Can anyone here make clothing without having a pattern?

[Lisa0825]

In other words, can you look at something and design a pattern to make it? I am going to a costume party for Planned Parenthood in August Party Like a Rock Star, and I was thinking of going as Nancy Sinatra in the little short black sequined number from the These Boots Are Made for Walking video. I thought I'd check here first to see if anyone could make something like this for me, before calling around locally.



But while googling for a shot of that dress, I saw the album cover for her greatest hits album, and that's a pretty hot look too! This looks like a pretty simple dress, and there is probably a very similar pattern available somewhere.

[LeftyMom]

1. Modifying an existing pattern should be easy enough.

If I were in the area I'd offer, but getting something that slim fitting to fit based on measurements alone would be well nigh impossible, so you'll need somebody local to do it.

You could also try vintage clothing stores, and of course ebay.

I checked ebay, and there's nothing similar in terms of having the longish sleeves and still being at all close-fitting, let alone short enough although altering the length would be easy if something otherwise suitable could be found.

[Lisa0825]

4. Thanks for the tips.

I'll try looking at patterns and see what I can come up with.

[LeftyMom]

5. Most of the pattern companies have their catalogs online.

It might work better to find a pattern of that era- somebody almost certainly made one for the purpose of cloning that dress. I'll see if I can dig something up.

[Lisa0825]

6. I have been surfing for hours....

if you come up with something, I would be incredibly grateful :-)

[LeftyMom]

10. I spent a scary amount of time on ebay looking at vintage patterns

and other than turning up a lot of 40's dresses I wish I had an excuse to make, and some more recent stuff I had a good laugh at, I didn't see anything much like what you were looking for. Everything was either much too flared in the skirt or the neckline was wrong or there weren't any sleeves at all.

[Lisa0825]

13. Oh man, I saw SO MUCH I wanted and had o reason to buy!LOL

But I am trying to stay focused on the party! I saw some awesome mod dresses and 60s flower child outifts I would love to have just to wear to concerts and such. Too bad I was born a bit late foor the fashions the first time around! :hippie:

[Kali]

2. um, hit some thrift shops and save the labor?

There are a few seamstresses here but that sounds easier (and there was a time I would love to take a stab at something like that but...maybe when I retire :rofl:)

[Lisa0825]

3. Chances of finding the black dress in a thrift shop

are probably slim to none. I might find something similar to the white one, but it would probably take a LOT of shopping, which is why I thought I'd just have one made. I had a friend in high school who made her own patterns, so I thought that idea was worth a shot.

[Left Is Write]

12. You might try doing a search on vintage dresses on eBay.

You might find something similar, and you can narrow the vintage search by era.

[petronius]

7. I can make a poncho (the hoodless variety, anyway)

:silly:

[blondeatlast]

8. The top one is a pretty basic t-shirt type.

Just find some stretchy sequined fabric and a t-shirt type pattern and lengthen it. With a little bit of sewing experience, I found that most patterns for knit items (knits are very forgiving!) were pretty easy to alter.

Length alteration is very easy.

Good luck!

[likesmountains 52]

9. Find something similar, sew it up with an old sheet or some cheap fabric

and then make your adjustments in size and shape..

[Lisa0825]

11. Thanks ya'll!

I don't sew myself, but I will be bringing all these tips with me when I visit a seamstress:-)