My first --> Military Ball! (dress)

Okay, so...
I wanna make THIS dress:


I have 5-6 weekends and random times out of my Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (only 1 class on those days ) to make my dress! (So a little over a month)

A few problems:

I don't know how to make the dress at all! I almost feel like I never sewed in my life before =/
(What kinda cut would the skirt require? The bodice/princess seam?)
I don't know where to find lace like that (or similar!)
I'm also used to sewing with a dress form, but I don't have mine on campus...

I need help getting started, Craftovision! >.<

Hey dude,

the image won;t load...

Do you have a friend that s a similar size? You could always pin the material around her (leaving a folded bit at the back - pinned together...then unpin and cut down the middle - leaving space to add a zipper with seam allowance).

Hope that makes sense.

Have you considered finding a lace top on Goodwill or another second hand store? It doesn't necessarily have to fit since you won't be using all of it, and you won't have to worry so much about the detailing. Then there's a boobcovering piece made from the same fabric as the waistband underneath, as far as I can see.

The skirt looks like two long A-line skirts piled on top of eachother, made from some kind of thin, semi-transparent fabric. It actually reminds me of this dress a bit: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?action=profile%3Bu=95503%3Bsa=showTopics

Instructions for an A-line skirt: http://www.lauramarshdesigns.co.uk/pattern-categories/free-patterns/Aline-skirt-pattern-22-36.html

There are tons of instructions for this type of skirt on the internet if you want a different one, though. Just hike it up a bit higher to measure, make two to put on top of eachother and make a wide waistband for it. It's difficult to tell if the skirt underneath is exactly the same length, though.

How crazy - I can see the image now!

The top bit is black lace, with capped sleeves, with an egding added to it.

The skirt looks like a high waisted circle skirt made from silk chiffon. Chiffon is a bit*h to hem if you've not done it before. Especially a circle skirt as the hem is curved. It can help if you sew very thin paper underneath it to stablise it as it goes through the sewing machine and then carefully tear it off afterwards.

The cummerbund middle looks like ruched silk chiffon. I'm guessing there's a zip running up the back.

If you haven't sewed much I'd not bother with a circle skirt - I'd make it straight and add triangle inserts to add body and 'swishy-ness'.

I don't think it's a circle skirt, the skirt would be fuller.

I'm more concerned about making the bust, though...

It's chiffon and full length though. I've made a silk circle skirt and it looked as full as the one in the image.

Not really worried too much about the chiffon skirt, because I'm changing it a little;
Like I said, I'm more worried about the bust, and finding the right lace for the top
Thanks for the help though


I'm buying fabric today
Will probably get a ton more than needed,....because I also wanna make my boyfriend something for the ball, too
(No, he's not wearing a uniform, cause it's MY ball. We lucked out this year, and the females aren't required to wear dress uniforms!)

I hope this isn't too late to help. I found Vogue pattern 2788 to be very close to what you want. Find it at http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v2788-products-16.php?page_id=186.

Use view A bodice and view B skirt. Skip the gazillion buttons. You may want to even off the back waist. Alter the skirt pattern to add the gathered cummerbund insert. Also, widen each skirt panel to get the more gathered effect of your dress.