Inspiration Anthro : Vintage Lace Dress : Steps 1-11

Today we are going to put together most of the tank top portion of the dress.

1 - Try on your tanktop and use chalk or a washable pen to mark approximately where you want the tanktop portion of your dress to end. Usually this is most flattering right around your bellybutton as this is where it is the skinniest. Mark Centerfront, Centerback and both sides at this place. (it helps to stretch the elastic over it to help visualize)

2- Measure down about 3 inches from your marking and cut all the way around the tanktop.

3 - fold the tanktop in half at centerfront. Cut about 1 1/2 inches off the front (totaling about 3 inches once unfolded)



4- Put the tanktop aside and grab your white cotton fabric. Cut a piece that is about 3 inches wide and double the length of the center front of your tanktop (about 30 inches).

5- Fold in about 1/2" on both lengths of the cotton strip - Press. Fold in half so the so dont see the presses edges.


6- Put cotton aside and grab your tanktop again. Using a long basting stitch, stitch down both sides of the cut center front right at the edge. Do not backstitch at either end.

7- Pull on one thread to gather the centerfront up about 2 inches on both sides.

8- Open cotton strip and lay the gathered edge of the tanktop within the folded edge of the strip. Overlap by about 1/2 inch.
9 - Fold top down and pin in place.

10 - Top stitch about 1/4 " from the edge on both sides.




11- Try on. Trim bottom so that all edges are about 1 inch below where your marking are. (in the front this will now be different since you gathered it. Make a new marking for cf before trimming).
Tomorrow we will finish the top by adding the lace.