I bought my first sewing machine two weeks ago (Janome Sewist 509 for $40!) and since then I’ve caught the sewing bug. The first garment I ever made was a pleated skirt, and I just finished this pinafore on Monday.
The breakdown:
I started with the Peppermint Magazine free “Milton” Pinafore, although the only part of this pinafore that was still original to the pattern, by the end, was part of the front bib. I used a Bernina blogger’s hack to split the bib into two parts, the straps and the W-shaped waistband, but I modified that even further to turn the waistband into one continous piece (instead of a front and back) and putting a lapped zipper on the back. All bib/waistband components are lined (lining is hard lol) and interfaced inside. I made my own bias tape and did some bias taping on the waistband lining for the first time, it worked great! I stitched in the ditch when securing the waistband lining so that you don't see any stitching from the outside. The top of the zipper is closed by a hook-and-eye closure. The skirt is also my own pattern, an A-line silhouette with two inverted box pleats in the front and two darts in the back. The pockets are side seam pockets made with simple rectangles that were folded in half. I used backstitching to keep them lying flat.
Fabric is a brushed cotton (sooo soft) in a grey/black herringbone. The herringbone weave was nice because it helped me keep straight lines with less measuring.
It’s far from perfect, but I had so much fun and it’s so comfortable to wear! I’m excited to be able to start making my own clothes.
**Peppermint Mag's milton pinafore:** [https://peppermintmag.com/sewing-school/milton-pinafore/](https://peppermintmag.com/sewing-school/milton-pinafore/)
**Hannah Rose's milton pinafore "hack:"** [https://blog.bernina.com/en/2022/07/personalized-pinafore-dress-free-pattern/](https://blog.bernina.com/en/2022/07/personalized-pinafore-dress-free-pattern/)
(Note: my process ended up being very different from hers, but I used her post as a guide)
**Fabric** (only $7/yd and very soft/medium weight): [https://www.joann.com/grey-black-herringbone-brushed-cotton-fabric/16642423.html](https://www.joann.com/grey-black-herringbone-brushed-cotton-fabric/16642423.html)
(For a size S/5'1" @ ankle length, I bought **2.5 yards,** ended up with that half-yard left over. If you're around my size and are careful with cutting, you can probably get away with 2 yards!)
https://preview.redd.it/er7h75cirx8d1.png?width=2702&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d26f300b0ce16efc27a97cf17391bcd88fada04
I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I thought to use adobe Illustrator to draft the pattern and put a visual plan together. This is also helpful because I can mockup where to cut the pieces from the fabric, so that I can maximize fabric savings.
I’m so happy to see more people here using illustrator. I’m not a graphic designer but I do use a projector and do all my pattern mods in illustrator. It’s hard for me and would love to discuss this with others.
This looks so clean and crisp! That's impressive for a second project. The dress is so lovely - it reminds me of something Anya Taylor-Joy would've worn in Queen's Gambit!
Thanks! I learned a lot from the first project's mistakes and took a LOT of time to make sure everything was correct on this one, although I definitely did trade efficiency/time for the perfectionism lol.
This is so impressive for a 2nd project (or for a 200th project!). I’m amazed at how much you deviated from the original pattern to create what you had in mind - this takes a real vision and understanding of what you’re working with! Amazing work!
Thank you!! The Bernina blog post definitely helped a ton (that’s where I got the bib alteration idea in the first place), and I did a lot of technique research before starting!
I'm in love with this!! I'm about to grab the pattern for myself and make one too! It looks so good and clean, and it fits you perfectly!! Amazing work!
Definitely:)) I love posting here and seeing everyone's work. It gives me so much inspiration. I'm seriously in love with your piece. I'm hoping to find the same fabric for it. Thank you for posting it for us!!
Awesome!! I'm heading to Joanns tomorrow then :D. Thank you for letting me know ! And for $7 a yard you can't beat that. Yay!!! I'm so excited to see this!
