As a Lolita, I 100% support people who make there own dresses or modify dresses (if they know what they’re doing). Good luck to everyone following this tutorial! ❤
@@jolienvsndijkYes you are correct, deciding to modify a dress with or without sewing knowledge is at your own risk. However i think it’s important to keep in mind the fact that most of the time if your deciding to sell a dress you will have to decrease the price simply because it’s modified (regardless of condition), this is especially true with highly sought after dresses (Ex. Milky Chan the Fawn by AP). But if you want to modify a dress go for it! Just keep in mind the fact that these dresses are limited releases and aren’t always available for sell.
For the Otome no Sewing pattern confusion: they expect you to find the pattern you want and trace it on your own paper. They do NOT include seam allowance.
If you know how to draft patterns, there are scans of the patterns online and all you really need is the image of the pattern piece and then to translate the measurements on it. Then draft the pattern and size up or down if you need to. I made a dress this way from one image of a pattern 😊
@@Eyrennimostly people outside western countries do something like that. Because we don’t have commercial patterns. Where I live, there are public funded schools (kind of like trade school) where people can learn basic patterns drafting for free. Then that’s it. We just have some books that shows what the patterns for that particular design supposed to look like. Personally I think it’s a good thing. Because it’s really teach you to actually know how to sew.
Bed sheets for the win forever and ever! I once made a classic lolita outfit out of heavily discounted velvet, a queen bed sheet set from a surplus store, and vintage trim I got at a yard sale. I took my time on that coordinate to ensure that the seams and finishes were clean etc. To my major surprise my outfit caused a group of other lolitas at a convention meet up to come over to ask me how the heck I could afford Mary Magdalene ( at the time one of the most pricey labels in the lolita scene). I was like "WHAAAAAT!? NO. I made this....I think I spent 60 bucks total". All that said, with an eye for design and some sewing skills, you too can look like a magazine coordinate ^_^.
For anyone who wants to make this, most Lolita dresses are actually made from a gathered rectangle (doing it this way means you can use any fabric you want and not just a solid colour), this is how they have the border print found in sweet lolita (plus there's less waste, it's easier' and you don't need an almost square piece of fabric). So just measure your waist, times it by three and add seam allowance; you now have the length of your rectangle (the width is your skirt length plus seam allowance). Now you can use 'lolita fabric' with a border print.
Thanks for the clarification! I followed this tutorial and messed up a couple things, so I’m in the process of redoing this with a rectangle skirt instead!
Bedsheets are honestly so useful, same with curtains. I use old bedsheets for making mockups of clothes or as lining! Next year I plan on making a whole ballgown out of an old curtain. See you at NCS summer soon! Only 13 days away!!
Bedsheets, curtains, and tablecloths are cheap too - I get mine from thrift stores and it is really cost effective! The only time there's a cheaper option (in my experience anyway) is when I can get a big discount on muslin at the fabric store.
I love your “warts and all” approach to these videos where you talk through the process and where things went wrong instead of just skipping over to pain and hard parts.
I agree with this so much! If a sewist I admire can make a dress with a waistband that’s a little uneven and the dress still rocks, maybe I should be a little less harsh on myself, too. I’m still learning, but I get perfectionist paralysis when things go a little off. A refreshed mindset can really help.
As a furry, I await your arrival. As an appreciator of lolita fashion through drawing my silly little characters in lolita inspired outfits, this is a wonderfully informative video that I may use in the future! For myself? No, silly, for my beloved Build-a-Bear stuffed rabbit, Rose
Lolita skirts are actually mostly rectangle skirts. Circle skirts don't have exactly the right shape for lolita skirts. But rectangle skirts are even easier to make cause they're literally just... rectangles. Otherwise the dress looks amazing! It's super cute and your tutorials are always super amazing.
