New to Lolita!

[karmakatelyn]

Hello everyone!! I'm a newbie lolita (are there any cute terms for this?), and I've broken into the fashion by making my own JSKs, since affording brand will be something I dream of for a long time to come. I have recently ordered my first Krad Lanrete dress, however, and am excitedly waiting for it to arrive!!

I was wondering if I could get some

Comments

[tomietomato]

I do not have so much sewing knowledge, but I hope I can give some feedback. Sorry for my english, I know the technical terms in spanish

[karmakatelyn]

Your English is very good, thank you so much for taking the time to write out this critique!

I'll run the ruffles under my iron soon and see if that'll help them not look so intense- I have a really old iron and sometimes it doesn't get as hot as it should without splotching water on the fabric, so I have to be careful how I do it.

Ahhh, that makes sense! The back was really hard to draft together with the fabric, but I see what you mean with keeping the stripes even to make the bow look like it's sitting properly.

Metamorphose is actually one of my favorite brands! I'll take a closer look at their dresses.

Don't apologize for all the feedback!! I really appreciate it :) I do want to get a different blouse for this coord- I'll either make one with a high neck and a ribbon, or buy one with a soft round color and lace detail.

Thank you so much again <3 Bangs are super hard for me to keep up with, so I try to stay without them.

[tomietomato]

Im happy it was useful for you. Im looking forward to see your new creations.

[sweetexpedition]

I think the design itself is very nice and aesthetically pleasing, so something I'd definitely consider paying for!

As for the technical and quality side of things, I can't really comment much since I have limited knowledge in what would be good, but keep up the good work, it's awesome ^u^

[karmakatelyn]

Thank you!

Out of curiousity, how much would you be willing to pay for a JSK like this? I'm trying to get a good idea of what to price it at when I get more into opening my indie brand.

[sweetexpedition]

Most indie brands are priced between 180 - 350 from what I've seen, but (from my point of view) because the fabric you're using is not custom printed, it would probably be around the ~250 mark for the detailed work that and amount of fabric used.

So yeah, that's around what I'd personally be willing to pay for a JSK of this fabric and design :)

[karmakatelyn]

That works perfectly, then! I have it listed for custom order right at $250 on my Storenvy.

Thanks for your feedback!

[ananann]

I really wasnt expecting to like it (most newbie lolitas have no idea how to make something lolita) but when i clicked on your picture, i saw that it was absolutely gorgeous! You really did a fantastic job! Permission to shamelessly copy (with slight alterations) your design? Its really nice, and i love the ruffling. The only thing i wish you would have done was continue the cream ruffles all the way down, instead of stopping it right away and putting the white thing. The white underskirt looks like sort of an after-thought. But very lovely!

[karmakatelyn]

Oh my gosh, I'm so flattered that you like my design that much! Of course you're okay to take it and alter it for your own, as long as the base design is credited to me! :)

The lowest layer is actually the same cream fabric- unfortunately, I ran out at just the wrong moment to make it as ruffled as the rest, hence why it looks more like an unfortunate underskirt than another layer of ruffling. I probably will get another half yard or so, just to add in that last bit of ruffle!

[ananann]

Ohhhhh, i cant believe how much ruffling changes the color :0 Thanks :) Of course credit goes to you, and i wont be copying it exactly, just some parts that were really nice, like the ruffles and gathering :DD

[karmakatelyn]

I look forward to seeing the dress you come up with!!

[princessidril]

First of all I am a beginner sewer myself (totally not up to dressmaking myself!) so please feel free to ignore me as my knowledge is more theoretical than practical

[karmakatelyn]

I definitely agree that the pattern should be centered more, especially in the back. I had issues fitting the back (originally, it was way too tight despite fitting perfectly in the mock up so I had to cut a new piece and lost the original symmetry I had), and I wish I'd been able to have just enough fabric to make it work better.

Stripes are such a pain when it comes to gathering a skirt, that's for sure! Next time I'll definitely try to even it out and match up a few more of the stripes, just to increase the flow, like you suggested.

The bottom layer is actually the very last bit of cream fabric I had which was just too short to get the same ruffled look as the other layers. Another layer of ruffles will definitely make it work better, so I'll probably add that in soon.

Thank you so much for all of your critique!! I appreciate it very much!

[karmakatelyn]

That's a good idea! I never thought about looking up material for a rosary chain. Thank you!