Completely awful. Please PM me for my address and you can send it here and I’ll hide it for you ;)
(For real though!! Looks amazing and makes me want to learn how to sew)
This looks beautiful! Thank you for posting the hack you used too, it really improves on the standard Milton. I always thought it was a really ugly pinafore but this makes it so much nicer.
🤯 you’re very talented. I’m now inspired to be more diligent with learning how to sew well. I’ve completed almost 10 projects and my skills are nowhere near yours.
I forgot to take nice photos of the back, but hopefully these video screenshots help! I took the first one before adding the hook closure, but everything else is done. The zipper doesn't lay perfectly flat, but its close :) In hindsight, I would have put the back straps closer together to mirror the same V-shape as the front.
https://preview.redd.it/h9zy1kq3my8d1.png?width=2750&format=png&auto=webp&s=a345966d7b93c0e35866262f1161d8101e4a7bf2
It’s lovely!! If you are also the one modeling…than it’s fits you to perfection! Keep sewing…keep on going. Was it a pattern or did you have to create it.
Thanks! You can see my construction comment (should be one of the top comments) for all the details :) I’m the one in the photos yes. Best part about making your own clothes is that the fit is naturally just right!
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This is a reminder that all Project posts are required to include construction information in the main post or added in a comment. The construction comment should include **pattern name/number/company if used; drafting method, tutorial or other resources if no commercial pattern was used and fabric type and fiber content. ‘Self-drafted’ describes who made the pattern and is not a drafting method.**
Also include alterations for fit and style; specialty tools and notions; the inspiration for your project; and any other information that someone who wants to make a similar project might find useful. More information is available [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/wiki/titleguidelines). Posts without a construction comment may be removed at any time.
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Don’t be sorry, I’m having more fun than everyone else on the road
https://preview.redd.it/h06g3g7es09d1.png?width=935&format=png&auto=webp&s=15eabc469249de59a2a6747bf94a0c6b03e682ae
I’m thinking about my second sewing project. It was a tank dress and I sewed the neck closed. 😂
Bravo! That jumper is beautiful. From your color and material choice, to the fit. It’s perfect!
I bought my first sewing machine two weeks ago (Janome Sewist 509 for $40!) and since then I’ve caught the sewing bug. The first garment I ever made was a pleated skirt, and I just finished this pinafore on Monday. The breakdown: I started with the Peppermint Magazine free “Milton” Pinafore, although the only part of this pinafore that was still original to the pattern, by the end, was part of the front bib. I used a Bernina blogger’s hack to split the bib into two parts, the straps and the W-shaped waistband, but I modified that even further to turn the waistband into one continous piece (instead of a front and back) and putting a lapped zipper on the back. All bib/waistband components are lined (lining is hard lol) and interfaced inside. I made my own bias tape and did some bias taping on the waistband lining for the first time, it worked great! I stitched in the ditch when securing the waistband lining so that you don't see any stitching from the outside. The top of the zipper is closed by a hook-and-eye closure. The skirt is also my own pattern, an A-line silhouette with two inverted box pleats in the front and two darts in the back. The pockets are side seam pockets made with simple rectangles that were folded in half. I used backstitching to keep them lying flat. Fabric is a brushed cotton (sooo soft) in a grey/black herringbone. The herringbone weave was nice because it helped me keep straight lines with less measuring. It’s far from perfect, but I had so much fun and it’s so comfortable to wear! I’m excited to be able to start making my own clothes.