I’m a Lolita and even though more cheap but still good-quality brands have appeared over the years, videos like these are so helpful to first-time lolitas! Thank you for your hard work ❤
Just a few corrections from a more seasoned lolita: • lolita started in the 70s • the skirt is actually a gathered rectangle, not a circle • most commercial dresses have shirring in the back so they're easier to get in out and of, regardless of if they have a zipper. more time consuming to make but it makes a world of difference for fit
I actually just made an entire presentation on the history of Lolita fashion! While there are some elements in the 70s that we can point to as like inspiration for Lolita fashion, the first recorded usage of the word Lolita referring to the fashion was in the magazine Ryukou Tsushin in 1987, and we don’t really start seeing recognizable Lolita coords until the 90s. 100% agree about the rectangle skirt and shirring tho!
From what I know, lolita skirt/jsk/op are mostly gathered rectangle skirts. I made handmade lolita as well and while I was researching, there’s a reason that it is rectangle, not a circle. I remember watching a handmade lolita video saying that the reason has something to do with the shape of the petticoats in the market. I own the same otome no sewing as you❤, and they are rectangle skirts. I personally don’t see much of a difference between them, but it’s interesting to see that you chose a circle skirt for the project!😮
I believe most of the time they are rectangles to accommodate the print, since this dress isnt printed, and since circle skirts by nature can work with any petticoat, and since I just prefer circle skirts, I did a circle skirt haha
I've been wanting to get into j fashion since I turned 18 and I finally feel confident enough at 24 with both my sewing skills and myself to wear Lolita fashion And my lolita color pallet is green mint, blue mint, and petal pink! 💚💙💖
I made a breath of the wild cosplay exactly one year ago! Me & my grandma worked together to make Zelda’s royal dress, with pretty velvet and satin fabrics and it turned out beautiful! So excited to see the result of your costume!
I use thrifted bedsheets for my fluffy "harem" pants for belly dance- I've got a huge hip measurement and nothing beats $3.99 for 6yrds of comfy fabric! I try to thrift and upcycle as much as I can, and bedsheets are always a go-to. Re: The Bird- I hope you've invested in some thermals, potentially also a method of pockets for ice packs, and perhaps a fan, though it looks like you went with a foam-base head, so hopefully it has super good ventilation! As someone who has dabbled in fursuit making, I'm excited to see your process, how you chose your fur, and what the experience was like.
Yes! thank goodness the Mouse allowed their ppl to invent icepack vests (use padding, so you moderate the rate of cold transfer to your skin!)! Also - with water/ice, there's usually only capacity for 30 mins or less before a human overwhelms the arrangement!
I love sewing my own lolita dresses as well as having brand and offbrand. The key is to use quality materials if you can and to use styles/patterns that are seen in many lolita dreases. Tbh its way easier to make a gathered rectangle skirt and works better for many lolita styles. The circle skirt works better for more A-line shapes 😊
I've made an almost full shift into tank tops in my summer wardrobe, and I've recently started wearing skirts, so the idea of a JSK (worn in an "alternative" way, or with the blouse underneath when it's colder) sounds like an appealing way to try to get into dresses!
Another swag video from the swag sewist herself. The new sewing machine looks cool, good luck at NCS and I am SO excited for the furry era you dont understand
I love that the dress feels like your bed, so I now want you to find a quilt that coordinates and make a winter look that incorporates your bed dress and a quilt coat so you can then sleep in total bed-like comfort next time you're on a cold plane.
I'm so here for the furry era lmao. Like honestly though those costumes can be super amazing and insanely hard to make. I'm so excited to see what you created!
hii, i am Isadora, and as a 12yo cosplayer that lives in Brazil, is a lot difficult to make cosplays or go to conventions, the materials/shipping price is kinda expensive, but seeing your videos makes me so inspired, i am planning to make a cosplay of baalzebul from bayonneta 3, and as someone without even a sewing machine i was like "omg, that's impossible, how am i going to do this??' so, for a long time, i have abandoned that idea, but seeing your videos, like this one, or from strawberry miku and that one from Sakizou's design made me feel capable of anything, i just wanted to thank you a lot, you are my favorite cosplayer and the best exemple of "nothing is impossible" 💞
I love this! I make a pocket as a rectangle, and sew the top of it into the wasteband. If you do this, just don't let it ruffle with the skirt. This makes the pockets lay flatter against your stomach, and doesn't pull so much on your sides.
gotta say i did NOT expect the bird, cant wait to see it :D also i have never been in to fluffy fashion, I generally prefer straight lines but I may need to add a ruffle to my next circle skirt, hmmmm
I have a nitpick (after which I promise to shut up and watch the video) about the information given at 0:02 ; lolita fashion did not morph from the goth movement. There was a gothic lolita boom in the late 90s. Before the gothic lolita boom lolita fashion existed as sweet and classic styles and the roots of it go way back to the 1970s with cute brands like MILK (1970), Pink House (1973), Shirley Temple (1974) and Angelic Pretty (1979, then known as "Pretty").
