prefer squared)

scissors

pencils, pin and string,

pins, thread, measuring tape

sewing machine or needle 

I started out by measuring my waist, 81 cm, and then worked out the diameter. Depending on how good you are at maths, divide the waist measurement by 6.28 or you can use this website.

For me, this came to approximately 13 cm. 

I also measured from my waist to where I wanted my skirt to finish: 53 cm.

My shoulder seam to waist is 43cm.

On my pattern paper, I drew 2 quarter circles, sharing a center, one with radius 11.5, other 67.5, to account for the seam and hem allowance (1.5cm).

I cut out the pattern of the sheet and pined then cut out on the fabric. Then, using a long straight stitch, sew along the inside waist, withing the seam allowance to prevent stretching.

At this point I apologize for my lack of photos, but I hope I explain it well enough for you.

For this next step get your vest top and fold it in half so the seams are together. put the center fold of the front to a guide line on the paper, or the edge to make sure that its straight (mark this edge), then trace with 3 pencils together (for the seam allowance). Go down to the waist line + seam allowance (cm for me) Repeat for the back.

 

Cut out these pattern pieces and, with the center edges on a fold, pin then cut.

With wrong sides together, pin and sew a 5mm seam allowance on the shoulders and sides then add skirt the same way. Turn right sides together, press seams and sew a further 1 cm to all of the seams.

Using a rolling hem, pin and sew along the neckline, armholes and hem the skirt.

Congratulations!
I hope you could follow these instructions and got a dress you love :)

Take care