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A simple dress - bali style

My favourite thing to wear around the house is a "Bali dress"  I don't know if that's a proper name for them, or just what I call them since I got my first one on holiday in Bali many years ago.  They are so simple and comfy and I love them!



Well, a couple of years ago we holidayed in Thailand, and I was disappointed that they didn't have any "Bali dresses" there. 
(was it very silly of me to think they would have Bali dresses for sale in Thailand??) 

Anyway - we're actually off to Bali itself soon for a family holiday so I'm hoping to get more of these dresses there.

However - I did start to think that perhaps, maybe I have a little skill in sewing now - and although I'm not yet making many clothes - I could perhaps give a simple Bali dress a try!

After all - I've done things like patch holes in our ceiling after watching a You Tube video, and replaced the inverter in our laptop from another You Tube video!  I even tiled our whole house - including two bathrooms and two patios after one workshop at the local DIY store! 
So why shouldn't I be able to sew a simple dress!! (since sewing is what I do!!)

It's all about confidence!

So, using an old favourite for the size and shape:


and some material I got from the charity shop the other day for 50c



I managed!!!



Yippee!!!

 I had to patch the fabric together at the back because it wasn't quite big enough to cut whole pieces the right size:



But for my first try - and a round the house dress, I don't mind the seams!

And at least I now know that I can make my own Bali dresses!!

Mind you, if they have them in Bali this holiday, it will cost me the same to buy them as make them here - so I will be stocking up!!

Still, it's nice to know there's something else I can do!


I don't know why I have this fear of making clothes for myself!  I'm perfectly happy making so many other things - and recently did all my clothes upcycling - which resulted in lots of new, refashioned clothes for our family!

So, I'm going to make a concerted effort to make more clothes!

How about you? What is your 'achilles heel' in your craft?  Does it need to be?  Have you actually tried it or does it just scare you ?- (Zips used to scare me and I avoided them all the time, until one day I actually tried sewing one, and found they weren't quite so bad after all! I've since learned lots and now am confident sewing zips!).

I think sometimes I'm as bad as the kids with saying "I don't like it"  without even trying!!!

So why not try something new - so something that scares you, and maybe it won't be so bad after all!!




8 comments:

  1. I think your fabric is great - better than the original

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  2. Looking at the fabric of the original, it looks like a beach cover-ups/dresses being sold here in the Philippines (malls and some popular beaches) during summer. Those really are cool and comfy. Good job with the dress! And with those straps... I always have a hard time sewing thin straps and ties.

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  3. Well done! I've managed to make bed sheets for my sons' toddler beds/cribs, and some other things, but clothes scare me, too! IDK why!

    New follower from the Hump Day Hop. Please follow back:

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  4. Janelle is right, if you want to find cute "bali dresses", come to the Philippines, it's cheap and comfy. By the way, it is called "bestida" here. =)


    Smiles,

    Andy at wordsandpen.com

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  5. Great job!! It looks wonderful.

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  6. Good job on your first "Bali dress"! My first projects were clothes for myself, but I was never happy with the results. So, I'm currently stuck on handbags and totes. I was afraid of zips as well and still prefer to use them mostly for inside pockets. My biggest phobia is recessed zippers--yikes!
    Currently learning how to handquilt and applique...

    Happy Sewing Miss Jill!

    Rikka J.

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  7. I think your Bali dress looks great, and perfect for the warmer weather when it gets here:) At least if you can't find any dresses you can always make them beautifully yourself.

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