I love this dress so much! I like how you mentioned that if you're not being judged don't sweat the little things. I'm also relieved that I'm not the only one who doesn't buy a perfectly matching zipper dirt every garment! I always cheat when putting in my zippers by basting the two sides together and then top stitching the zipper in. Then I rip the basting and it's all centered and lined up (sometimes it takes a minute to get all the thread bits out). It's definitely a different finished look with the top stitching, but I like it.
You really dont know how much did this helped me rn, Bc i wanted to start doing a lolita dress for a CON in my city, and i didnt know were to find a tuto that could really match my idea of the dress. And here you are! You were just like a fairy godmother to me! LOL. And while i watched the video i just kept saying to myself "this is perfect", or "How did she knew??" So yeah! It looks like you just read my mind and decided to make a tutorial of exactly what i needed. So I am really saying this from my heart, Thank you!! :))
I made a circle skirt after watching this. It's the first thing I've made on my sewing machine. Ended up calculating the length wrong but it still turned out really cute. I'll absolutely try again another day. Your work has inspired me for a long while so after finding a 1990's singer at the thrift store, I can now put that inspiration to work :3
As a lolita and fursuit maker I am living for this content! My old curtains have been destined to be a jsk like this for months🤭. Can't wait to see you be the bird, I find others processes so interesting!💛 And no, you wont get heat stroke; listen to your body, take plenty breaks with your head off and drink lots of water(not too cold though) and you be just fine😊
I've always felt odd for liking Ariel wearing a pink dress while being surrounded by people saying how stupid of a choice that was because she has red hair, so thank you for saying pink and red can be worn together. I like the combo 😅
I don't know why, but I think if this dress was blue it could be perfect Alice in Wonderland daily cosplay. It's so cute! Yes, it's simple but not everyone wants to go all out everyday. And it looks comfy. A lot of great tips, thanks Sarah! ❤
ya know, for all the years i've been teaching myself sewing, people have always hailed the circle skirt as supremely easy to make. but as a fat person; when I came down to actually wanting to make circle skirts, I found that it really wasn't all that easy for me! most circle skirt calculators pretty much told me it'd be impossible at my size (of 49-51 inch waist). the way I got around this was by the charm circle skirt pattern by gertie sews/charm patterns, but even then I am at the size range's upper limits.
This looks so cool! Also, the lil montage of the different dress-ups made me first assume you'd make like several different dresses this time, which makes it even more amazing to know it's all the same dress!
regarding zippers, you may be interested in getting separating zippers sold on rolls! The zipper tape will always be cut to size and easy to use for any project! I get a roll in white and if I really wanted to I could dye it to match the project. Super cheap and versatile!!
If you ever feel like tackling the Otome no Sewing books, it helps to first outline the pattern pieces you are using with a colored pencil, so it's easy (well, easiER) to see exactly what you need to trace. Their JSKs have a nice feature where you put elastic ruching on the back piece, which then gives a close fit to the front bodice. And as someone already pointed out, the pattern pieces do not include seam allowance, you add that in.
TheClosetHistorian has an amazing series on pattern drafting a basic bodice and skirt block which are fantastic for being able to make your own patterns! this looks amazing btw
STOP I'M SO HYPED FOR YOUR BIRD VIDEO This dress looks amazing! I'll use top sheets for mockups and things, but I rarely make finished pieces out of them so this was really cool
im neither a sewist or a cosplayer but ur vids are always so enjoyable and cozy i love listening along while i do my own projects! Also really hyped to see you cosplay my bird son omg!!!!
