DIY evening dress tutorial, Florence and the Machine inspired

I am a huge Florence and the Machine fan, and I was stoked when I saw this dress because it's not that hard at all to make. Lace and jersey are especially nice to work with because they don't fray or need to be hemmed...and if you use stretch lace you don't need to insert a zipper.

These kind of tiered, ruffly dresses seem to be everywhere in various forms from Free People to Nordstrom. I think depending on the colors and the top template you use, you can make the look go from a classic to more bohemian dress.

When I am making my own patterns for dress design, I like to put together patterns that will get the desired outcome because I am not a pattern making expert and, therefore, like to have instructions handy for measurements, etc. This "tutorial" is really a combination of two basic tutorials for external blogs that I read and highly encourage you to follow.

What I hope is the takeaway is creativity and confidence in changing patterns/tutorials to your desired look. Sewing a dress is daunting, to say the least, but if you have some experience sewing it is definitely not out of reach. Have a set plan and break it up into steps-- and then go for it!

Materials:

• A tight, well-fitting knit top.
• 2 yards of black jersey (58-60" wide)
• About 3 yards of contrasting dark green stretch lace (58-60" wide)
• (Optional) scalloped edge lace trim
• Sewing machine, matching thread, measuring tape, tailors chalk or some marking device... The usual sewing odds and ends.

As you can see from the photo above, there are two parts of the dress: the black lining (jersey, in this case) and the lace ruffle overlay. The pattern for the two are similar, needing the same measurements, but the layered skirt of the lace needs different instructions.

Step 1: Cutting out jersey pieces

Use this tutorial to get your measurements and pattern pieces. 

I recommend tracing the T shirt onto newspaper or pattern paper and cutting around it.

Cutting lace and knits can be a bit tricky because they move and stretch, so use weights and pins!

Sew the side seams of the skirt. 

Step 2: Cutting lace top

The top of the dress is the same pattern, so go ahead and cut that out. Then pin each piece of the lace top, right sides together, to the piece of the jersey top all. Sew all the way around, leaving about an inch open. Use the opening to turn the garment inside out.

 Hand sew the gap closed and sew up the side seams so you get a finished top. 

If you've never sewn lining before, watch how she does the lined top for this dress. 

Step 3: The lace tiers

1. Divide the length of the jersey skirt* by five and draw a line with tailor's chalk all the way around. This should get you about six rectangle sections. If it does not divide evenly, you can round it off.

It doesn't have to be exactly even.

 *your natural waist to the floor plus extra for shoes and hem 

2. Cut lace strips that are 6" x (your hip circumference + 2)".

2.5 (Optional) If you want a scalloped hem for each tier, you can use scalloped lace trip and/or the border of the lace fabric. Sew it onto one of the edges of the lace strips you just cut.

3.  Pin the strips onto the lines you drew, making sure each tier overlaps about an inch.

4. Sew all the way around. 

 These are the tutorials I referenced, and in combination are helpful in visualizing this step. 

They do the layered skirt differently-- if you want the ruffles, refer to the witch skirt. You would want twice the hip circumference instead with your lace strips, gathered and then pinned. The look you will achieve will be more similar to the first video otherwise.

Step 4: Attaching the skirt to the top

You should have now a finished skirt and a finished top. The final step is to attach the top the bottom. Flip the top inside the skirt, right sides facing, so the waistband of the skirt and bottom hem of the top are line up. Sew all the way around and you're done!