Monday, June 29, 2015

My travel Experience in Qatar

kitschy goodies...

Whenever we travelling out of India, its so happy to see our Indian culture crafts in the market. During my travel in Qatar, i visit some of souqs. It was very interesting that i seen lots of Indian cultural crafts are selling and buying foreigners.   They are selling kinds of  wooden toys & lacquerware. Every time we manage to find something interesting:-)
During my trip to Souq Waqif,  my eyes fell on these button-like boxes with Indian Kitsch painting. It was instant love.
Such a familiar scenery that one gets to see painted on trucks and on auto-rickshaws from India.
Oh yes! Taj Mahal had to be there...
I am amazed at the lovely art and crafts from India.

More images from Qatar i have taken;

Qatar National Day celebration

Qatara




Condom Building in Center -:)  because the building construction is inspired from condom shape. :D







A smoggy Day in winter season





Have a great Monday everyone!

Monday, June 22, 2015

Wrap dress pattern

What Size Do I Need?

The dress is made from a stretchy knit fabric and is intended to be a comfortable fit on the body with ease in both the bodice and skirt.  Fitting ease is also included in the pattern so you can adjust and take in for your own personal measurements.  The size I made for myself I am calling the Medium.  My measurements are high bust (around the back and over the bust high under the arms) 36, Bust 37, Waist 32, Hips/Thigh widest point 40.
The amount of stretch and drape in the fabric will alter the fit and feel of the dress so use this table as a guide only.
BustWaistHips
Small32-3425-2834-36
Medium36-3829-3238-40
Large40-4233-3642-44
Extra Large44+37+46+
Features:
  • Cross-over bodice
  • Optional tie belt
  • Waist seam with optional elastic waist
  • Pleats on front bodice
  • Separate sleeves
  • Straight skirt
  • Multi-sizes pattern from small to extra large

Making up your pattern

Your pattern is conveniently split into 4 pieces to make it more manageable.  Each is labeled with a letter and number.  Numbers run top to bottom and left to right.  Cut off or turn under the page edges and match the borders with the adjoining pages.  If you need more information on how to put together your pattern, you can read more in the Summer Drape Top.
The bodice back pattern consists of 6 pages starting B and should be laid out as below.
Wrap dress pattern.  Free sewing pattern for a knit wrap front dress with optional elastic waist and belt.  From So Sew Easy.
The left bodice front comes on its own and it prefixed with L, pages 1-9.  Laid out 3 rows of 3 sheets.Left-bodice-example
The right hand side bodice piece and the sleeve come on 12 pages, prefixed with R and are set out as below.Right-bodice-example
And lastly the skirt piece is prefixed S, pages 1-8 as below.Skirt-example
{UPDATE} – a new digital pattern is now available to download.  It replaces this hand-drawn one from 15th June 2014.  It is easier to print, uses 20% less sheets and should be easier to put together.  There are 28 sheets, and these are set out 1 to 7 in each row.  Once assembled, it should look like this –>
Wrap-dress-jpg-with-lines-a

What Size Do I Need?

The dress is made from a stretchy knit fabric and is intended to be a comfortable fit on the body with ease in both the bodice and skirt.  Fitting ease is also included in the pattern so you can adjust and take in for your own personal measurements.  The size I made for myself I am calling the Medium.  My measurements are high bust (around the back and over the bust high under the arms) 36, Bust 37, Waist 32, Hips/Thigh widest point 40.
The amount of stretch and drape in the fabric will alter the fit and feel of the dress so use this table as a guide only.
BustWaistHips
Small32-3425-2834-36
Medium36-3829-3238-40
Large40-4233-3642-44
Extra Large44+37+46+
If you fall in between sizes, you can also cut between the lines, and you can ‘grade’ from one size to another by, for example, cutting a large in the waist curving out to an extra large at the hip if you need to.
Always test the fit using the paper pattern pieces, or an inexpensive test fabric before cutting your expensive fabric for this dress.  If in doubt test the larger size and adjust for fitting at the side seams during construction.
Adjustments to length.  The dress is designed to fit an average height – I am 5’6″, and hits above the knee.  If you are taller or prefer the skirt to be longer, simply add some length to the skirt piece at the bottom.

Cutting your fabric

I was able to comfortably cut the size Medium from 2 yards of 54 inch wide fabric, with some left over.

Wrap Dress Sewing Instructions

Seam allowances – 5/8th of an inch throughout unless mentioned.  Use stitches appropriate for stretch such as a narrow zigzag or a stretch stitch if your machine has one.
Start with the right hand front bodice piece and using a disappearing fabric marker, draw lines from the inward and outward points of the zig-zags at the side seam, following the length shown on the pattern, making all lines finish evenly.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Pleat those lines together, matching the lines carefully and evenly and pin in place.  You should make 4 pleats.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Sew along the lines marked.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Press pleats downwards.  Don’t worry if they are a bit uneven (like mine), it will look just fine.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
On the left front bodice piece, mark the pleat on the wrong side, pin and then sew.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Press the pleat.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
With right sides together, match shoulder seams, pin and sew.  You may choose to stablise with a stay tape such as this knit stay tape at the shoulder seam (optional).  Press shoulder seams open.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Iron on stay tape to the whole front cross-over edge on both bodice pieces and along the back neckline.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Turn over a 5/8 inch hem along the whole edge and top stitch.
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Cross over front bodice pieces with the right hand piece on top, showing the 4 pleats.  Match up the center front and notches, then pin and baste into place close to the edge, along both of the side seams and the waist seam.
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Optional – add a stay tape to the bottom edge of the sleeves.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Pin the sleeves to the bodice, matching the sleeve center with the shoulder seam and ease the sleeves to fit the opening.  Sew.  Trim seam and finish edges (optional.)
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Pin side seams and sleeve seam.  Try on to check fit.  Adjust as necessary.
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Sew side seams and close underside of sleeves all in one seam.
Optional – trim seams and finish edges.
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
With right sides facing, pin skirt side seams.  Try on for fit, adjust as necessary and sew side seams.
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
With right sides facing, match bodice with skirt at waist seam.  Match center front and center back of bodice with center of skirt pieces and match side seams.  Pin in place, then try for fit and adjust if necessary.
Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Sew waist seam with 5/8th inch seam allowance.  You may either leave as is and trim and finish the seams, or add an optional elastic waist.
To add elastic waist, make a casing by closing edges of waist seam without trimming, using an overcasting foot and stitch, or by sewing close to the edge.  Leave an inch open and thread through a narrow 3/8th inch elastic.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Adjust to fit waist comfortably then stitch elastic ends together with a zig-zag stitch and close casing.
Try on and check skirt length.  Optional – iron your knit stay tape all along the bottom hemline of the skirt for a crisp wrinkle-free finish.
Turn up skirt hemline and finish.  I prefer a twin needle finish, but you can finish with a narrow zig-zag if you like.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Turn up hem on sleeves and finish with twin needle or using your preferred method.
Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
Cut 6 inch wide length of fabric for tie belt.  Test to check what length works best for you.  With right sides together, sew close to the edge with a narrow zig-zag stitch along the whole length and to close one end, either square or to a point.  Turn tube the right sides out, turn under a small hem on the open end and finish either by hand or with a machine top stitch.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern.  Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these.  From So Sew Easy.
You may also like the belt made from a contrasting fabric or use an existing belt.  The dress can also be worn without a belt if you prefer.
And you are finished!  Wear and enjoy your new dress and don’t forget to send me your photos.