Combining patterns

[kochi~mochi]

Is there a fairly easy way to say, take a top pattern and a skirt pattern and combine them into a dress pattern?

I was thinking that if they both had a line that showed waistline, it wouldn't be too hard, but i was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me it wouldn't work, before i bought the pattern for formal wear seperates and made a muslin dress attempting this....  

[kochi~mochi]

ForestGreen

Where are you planning to buy the pattern? I would actually go into an independent fabric store to buy it, hopefully the staff there would know what they're doing a little more than say the people at Joanne's. Ask questions.

It might depend on how the top and skirt are made and the fullness of the skirt. I'd look for princess seams at the waistline or darts that could be merged. Luckily the pattern envelope usually has depictions of the individual pattern pieces.
You could use dressmaker's tracing paper to merge the patterns once you figure out if they can be merged.

Thank you! I think that this pattern should work, as does my mom, but i'm very, very, very worried about it -not- working. Because i don't want a two piece prom dress.

I pretty much have two choices for fabric stores: Hancocks and Joannes. In my experiance, hancocks has been more knowledgable, and more patient. Aslo, they've never gotton on my case about asking questions and then saying that i wasn't going to buy the pattern today or anything like that. Joanne's gets pissy if i look around, ask questions, and then when they ask if i'd like them to cut fabric, tell them that i have to wait till my mom brings me in. sweatdrop  

[Silver Mist]

That sounds and look like it should work. I second the recommendation of trying it out on cheap fabric, first, though. And remember- never measure yourself. ALWAYS get someone else to do it. 3nodding

My prom dress was a two piece afair and when we were told my graduation dress had to be one piece, my mom made the high waisted bodice and bottom part seperatley, then attached them, for ease during sewing. As I am, like Forest Green, mcuh larger in the top than the bottom. (at the time I think I was a size 4/6 and a 36 DD bust >< No dress made fit me).  

[kochi~mochi]

Thank you all so much! I was already going to start with muslin, since we have a HUGE bolt of it in the house, and i don't want to spend my $150 on fabric (thats my budget - $150 for fabric, $50 for purse, wrap, and other stuff like that, and one pair of shoes) only to screw it up.  

[Silver Mist]

$150 for fabric?! Get pictures of that fabulousness when you get it! Cause for that kind of money, you can have one seriously swanky dress. ^^  

[kochi~mochi]

Seriously.

I have a few restrictions.... like.... i need to be able to sew it.... I have trouble with velvet... is there something that you can do that would make sewing velvet and slippery fabrics, like satin?  

[Silver Mist]

My mother, who used to make wedding gowns, is best known for saying "Slippery fabrics are always a btich. It doesnt matter how long you've used them. They will slide and slip and generally, try to be a s**t head."

Her advise to people on this is alwasy to take it really slow and set aside plenty of time and extra fabric to fix any issues that might arise.  

[Smillaaraq]

kochi~mochi

I have trouble with velvet... is there something that you can do that would make sewing velvet and slippery fabrics, like satin?

An even feed/walking foot will be a huge help if you're working on anything slippery -- it makes sure the top layers of fabric are moving along with the bottom layers that are touching the feed dogs.

If you can't find one to fit your sewing machine, lots of careful pinning and/or hand basting stitches will help. But I'm a really big fan of a walking foot or machines with a built-in dual feed -- even when you're not working on slippery dressy fabric, they're great for quilting or other projects with lots of layers, keeping stripes and plaids matched up properly, and so forth.