While it's not a typical lolita dress, I think this would be a really fun project for a beginner! Some tips for anyone who wants to explore deeper into lolita sewing/fashion: most lolita dresses are the same volume starting from the waist (gathered rectangle skirt) to give them that cupcake silhouette. Lolita dresses tend to be a lot more decorative, with lots of details/embellishments and/or a fun print. The bodice on lolita dresses are usually shirred or have corset lacing to cinch them in and enhance the cupcake shape. While I love that this dress was recycled, lolita dresses tend to be made either from a lightweight fabric such as chiffon or a more robust/stiffer cotton, as these fabrics hold up better with a petticoat. However I love how it was all put together and these rules aren't set in stone, there are some brands/older dresses which have a different silhouette!
This is so cute! A method of gathering I saw a couple times but haven't tried yet is using a zig zag stitch at a long length and zigzag over a length of yarn and then you can slide the fabric along the yarn to gather.
I have been sewing appliqué pieces onto a cape for the past month and last week RU-vid recommended me one of your videos and I have watched most of them while sewing. For some reason, I didn’t think to pin the excess fabric out of the way until I saw this video - but it has worked so well! Applying these pieces is a lot of turning the entire cape while it’s in the sewing machine, and wrestling with the fabric before you inspired me to pin it in a manageable roll was … an experience. So thank you! Both for the tip, and for making videos that are good to sew along to
I've been making my own skirts out of bedsheets for years and it's great to finally see someone else who sees the potential of flat sheets as a budget saving material! The softness of sheets is so comfortable and makes flowy skirts and cloaks, I made two cloaks from king size bedsheets and they turned out wonderful. I'll definitely be making this dress when I get my sewing machine out of storage, thanks Sarah! 😊
Love this!!!silly trick but you could just line up the seams of akirt and bodice to ensure its the same. But Ironing the gathers first makes SUCH an easier tiem sewing, and leaving gathers on bottom aide
What a wonderful dress! I could see this as being a non-Lolita item as well. It's truly quite versatile and I'm getting a few ideas of my own, as a non-Lolita woman. But the Lolita style really suits you. Very, very well done on joining the gathered skit waistband to the bodice. A most excellent job!!
Thank you for not criticizing how much brand lolita dresses cost while still giving a more inexpensive and simpler diy option. I was pleasantly surprised that the intro wasn't a faux outraged 'Why would anyONE Pay this Much for a dress!11!?'
I'm a very novice sewer, and this tutorial and pattern are the first proper garment I've ever made! Thank you so much for providing such clear instruction, and also for your videos in general. They make me feel like I can give sewing a shot too, without having to be afraid of making mistakes. I'm so, so happy with how it turned out, and so excited to wear it!
I loooove the way you structured this video! So easy to follow 😊 As a novice at sewing I'm so thankful that you don't assume everyone knows all the sewing terms and different techniques, and you actually provide clear instructions and visuals!! From someone who overthinks and gets overwhelmed by sewing in general, thank you ❤
Bedsheets, tablecloths and curtains are 100% best fabric source, especially at thrift stores. I was once trying to find a nice fabric to make a Red Riding Hood cape and I have found rich, weighty, deep red, natural fiber damask tablecloth for, I shit you not, 1 euro. Normally for a plain, natural color fabric you need to spend 2 euros per yard at minimum here, yet I got a 3*2m massive, intricate, gorgeous find for half of that, so hell yeah for sewing out of bed sheets and curtains, and tablecloths.
It turned out so cute!! Thrifted bedsheets are my favourite thing to make nightgowns out of. Such an affordable way to get a nice big piece of fine, soft cotton! I find my gathers are much more even when I sew in between the 2 rows of gathering thread, and then I just go around afterwards with a seam ripper and pull the outside row out.
