Craftsy Class Photos - Bombshell and Couture Dresses

Caftsy.com is having a photo contest and the winner gets 5 free craftsy classes and glory and fame on the front page of the Craftsy Web site.  All you have to do is post a photo of yourself making or wearing an item from a Craftsy class and post it on Pinterest. 

I am lucky enough to have some friends who really like photography and I was able to bribe them easily into wasting an afternoon with me.

We went to an old-fashioned/retro soda fountain near downtown Phoenix called MacAlpine's Soda Fountain. I was a little out of my comfort zone being such a spectacle in public place, but it was fun having two people snap pictures like crazy whilst being all decked out.  Plus, we actually ordered ice cream at the soda fountain and it was delicious. The employees were patient and wonderful while we took the photos, as well.

These are the Bombshell Dress I made from class, paired with two petticoats under the dress. 

And now for a costume change and stopping off at my work.  I thought I might get some very Mad Men-esque office-y shots, but everything in the office is modern, so that didn't work as well as I had hoped.  But they do have some colorful backgrounds for the Couture Dress I made.

 I have my eye on the new class - Sewing With Knits, so I am crossing my fingers for the win.

Bombshell Dress, Part 2

I have finished the online sewing course at Craftsy - Sew Retro - Sewing the Perfect Bombshell Dress. I started blogging part one here. This is part two - all finished!

I couldn't be happier.  I learned so much making this dress.

Inside as nice as outside.  Plus detachable strap.

A clean job on the zipper.

Even if you don't want to sew retro dresses, the online course Bombshell Dress Class is fantastic for learning sewing techniques and how to follow patterns.  The instructor, Gretchen Hirsch is fantastic.  If I lived anywhere near her, I would take in-person classes.  I have begun following her blog and  and am following her on Twitter.  Then, when I liked her on Facebook, I began to feel a little stalker-ish.   UPDATE: I have also pre-ordered her book on Amazon.  It comes out is September!

I am signed up for Gretchen's next course on Craftsy- the Starlet Suit Jacket.  I'll definitely be posting about it.

UPDATE:
I made a petticoat (and posted a tutorial for it).  Here are photos of the dress with a petticoat.

Without Petticoat

With Petticoat

Bombshell Dress, Part 1

I found the perfect sewing course on a site called Craftsy.  It is Bombshell Dress Class with Gretchen Hirsch.  It is exactly what I have been looking for!  I love sewing retro/vintage type dresses and this is how to do it from start to finish.  Finally, I will get the sewing instruction I need.  Maybe my hems will look better!  Maybe my stuff will fit! 

This is image stolen from the Craftsy site.  The finished product from the class will be a dress like one of these.  Essentially, these are the same bodice with variations for the skirt and an optional strap.  I am going to make mine with a full skirt, a halter strap and use black and white polka-dot material.

I have started watching and sewing along.  Gretchen is really great.  I am really loving this online course.  So far, I can't recommend it enough.

The first step is to create the bodice out of muslin to get the fit.  Then, she shows you how to make pattern adjustments from there.  This is exactly what I have been missing in my sewing.

This is my muslin after some adjustments.

 

I looked ahead in the lessons and the bust will  have the slightest bit of padding to make it a more constructed dress, so I am not worried about the obvious roominess there.

One of the interesting things about the pattern is that it doesn't use any seam allowances.  It makes cutting out the pieces easier and gives me experience marking the fabric and then sewing guide lines to match the pattern pieces.

Stay tuned for part two!  Hopefully, I'll have the finished dress done.

Update: Part Two done! -  http://thesewinglab.blogspot.com/2012/04/bombshell-dress-part-2.html