January 3, 2026
This week, I started making a life-size dress. I picked a fabric that was very stretchy. Though sewing it later would present a challenge since it wouldn’t be rigid and I would have to continuously maintain the sewing angle, I still decided to try it because it would allow me to develop both my problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
I started by cutting out paper pattern pieces that would guide how I cut out to make into the dress. These kits for making clothes were from McCall’s, which was a very popular and successful sewing pattern brand. However, their parent company, Design Group Americas, bankrupted, and the assets of McCall’s, along with Simplicity, Vogue, Butterick, and Know Me patterns, were sold to a liquidator. I found that the kits were very simple to use and also highly customizable, as there were three top options and two skirt options to choose from that could be mixed and matched.
Today I almost completed the cutting section, and I finished three out of the five required pieces, with the second-last one currently in progress. I learned that using pins on all sides (not just the corners) helped me cut better since it allowed for straighter and less jagged lines. Next class, I hope to see how the pieces turn out and how they will come together into a life-size piece of clothing.