Ok, so, the reason why you do 2 gathering stitches parallel to each other is so that the tiny pleats between those lines of stitches lay flat. Stitching below the two lines of stitches, not between them, defeats the purpose of the two lines. Gathering stitches are also not meant to stay in the garment. You take them out, after you are done. Personally (as a retired Lolita and a professionally trained seamstress with almost 20 years of experience) I wouldn't make a JSK with a circle skirt, especially as a beginner. It's easier to take two rectangles and gather the waist down. From experience I know that Lolita skirts and dresses (especially those with boarder prints) are done this way, but it's personal preference.
YOOOOOOO Pinning the gathered skirt to the bodice at the seam and ALSO FURTHER UP THE BODICE TO KEEP IT FLAT is such a good tip!! ✨😭✨😭✨ I’ve made several dresses with gathered skirts and sleeves, and after some mishaps where the non-gathered side got folded/bunched while sewing, I started sewing those seams with one hand under the gathered layer to keep the non-gathered side flat…. but that’s kind of difficult and cumbersome, so I’ll def be trying this extra pinning method! Thank you! 💖✨🙏🥰
I've always only worn black. These days I'm combining it with deep red details, like stockings, ribbons, shoe undersides or just nail polish and I've never been happier!
It looks great! So the thing about getting away with no zipper is twofold -- 1. the higher your neckline is, the more likely it is that you'll need a zipper (and if you have sleeves, you almost 100% need a zipper), and 2. It's really hard to take off a fitted bodice with no zipper, but once the skirt is attached, you have something to grab onto in order to pull it over your head, so it becomes much easier. 😉
listening to the big tier supporters list at the end grow in numbers everytime you read it out makes me so happy for you, as soon as i get a job you can bet that i will be on that list
Ha ha, I always put a zipper or buttons in because I hate dragging clothing over my head. Jumper dresses are the best even in non-Lolita styles. I notice that all sewists wear them a *lot*. So this is a great tutorial for everyone, thanks!
As a Lolita that sews and buys brand, I still think it’s important to support these niche brands as much as possible. With that said, most brand doesn’t fit well even in straight sizes so I fully support folks sewing their own JSKs and one pieces.
Your channel has actually inspired me to make my own clothes and cosplays! You are one of my favorite youtubers and I enjoy watching all you current and past content!!! Good luck at NCS summer
the dress came out so cute, and the ruffles are just pretty and perfect!! what I like to do with ruffles is sew between the gathering sticthes actually haha, bc that way I'm sure I'm not sewing over my gathers unevenly and then juts unpick the lower row that's showing, and the thread comes out pretty quickly usually bc I like to lower the thread tension besides switching to the largest stitch lenght when I sew my gathering stitch
Not really related to the video but I’m going to my first anime convention, entering my first cosplay competition, in my first cosplay that I was able to make because of Sarah’s videos. Sarah is the best RU-vidr
YOU’RE MAKING A FURSUIT?!!! That’s great, watch a ton of fursuiting videos to know what to do to reduce heat. If you have athletic wear that 100% helps, you can get specific cool vests (don’t just diy it), and take a lot of breaks (furry cons have headless lounges where you can just chill)! Good luck!
OMG AMAZING!! You have got to cut that movie trailer for ur next cos into your shorts or a separate video! That shit could go viral!!! AHH SO EXCITED FOR BIRD ERA!!!
circle skirt: measure waist, use 1/4 of that. fold your fabric twice. pin your measuring tape to the double folded corner. use water soluble chalk and draw a pizza shape lightly from one folded edge to the other. repeat a few times and. do the same to make tge hem. cut along the darkest line drawn. it's much easier.
This video is very timely because I'm currently in the design stages of a cosplay where I'm drawing a lot of inspiration from lolita fashion! I really appreciate the circle skirt explanation - I never thought to cut a larger inner circle to allow for more gathering at the waist. It seems so obvious having it explained but for some reason it never occurred to me!
I love this! I was really into lolita fashion in the early 2000s, I still have gothic and lolita bible magazines I'd get shipped to me in the USA from Japan. They also had those free patterns in it but hated how they were all printed together on one sheet too. Love this. I want to start dressing this way again but I feel like my obnoxious large books really detract from the style.
Wow the editing keeps getting better…and better! And when you think it’s finally done evolving. IT GETS BETTER!! The quality is awesome I love your videos so much info and fun 🎉
