Ruffle Dress--Burda 6988

This was a really fun dress to make, to say the least. I want the opportunity to start being creative. I have now been sewing for about four months--since January--and I am so ready to do more than what I am capable of doing.

I used the silhouette of Burda 6988 and made some of my own additions. My first and only idea was to add the flutter or ruffle to the dress. I saw a picture from a designer and wanted to experiment with that. I cut two rectangular pieces of fabric lengthwise--about a yard or two long. I went back and started cutting curves and experimenting with the drape. I would pin (I don't have a dress form) and take it apart and do it again. When I finally came up with something close to what I envisioned, I sewed the two pieces together to get a finished edge. I didn't want to do a rolled hem. I used the ruffle as a finishing to the edge. I sewed it along the neckline and around the shoulder edge. I then flipped it on the front side and sewed it down the edge. I needed the ruffle to come out on the front.

When I held the dress up to me...like trying it on--to see the finished drape, I noticed how short it was. I don't like short dresses, so I added a piece to the bottom of the dress. I found the biggest piece of scrap that I had left over and sewed it to the bottom. You can't see it, but the bottom almost looks gray because I used the fabric off the grain-line--if that makes any sense. I'll be happy to explain further.

I didn't want to, but I just did rolled hems around the rest of the unfinished edges, which were the shoulders and the back neck-line. In the end, I really, I mean really love this dress. I want to try this out with a different and lighter fabric. I would also face the ruffle with a different color fabric.

What would you do differently? What would your spin on it be?

I am on a diet and once I get a little of this weight off of me, I hope that this will look a little better.