Oh, man! One of my goals this year is to revisit all of the textile skills I have learned, bought a ton of supplies for, and then quit as soon as I started blossoming. These include quilting, free motion applique and embroidery, heirloom sewing, flat pattern drafting, activewear, surface textile design, and so much more.

This was the first dress I made using a flat-drafted pattern based on my measurements in late 2023. While I think the dress looks lovely in the photos, the drape of the material was not soft enough. The drop waist needed to go down an inch, too.

This would be a fast, easy project as this 1920s design is dubbed the ‘one-hour dress.’ This is, of course, not true, and after fixing my flat pattern, I was able to finish the dress in three hours. With many years of experience, I am fast, although – not that fast. To fix my drop waist, I added 1″ to each shoulder and a couple of inches to the center of the dress.

I bought the soft drape crushed velvet fabric from Promenade Fine Fabrics in New Orleans using my color cards from my color analysis.

The minor alterations to my pattern resulted in dramatic results, and I’m overjoyed to learn more about my favorite craft. When something doesn’t work out, I always have the opportunity to try again when I’m ready. This also goes for you and your sewing practices.

I once made a “One Hour Quicky Dress” and a “The 30 Minute Dress“. Read how they were made in the titles.

Behind the Scenes

I got a second professional dress form for art shows, draping, and my work studio. I’ve entered into two art shows this summer.

Thank you for reading,

Tracy McElfresh

Dream it! Sew it!

Tracy McElfresh
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