Anarkali For my Sweetie and a Tutorial!

Hi all! This is my first post in this blog. I like or you can say I love sewing.  My first post is a tutorial since I wanted to give a step by step guide to make this one as there are many persons, like me who want to try out and learn. So join me in my journey of creations and let's have a fun and fruitful sewing time making new clothes and sometimes upcycle the existing ones.

I love anarkali's - love to wear them whether it is a special occasion or regular. I feel that it adds some magic to me, making my day extra special. I did this anarkali style dress for my daughter. This was a special one for her birthday. I always make one special dress for her birthday and that is like kind of a tradition to me. Last month she enjoyed her special day with family and friends wearing this special dress and I am kind of posting this late after enjoying the Pongal holidays with mom and in-laws. She was the one designed and with her drawing and color suggestions.

I shopped for the materials in Pothys - got georgette for the dress  layers and for the top jacquard. I got silk net for duppatta, but used a part of it to make the shrug. After seeing the outcome, she changed her mind, asked for a shrug (she is not a big fan of chudi pants, she told she prefers leggings) and was very much satisfied. Here is a picture of the materials I used.

I came across a simple tutorial for shrug on catonalimb blogspot. Thanks Catherine for an easy way to make a shrug on a short time. I used her instructions and made this silk net shrug.

For the dress, I made a paper cutting for the measurements I needed for the bodice (the length from the shoulder to hip is a little long as my daughter wanted in this way, but can be reduced by 3 in.) and then used it to cut the body fabric. After making a simple paper cutting, I cut one of the shoulder portion from the neckline according to my sweetie's design. she wanted a single shoulder but later changed to another strap attached to it. (Sorry for the crumpled paper, I saved it from my son playing with that!)

Cut the lining too (I used crepe material) with the same measurements and stitch these two together. Serge at each and every step to prevent the edges from fraying. Then add a zipper and one shoulder strap to complete it. From the hip measurement, double the length for the first layer color which is orange i.e, if the measurement is 30 in, cut 60 in. length of orange material with a width of 71/2 in. (used 0.36 m of the orange material). Gather the orange layer and join it to the bodice. Next, double the length of orange for the black layer and cut pieces 71/2 in. wide to make 120 in. long (used 0.55 m ) and join the strips. When joining the orange and black material add a thin gold trim (used 1.5 m of the trim) which would give a extra glam for the dress. Similarly, double the length of the black one for red layer (cut strips of 71/2 in. width and stitch them to make 240 in. long, used 1.1 m) and add the gold trim (used 3 m)  too. And at the edge of the red layer, add a beaded trim (7 m). All the measurements given here includes a 1/4 in. seam allowance.

Now cut the plain orange lining (64 in. length and 20 in. height), serge the ends and gather. Join it to the bodice lining. When joining, I usually, sew the wrong sides of the lining facing the wrong side of the dress, so that my daughter doesn't complain about any pricking. It looks as if you made two dresses and sewn them together with the wrong sides of facing each other. 

The seams of the dress and the lining face each other.

This how the reverse looks!

Finally glue some rhinestones along the neckline, body and shoulder strap for extra special glitter. 

My daughter loved her twirly whirly anarkali (minus chudi pants) dress and here is the picture of it.

The original idea is to make Mommy and Me dress to wear on her birthday party. I finished hers and yet to do mine. She enjoyed wearing it on her party and everyone loved it. When I finish mine, would update here.