All five bridesmaid dresses cut out!
I am using combinations of six different patterns, and making up the skirt without a pattern. You can see my thought processes here and the dresses my friends picked from... (except now I am doing full pleated skirts rather than the tapered one I first thought about.)
I bought 11 yards of the grey stretch twill online. It is really nice, a little sheen to it, and thick enough for a dress. My dress is made out of it, too, as the base.
11 yards was heavy and hard to manage, so I cut out the skirts first. I had measured each of the girls from waist to kneecap, so I had that measurement for everyone. I ended up only adding an inch, figuring if I did 1/2" at the top for the seam and 2" for the bottom hem (serged, not turned under twice), the skirts would fall 1.5" above the kneecap--a cute length. The skirts will be pleated with little pleats, rather full at the bottom, so I just tore two panels for each dress. Thank goodness this fabric tore well!!! Although left lots of stray threads.
Then I had five skirts.
Next I cut out all the bodices. This was quite the process, so I will have to do one post per bridesmaid dress as I finish them so you can see the finished products as well! Trust me, that'll make it less confusing ;). They are all together waiting to be sewn...
I have LOTS of sewing to do before August 6th!