How to Make a Fancy Dress for a Costume Competition

Make your own fancy dress using a pattern.

It is fun to dress up, especially for parties. When there is a costume competition, you can create the dress of your dreams and not feel self-conscious about wearing it. To make a fancy dress, you will need to know how to use a clothing pattern and a sewing machine. Clothing patterns for sewing your own dress come in different difficulty levels, so choose a pattern that matches your skill level.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern for a fancy dress
• Fabric
• Accessories to embellish the dress
• Sewing machine
• Thread to match the fabric
• Sewing needle
• Scissors
• Tailor pins
• Iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

1. Pick out the fabric and other materials you will need per the instructions found on the back of the pattern’s envelope. The back of the envelope will also tell you how much fabric you will need for the size of dress you are making, how long zippers must be and/or the size buttons to use.

2. Read the instructions found in the pattern’s envelope before cutting anything out.

3. Cut out the tissue pattern pieces. Follow the lines on the pattern for the dress size you need.

4. Pin the pattern pieces on to the fabric. Use the layout that comes with the pattern as a guide.

5. Cut the fabric out. Keep the pattern pinned to the fabric until you need the piece. That way you will remember how to use each cut of fabric.

6. Pin the coordinating pieces of fabric together and sew, following the instruction sheet. Continue to do this until the dress is complete.

7. Sew beads or any accessories purchased onto the dress to embellish the costume and make it sparkle. Hand-sew the embellishments onto the straps of sleeveless dresses, the front of a dress to create a design or along the bottom hem.

Tips & Warnings

• When cutting out the pattern pieces, some choose to cut the pattern at the lines for the largest size available. They then fold the pattern to the lines for the size they need, so they can use the pattern again to create the same dress in a larger size.

• If you are a beginning sewer, it will be easier to use fabric that does not have elaborate designs or stripes, because the stripes and designs have to be cut so they line up correctly when sewn together.

References

• Love to Sew: Sewing & Making Dresses