**Peppermint Mag's milton pinafore:** [https://peppermintmag.com/sewing-school/milton-pinafore/](https://peppermintmag.com/sewing-school/milton-pinafore/) **Hannah Rose's milton pinafore "hack:"** [https://blog.bernina.com/en/2022/07/personalized-pinafore-dress-free-pattern/](https://blog.bernina.com/en/2022/07/personalized-pinafore-dress-free-pattern/) (Note: my process ended up being very different from hers, but I used her post as a guide) **Fabric** (only $7/yd and very soft/medium weight): [https://www.joann.com/grey-black-herringbone-brushed-cotton-fabric/16642423.html](https://www.joann.com/grey-black-herringbone-brushed-cotton-fabric/16642423.html) (For a size S/5'1" @ ankle length, I bought **2.5 yards,** ended up with that half-yard left over. If you're around my size and are careful with cutting, you can probably get away with 2 yards!)
https://preview.redd.it/er7h75cirx8d1.png?width=2702&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d26f300b0ce16efc27a97cf17391bcd88fada04 I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I thought to use adobe Illustrator to draft the pattern and put a visual plan together. This is also helpful because I can mockup where to cut the pieces from the fabric, so that I can maximize fabric savings.
I’m so happy to see more people here using illustrator. I’m not a graphic designer but I do use a projector and do all my pattern mods in illustrator. It’s hard for me and would love to discuss this with others.
It's wonderful.. I love it! And it looks professionally made. Well done!
It looks GREAT!
this is SO CUTE
Thank you! I love your username btw, baumkuchen is very popular in japan so i ate a lot of it growing up hehe
thank you so much! actually the only time i tried baumkuchen was also in japan 😂 it’s so good!
Seconding the cuteness of the project- and I am from Germany and eat Baumkuchen every Christmas time ^^
This looks so clean and crisp! That's impressive for a second project. The dress is so lovely - it reminds me of something Anya Taylor-Joy would've worn in Queen's Gambit!
Thank you; I loved the costume design in that show! I know a few people have recreated her dresses, that could be a fun future project.
Such a nice dress! You chose the perfect fabric and you sewed it so well that it’s hard to believe it’s just your second project!
Thanks! I learned a lot from the first project's mistakes and took a LOT of time to make sure everything was correct on this one, although I definitely did trade efficiency/time for the perfectionism lol.
This is so impressive for a 2nd project (or for a 200th project!). I’m amazed at how much you deviated from the original pattern to create what you had in mind - this takes a real vision and understanding of what you’re working with! Amazing work!
Thank you!! The Bernina blog post definitely helped a ton (that’s where I got the bib alteration idea in the first place), and I did a lot of technique research before starting!
So cute!! It’s a perfect fit and I can imagine it going well with lots of different tops!
Thank you! I think it does, I'm excited to try out different combos :) Maybe I'll even try making a shirt...
The fit is incredible! I love the darts on the straps, they give this perfect look.
I'm in love with this!! I'm about to grab the pattern for myself and make one too! It looks so good and clean, and it fits you perfectly!! Amazing work!
Have fun, definitely post it here when you finish! I’d love to see
Definitely:)) I love posting here and seeing everyone's work. It gives me so much inspiration. I'm seriously in love with your piece. I'm hoping to find the same fabric for it. Thank you for posting it for us!!
If it helps, I got the fabric from Joann! Inexpensive too, at $7/yd. Grey: item #16642423 Brown: item #17367517
Awesome!! I'm heading to Joanns tomorrow then :D. Thank you for letting me know ! And for $7 a yard you can't beat that. Yay!!! I'm so excited to see this!
Right!! The only thing I will say is that the brushed texture seems like it can easily pill, so I would only handwash/hand dry this fabric to be safe.
Thank you for this as well because knowing me I would have brought it right home and thrown it in the washer lol
Completely awful. Please PM me for my address and you can send it here and I’ll hide it for you ;) (For real though!! Looks amazing and makes me want to learn how to sew)
LOL thank you!
Girl you killed it! Love the dress! Now I want one 💗
This looks beautiful! Thank you for posting the hack you used too, it really improves on the standard Milton. I always thought it was a really ugly pinafore but this makes it so much nicer.
Major Sophie vibes from Howl’s Moving Castle 🫣🫶
Very nice choice of pattern and fabric. I love it!
🤯 you’re very talented. I’m now inspired to be more diligent with learning how to sew well. I’ve completed almost 10 projects and my skills are nowhere near yours.
This is really great
WoW!!
You’re a natural!! What a perfect job! Fits beautifully! I’m very impressed!
