(Download links at the end of the post)
I would love to post here the basic dress block, which is
the start of all kinds of dresses. If you are a just a bit familiar with
sewing, you may have heard of this already.
When I first started sewing about thirteen years ago, I
struggled with drafting a correct basic dress block for my figure because I was
just a self-taught designer. I read a lot of designing books, and it finally
became easier for me to draft the block for myself (at first, I was only
thinking of sewing my own dresses). Gradually, I got more ‘customers’ who were
my mother, my sisters, friends and their mothers. They all loved to have the custom-made
dresses that I sew for them. Choosing between a dress made exactly for your
figure and a store bought one, you know the result!
The hobby then became a small business. At peak time, I had
customers waiting for 1 month to get their desired dress. I always draft a
personal basic dress block for each of my customers and save it for the next
time they come to me. As I had more customers, it took me more and more time to
start from scratch, and I understand the feeling of those who must spend a lot
of time beginning. That is why I turned to digital designing. And now I just
need to input the measurements and print out the blocks. Next, I just need to
modify it to make the styles to customer’s ideas.
A basic dress block is surely a great time-saver. From this you
can easily modify and create all kind of styles and designs. If you are a newbie,
just this block can turn into a great sheath dress! If you are already familiar
with designing using blocks, you will find it enjoyable just copying it to
drafting paper, then draw and cut them to your ideas. There are a lot of books
about pattern drafting, and all of them start with a basic block. You can also
find on the Internet a lot of blogs talking about pattern modification – I sometimes
take ideas from them. Pinterest is also a good source for ideas – I have a
board named Sewing where I put a lot of pictures related to sewing and pattern
drafting. Surfing Pinterest has also become one of my favorite leisure time
activity!
That’s enough with the blabbing! Now turn to the pattern
pieces that I am sharing today!
The basic dress block is, um, up to its name, basic! And it
is important – I must say it is the foundation of fashion designing. You cannot
have a good dress if you do not have a good basic block – of course there are
some dresses that do not require patterns, I will write about them some day.
As I am short and curvy, I love to make petite patterns to
share with those who has the same problem with me. That is why this basic dress
block is created for both petite size and normal size. It is also created
without any seam allowance. When you finish modifying the block, add seam
allowance as you love to.
The pattern is created in pdf format using A4 paper. The
patterns use the sizes in the size chart here.
If your size is different from the one shown in my blog, please comment your
measurements below. I will make a pattern closest to your measurements. I can also
create the pattern in other paper sizes (A0 to A4, Letter, Tabloid), so please
inform me if you need them.
Not sure how to print and cut the patterns? Check the guide here.
Again, happy sewing! I hope to see your masterpiece!
XOXO
Tiên the Little Sewist
Download links for
the basic dress block:
Check for your size in the
Size Chart before downloading.
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