custom made long, loose dress in a bright waxprint fabric

Hi Amely,
I'd be happy to work on your idea.
Please have a look at the fabrics and let me know which ones appeal to you in terms of print as well. Do you like the geometric prints or the flowery prints more.

Many Thanks,
Nyambura.

28 Feb 2021 10:46 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura, thank you so much for your message and the fabric suggestions!
In principle, I like both geometric and floral – or representational (horses, birds, technical devices?). Of your suggestions, I like number 4 the most color-wise – but I'm not sure the stripes go so well with this dress pattern. Number 1 I think is very nice, and I like number 3 a lot too – number 2 and number 5 I like the least (maybe because they're so small-scale?). Number 6 is a stunner, even though the fabric is quite different from what I had imagined for my dress…. But it, along with number 4, is definitely on my shortlist!
I'm very particular about colors – so I'd probably need a few more suggestions until I'm sure…. please excuse me! Could you send me a few more suggestions, please? That would be great!
I'm looking forward to it!
Thanks a lot and best regards,
Amely

Dear Amely, thank you for getting back.
I'm happy you got some favorites from the fabrics sent.
As requested here are some more fabric suggestions. Please have a look.
The fabrics have at least 2 or 3 colors that are close to those on your mood board.
Please send pictures of the ones you like.

Many Thanks,
Nyambura.

06 Mar 2021 9:37 am: Amely
Dear Nyambura, thank you so much! There was nothing in the second round that I liked any better than the first fabrics. I think I'll go with the last one from the first picture batch, the one numbered 053629, in red, orange, purple and brown. I can't wait to see what happens next! Many greetings, Amely

Dear Amely,
I am so glad we have a winner!
Please have a look also at the Maasai shuka options for the one you like best.

Many Thanks,
Nyambura.

07 Mar 2021 11:40 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura, thank you so much and: perfect!!! The second of the fabrics, 1-1.jpg in red and blue, is exactly what I had in mind! Do you already know how much the two things should cost?
Thank you very much and many greetings!
Amely

Dear Amely, Excellent! Another winner!
Yes I do. If in agreement, please send the following measurements as we proceed:

For the bust in pic 1, lay the dress flat and measure from under arm to under arm.

Half bodice:
Measure from the under arm/armpit to the waistline seam

In Pic 2:
Shoulder:
Measure from shoulder seam to shoulder seam.

Nape to waist:
Measure from the back neck of the dress to the waist line seam.

Skirt hem:
Measure from side seam to side seam across the bottom of the skirt.

Wrist:
Measure across the sleeve hem.

In Pic 3:
Waist:
Measure across the waistline from side seam to side seam.

Skirt length:
Measure the length from the waist seam to the skirt bottom

Sleeve length:
Measure from shoulder seam to the sleeve hem

Arm:
Move the tape measure 6 inches from the shoulder seam. That will be your starting point. Then measure across the sleeve to the armpit.

For body measurements please send:
Neck:
Place the tape measure round the base of your neck

Shoulder:
Taken from the back, from shoulder joint to shoulder joint.

Bust & Hips
Place the tape measure around both areas.

Length of waist band:

Also, please let me know if you'd like the dress lined.

Many Thanks,
Nyambura.

11 Mar 2021 1:05 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura, great, thank you so much! I agree with you very much.
I took the measurements and sent them all by mail. Attached I send the photos of the skirt pocket (I need that on both sides please – never a dress without a pocket again :)!) and the buttons and tabs on the sleeves. These allow you to fold the sleeves over and cinch them down, which is also totally awesome. If these extras increase the price, that's totally understandable!
Also, I wanted to ask you to make the neckline a little flatter than the model dress: I'd like it a little closer to the collarbone, so it wouldn't be quite so round. Do you know what I mean?

And- another new thing: I found a fabric online that I think is just fantastic – with chickens! (photo attached). I wanted to ask you if you might be able to find this fabric at your place? If so, I would order one more dress right away!!!
Thank you very much and best regards,
Amely

Thank you Dear Amely.
I'm glad we are in agreement.

Thank you also for highlighting the extra details of the dress, I'll make sure to put the pockets and sleeve tabs as well as raising the neckline.
If you wouldn't mind, please take one more measurement to assist with your desired change:
While wearing the model dress, please measure how low the neckline is from the collarbone, and the new depth you would like.

For the sleeve tab, would you be open to the idea of having it in a different color, say black? If not, that's okay too. I had also asked if you'd like lining on the dress in our previous communication. Please let me know:)

Also, that chicken print fabric is a fantastic choice! 🙂 I'll look for it and get back to you.
In the meantime, kindly confirm the email address you sent the measurements as I have refreshed my mail several times but haven't seen your email.

Thank you once again,
Nyambura.

Thank you Dear Amely.
I'm glad we are in agreement.

Thank you for the measurements and also for highlighting the extra details of the dress, I'll make sure to put the pockets and sleeve tabs as well as raising the neckline.
If you wouldn't mind, please take one more measurement to assist with your desired change:
While wearing the model dress, please measure how low the neckline is from the collarbone, and the new depth you would like.

For the sleeve tab, would you be open to the idea of having it in a different color, say black? If not, that's okay too. I had also asked if you'd like lining on the dress in our previous communication. Please let me know:)

Also, that chicken print fabric is lovely! I haven't found the exact one, but have attached some similar options and one other type for your consideration.
Let me know what you think. 🙂

Thank you once again,
Nyambura.

