Zero waste project 11: self-drafted woven dress

Zero waste project n° 11: a fitted woven dress!

I just made this one up based on an idea and my body measurements (bust 82cm/32”, waist 66cm/26”, hips 98cm/38”, height 157cm/5’1”), it’s not based on a pattern or a dress I already have (see my cutting diagram in the last photo). Happy with how my first DIY zero waste experiment turned out, I decided to do another one with 1 meter of woven fabric. I made this from exactly 100x135cm of soft cotton double gauze. The fabric is airy but has volume, and is super soft!

The sleeveless bodice is simple and blousy, and there’s a hidden elastic casing on the inside. The front neck cutout became the back slit facing, and the armhole cutouts became hidden seam pockets. I made a covered button and thread chain for the first time, for the top of the back neck slit.

If I make this again I’ll make darts at the shoulders and bust before sewing on the armhole binding, just so it sits a little better. But overall I’m happy with this experiment, it’s pretty much what I’d imagined 😊

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