Hey 👋 friends!
Today is an exciting post. I’m sharing details of how I made this one-of-a-kind custom patchwork dress!
As a general policy, I don’t take custom work requests. My days are usually too hectic with my three kiddies and sewing projects.
Sharifa from Bruk Out Media messaged me on Instagram to create a custom dress for a photo and video shoot. Before saying no, I asked her the details of her project, just in case I could fit it in.
The Project
I loved Sharifa’s concept of a unity patchwork dress with different shades of brown. She also requested a lettuce hem finish around the patchwork pieces. The time to complete? Two weeks!
It was a VERY short time frame for a custom project. I knew I could pull it together if I planned my time and hired a babysitter for a couple days! The main motivating factor to accept the project was not that I could get it done, but that I thought it was a cool idea and was happy to be a part of it.
First of all, how gorgeous is Khem? I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have mattered how the dress looked, she would have rocked it! I literally was sewing until Sharifa picked it up from my house the day of the shoot!
I’m happy with the end result, and MORE happy that Khem and Sharifa loved it.
Read on to see how this dress came together! Supplies I used are listed at the end of this post.
Behind the Scenes
I started this project by staring…and staring….at the seven different fabrics Sharifa provided to use for this project! Figuring out how I would put this together quickly while having Khem stop by for fittings was the first challenge.
(The second would be taking proper behind the scenes photos! 😅 I’ve invested in some better lighting now though!)
After I got all of Khem’s measurements and checked the fit from a scrap knit, I started on the actual garment. I cut out a bodice and skirt to keep the shape intact.
I wanted elegance and cohesion in the dress and a great fit.
With the short time frame I couldn’t do majority of small patchwork pieces, I would have to do large and medium sized pieces.
When I consulted with Sharifa on the direction she wanted to go in, I added in the other fabrics at different parts of the dress bodice and skirt.
When I tell you I worked until the final possible minute, I mean it! Did I mention it was a busier than normal week for me with Eid and buying a new car?! I’m so relieved the dress was finished and looked great!
Supplies Used:
❤ Rotary Cutter ❤Pattern Weights ❤Straight Pins ❤️Craft Clips ❤️Dress Form ❤️Serger Machine
The Final Look
What are your thoughts on this dress? Would you wear it? Let me know in the comments! -Ammara @ammaraza
ammaraza.sews 
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