Create a Dress for Your Senior Portrait with African Print Fabric
Fashion is not limited to buying the latest designer outfit but can allow for individuals to express their own creativity by sewing their own clothes. One of the rewards for making a one-of-a-kind outfit involves the fact that you decide what will be a part of the outfit, from the fabric to the decorative details.
When you make your own clothes, every single aspect of your outfit is under your control. There is a level of customizability that is simply not available in off-the-rack fashion.
With that in mind, let’s explore how you can take your favorite African print fabrics and turn them into an amazing dress for your senior portrait.
1. Get Inspired by Others
If you have not made a dress before, it can be hard to know what kind of dress you want to make. Browsing various African print dress websites or fashion magazines to get a few ideas of what the final form can look like, even if your exact fabric is not shown in the picture.
Fashion inspiration can come from absolutely anywhere. You can start by tapping into what others found inspiring or fueled their fashion creativity. Pinterest has multiple African print fabric dress boards, which can be a real source of inspiration. Check out your favorite fashion magazines for ideas or styles that you find appealing.
2. Take Some Measurements
Have you got a design in mind? Now it is time to take the first step towards bringing your creation to life. That means taking some measurements. Start by measuring your chest at its widest point. Then you need to double that number and add 13 inches. That gives you the width of the fabric necessary for your creation.
With the width determined, you need to measure from the nape of your neck to the back of your heels. After you get that number, then add 2 more inches. Now you have the length for your dress.
Taking your own measurements might be challenging, so do not hesitate to ask someone for help. That extra pair of hands can make it easier to reach the area of your body that might be difficult to measure on your own.
3. Is There a Pattern?
If you have an idea of the type of dress that you want to create, it can be easier to make if you have a pattern to follow, instead of just trying to wing it. There are a variety of patterns out there, so just keep looking. Your local fabric store might have a variety of patterns available for you to choose from, plus they will let you see what the dress can look like once you are done.
4. Measure Twice, Cut Once
With your pattern and chosen an African print fabric, it is time to move onto cutting the pieces of your dress. First, you need to flip your fabric over and trace your chosen pattern onto it. Be sure to measure a couple of times to make sure that you have gotten the pattern tracing correct before you start cutting out the pieces. Now that all your pieces are cut out, you are ready to begin the process of assembling your new dress.
If you do not have a pattern, you can still make all kinds of simple dresses, like a simple African wrap dress.
Once you make your first DIY African print fabric dress, the sky is the limit. There are so many different options available and you can customize any pattern to fit your unique tastes. It does not matter if it is for a senior portrait or your next family get-together, your creation can be the talk of the town.
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With 20 years of experience in the African fabrics market, AKN Fabrics guarantees you the best product, selection, price and overall service. We are specialists in the finest fabrics from Holland, London, African Gambia, West Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and India. We specialize in Jacquards, hand embroidery, silks, seersuckers, cottons, quilting fabrics various other West African fabrics.