Red performance dress

This dress was made for a performance by irish dance group KYRA. We have several of these red dresses for our group. The girls of this group are in their teens and have been growing a lot since we first made these. So, we had to make some new ones and re-fit some older ones. This made me try out a new concept: a two piece ensemble. The skirt and top are separate, so that with future growthspurts, we can more easily adjust skirts that are too short and tops that need more room. It will also be possible to swap skirts and tops more easily within the group.
The sleeves were cut from an older dress that was too small. They are not perfect, but they did the job.
The underskirt is also separate and simply lining fabric with a ruffle of tulle attached. I think it enhances the "fairy-like" quality these dresses have.

New designs

I have had some ideas for new 4-panels and wrap dresses and am finally ready to start putting them together in a digital catalogue. Below is an example of my work. If you are interested in my designs, please email me

Me...in my tulip dress

I finally finished the dress and took a picture of me in it at the Redmond feis. I hope you all enjoy!

Congratulations!

The 31st of March the Redmond feis was held in Wassenaar. Lowland Design would like to congratulate Sian and Emma with their first place Trophies! Well done girls!

Teresa

Just in time for the championships in Berlin. Good luck Teresa and I hope you do well!

Moving on

Lynne has moved to Ireland. I wish her all the best in her new life, and she will be missed around here! We have had some great times together. We became friends, made dresses (becoming closer friends), shopped endlessly for fabrics and discussed everything about dancing and dresses almost daily... I will really miss her company.

But, we move on. So...here are some of the costumes for sale that we have worn during our yearly dance drama competition.

The first set is called "rain and sunshine". Simply white cotton A-line dresses that are painted with a celtic bird motif in blue and yellow. The kite capes are in theme, portraying swirling water and the rays of sunshine. The sleeves are sheer organza. The hemlines are adorned with a sequin band. Lynne and I had actually won the competition this year!


The second set are in a Medieval Theme. The dresses are a purple satin overlayed with a sheer metallic netting with a leaf pattern in purple and gold. The color of the leaves changes from gold to purple depending on the light. They have an organza cape draping from shoulder to shoulder. The belts are satin with embroidery and can be pinned to size. Lining in gold.
A decent 3rd place was accomplished this year :-)
(pictures will be uploaded soon)

Both dress sets are about a size 8 and 10 UK.

If you are interested in any of these dresses please email me!

Fabric sale page online

I have started a fabric stash page for all those little remnants left over from past dresses. These cuts of fabric are between 100 cm and 150 cm, so perfect for applique!

Please check back one in a while to see updates and new fabrics listed. I have also added a link in the menu on the right.

Go to Fabric Stash Page

New dress for ME! :-D

***PLEASE NOTE** This design is Copyrighted**


Well, the gold dress had to go and I had long planned this new dress! I wanted something with flowers - to fit in with the latest trends - and I wanted it to reflect myselft a bit.

Flowers + Dutch girl = Tulip dress.

I also wanted sewn sequin and lilac. With all those ideas in my head, I had designed a few options...but time was passing by and no start on my solo dress yet. So, another fashion trend emerged: wrap dresses and 4-panels. I tried to picture myself in a wrap, but I could not make it work, so I adapted my ideas and design to make a 4 panel dress. I am very happy with the result and I think it will be a fab dress!
Just to make you see what it will be like in real fabrics, here is a little pic of the bodice in the works:





More updates to follow!

What you need to know to become an ID dressmaker

Several dressmakers have created a guide or "How to" resource to share their insights in ID dressmaking with others. These guides are wonderful for those who are starting or have just started to make their first dress. They are also a very good resource for those who wish to improve their dressmaking skills. I thought it might be useful to list them here.

I would like to give a big THANK YOU to all the dressmakers patient and kind enough to write down their process. I know they saved me many years of research!

Basic dressmaking/construction guides:
Anita Moyes Dancing on Eire dressmaking guide
Alwen Garden Earthly Delights
Colleens of Canberra Some considerations before making an ID dress

Patterns with instructions:
Pat from Irish Threads
Susan Gowin at Feisdress

Construction issues:
Diary of a daft dressmaker -Part 1
Diary of a daft dressmaker -Part 2
Diary of a daft dressmaker -Part 3

Ask all your questions on:
Celtic Flame Dressmaker's Board
FAQ-link dressmaker's board

Designs:
Colleens' of Canberra

Small glossary of typical ID fabrics

These are all I can think of right now from the top of my head. If I have missed any, please let me know and I will add them!

Anita

Dressmaking is addictive and also contagious :-) When Anita was looking for a new solo, she already had ideas on design, colors and fabrics. Anita and I live very close together and after a joint fabric search, more involvement in the dress was a very logical next step :-) I am grateful for Anita her help on this solo dress. She has interfaced most of the fabrics of the dress using a common household iron....while sitting/kneeling on the floor for hours (as I was already using the ironing board and have no space elsewhere to deal with large cuts of fabric). She also cut out most of her own applique.
Anita her first dress was purple, and after dancing in the green dress for a while, she longed to have a purple dress again. The base fabric is a two-tone fabric of burgundy and blueish purple. She looks more purple or burgundy depending on your point of view and how her dress catches the light. I love this fabric and I think she looks great in this color! I also think the lace gives it a very nice touch.