14 Mar 2021 2:05 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura,
thank you so much for your message and the queries!
The distance from collarbone to neckline edge of the model dress is 6 cm, I would find a depth of 3-4 cm ideal. I think the cuffs would be nicer in the same fabric – and it doesn't have to be lined – but thank you! Also great that you kept an eye out for the chicken fabric! I'm afraid there isn't one I like as much as the one in my screenshot, though. But then, let's do the red-orange-purple dress for now – and then we'll see. Maybe we can think of something else… Thanks a lot for your effort anyway!
Best regards,
Amely

Dear Amely,
Thank you for your feedback.
It was no trouble at all finding the chicken prints and it's okay, there's always next time.

Thanks for the measurements and clarifications.
I am excited to start on the project!

Many Thanks,
Nyambura

Dear Amely, Thank you for confirming your order. I managed to get the fabrics today.
For the stole, would you have a preferred size in mind or will 20 by 60 inches be fine?
Many Thanks,
Nyamburas.

19 Mar 2021 7:40 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura,
very good of you to ask, thank you so much! It suddenly occurred to me too that we haven't talked about this at all! In fact, I meant a stole in the sense of a shawl – which means it would have to be significantly larger! I don't know how thick the fabric is for the shawl – if it's thinner, a square shawl hemmed all around with red fringe, roughly 1.20m x 1.20m would probably be ideal. But if it's thicker (which I suspect it is) it probably falls nicer if you just make it into a triangle – then the fringes would be correspondingly only on the two short sides (also about 1.20m), and on the long side of the triangle (then about 1.80m – 1.90m) then none. Sounds complicated… I hope you can follow me :)! If you have any more questions, just get back to me.
After all, it's a lot bigger and a lot more fabric than you thought. Of course that has to be added to the price. I hope it's not too much work to change it!

I'm really looking forward to it!!!

Many greetings,
Amely

Dear Amely, thank you for the clarification:)
Yes you're right, it is the thicker fabric. You've explained what you'd like well, so it's easy to follow.
I begun on the dress and have attached photos of the process and progress.

The skirt bottom with pockets is done.

For the bodice, I have two requests:
1. If you could, please measure the shoulder of the dress again.
While drafting the bodice pattern, it seems like there's a discrepancy in the shoulder measurement from the dress.
It appears to be wider than the bust measurement giving no room for the armhole…
I've shown the apparent difference in the photos labelled: Wide shoulder & No Armhole.
The white lines show the pattern drafted from your body measurements and the red lines show the dress measurements.

2. Kindly take the measurements of the sleeve and arm as shown in the picture labelled 3.jpg. I realized they were not listed on your measurements.

Sleeve length:
Measure from shoulder seam to the sleeve hem

Arm:
Move the tape measure 6 inches from the shoulder seam. That will be your starting point. Then measure across the sleeve to the armpit.

Also, are you left or right handed? I'm thinking of putting a side zipper, and would like to put it on the side that's best for you, reason being I didn't see a button stand on the dress front from the sample picture so I assumed there's a zipper for fastening. Is that the case?

Many Thanks,
Nyambura.

24 Mar 2021 12:52 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura, thank you so much for asking and for the photos. It definitely looks great already!!! I've attached photos with measurements – hope they help! Actually, the dress is very oversized and the shoulders are wide over – meaning the sleeves don't start until a good hand's width past my body's shoulder. Does that answer your question? If not – just write again and I'll make an effort to measure more accurately.
Thanks a lot and best regards!
Amely

Dear Amely, you are welcome and I am so glad you like it already!
Thank you for the explanation, I was able to understand the cut of the dress enough to complete it.
I've also completed the maasai shuka shawl.
Do have a look and let me know what you think.
Many thanks,
Nyambura.

25 Mar 2021 6:21 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura, thank you so much- that was fast!!! The scarf and dress both look really great made! I'm really looking forward to it!
Thank you so much!!!
Finally, I have another fabric question: could you find one of the two fabrics I've attached photos of? They are both green with orange… Then I would take another dress :)!
Many greetings!
Amely

Dear Amely, you're very welcome. 🙂
I"m so glad you are pleased.

Also, I checked for the fabric designs you sent, but sadly didn't find those exact ones, however, I did find the chicken print you had sent earlier 🙂 and have attached pictures of it as well as 3 others with the green and orange color scheme just in case there's something you'll like:)

Many Thanks,
Nyambura

(Automatic translation) 29 Mar 2021 12:03 am: Amely
Dear Nyambura, thank you so much, that's great news! I am so happy that you found the chicken fabric!!! I definitely want to make a dress out of it…. Just have to look for the right pattern dress to send you photos and measurements for it. That will take another two days though! Is it ok if you send all the items in one then? Or should we open a new project here for the new order? Just tell me how it's better… and I'll reply to your next message as soon as possible with the details of the chicken dress :)!
I'm looking forward to it!
Thanks a million and many greetings,
Amely

Dear Amely, I'm glad you're happy and I can't wait to start on the chicken dress 🙂

We can open a new project here then send all the items at the same time.
Many many thanks,
Nyambura.

(Automatic translation) 01 Apr 2021 6:58 pm: Amely
Dear Nyambura, now I have thought back and forth which cut the chicken dress should get… and have come to the conclusion: best just the same :). Will you cut it for me, please? I'd prefer the pattern here to be a bit asymmetrical – so the biggest chicken not on the middle of the bust or something. Maybe rather on the skirt a bit to the side? But you just see how it turns out best, right? Looking forward to it!!!
Many greetings!
Amely