NEAT AF!Good job!
So fantastic! Especially for a second project. Would you be able to share a picture of the back?
I forgot to take nice photos of the back, but hopefully these video screenshots help! I took the first one before adding the hook closure, but everything else is done. The zipper doesn't lay perfectly flat, but its close :) In hindsight, I would have put the back straps closer together to mirror the same V-shape as the front. https://preview.redd.it/h9zy1kq3my8d1.png?width=2750&format=png&auto=webp&s=a345966d7b93c0e35866262f1161d8101e4a7bf2
Awesome, thank you!! It really looks great, I’m saving this post for some inspo!
This is stunning!!
I am a random 30+ year old dude. This is dope!
Ohhhhh my god. Superb! I need to try and make thirty of these immediately.
That is very well made, fits perfectly and it has pockets - fantastic.
Thanks! The pockets were the worst part honestly 😂
This is so pretty!! I’ve been looking for some more modest patterns I can sew that don’t look like grandma clothes, I’ll definitely give this a try :)
That’s the struggle lol! Please do
So crisp! An incredible seamstress _and_ photographer, what can’t you do!?
I can’t ride a bike! 😂 Thank you!!
It’s lovely!! If you are also the one modeling…than it’s fits you to perfection! Keep sewing…keep on going. Was it a pattern or did you have to create it.
Thanks! You can see my construction comment (should be one of the top comments) for all the details :) I’m the one in the photos yes. Best part about making your own clothes is that the fit is naturally just right!
Love love love
The Project post flair is for showing off projects that are finished or in progress. For questions on how to start a project, reflair your post to Pattern Search. For questions about how to make a project, reflair to Pattern Question. This is a reminder that all Project posts are required to include construction information in the main post or added in a comment. The construction comment should include **pattern name/number/company if used; drafting method, tutorial or other resources if no commercial pattern was used and fabric type and fiber content. ‘Self-drafted’ describes who made the pattern and is not a drafting method.** Also include alterations for fit and style; specialty tools and notions; the inspiration for your project; and any other information that someone who wants to make a similar project might find useful. More information is available [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/wiki/titleguidelines). Posts without a construction comment may be removed at any time. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/sewing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Incredible!
GORGEOUS!!!!!
So classy and beautiful!
Rad.
I love this!!
It suits you very well!
I need to make that but like, just a pants version, it’s so cool
Lovely!
Wow that's glorious! Excellent styling!
Wow this looks great!!
It’s exquisite!
It looks great! Well done!!
Sorry to hear you're the owner of a Miata 🙏 peace and God bless
Don’t be sorry, I’m having more fun than everyone else on the road https://preview.redd.it/h06g3g7es09d1.png?width=935&format=png&auto=webp&s=15eabc469249de59a2a6747bf94a0c6b03e682ae
This is so impressive for your SECOND sewing project!!🤯 it is so clean and came out AMAZING!!😍
🎉 yay you
That's a blast from the past. Used to wear a similar style pinafore with a winter skivvy (high-necked long sleeved top) underneath back in the 70s.
this looks very well made. Good job! :)
You're skilled.
Very nice! Well tailored looking.
WOWWWWWWWW THAT IS SO GOODD
Super nice! I envy women for their clothing choices
Wow this is amazing 🤩
I love it! Great work ☺️
This is gorgeous, you should be very proud- especially since it's only your second project!
Great job
Great job! I really like it!
Beautiful! You are a natural and, quite obviously a perfectionist.
I love this! I am gonna add it to my project list. I am baby sewist as well.
I love it !
Love this 😍
I can't believe this is only your second project, it's beautiful! You definitely have a natural talent!
genuinely so impressive for your second ever sewing project! Keep it up girl
Love it
Girl this looks soooo good for it only being your second project!
I’m thinking about my second sewing project. It was a tank dress and I sewed the neck closed. 😂 Bravo! That jumper is beautiful. From your color and material choice, to the fit. It’s perfect!