SEWING TUTORIAL: How to Make the Trinidad Dress

To start your dress, gather the front bodice pieces.

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Now, close the bust darts and press them down.

Repeat this with the inside bodice.

Put the front bodice pieces aside and bring the back bodice pieces to the table. Place two back bodice pieces together, right sides facing.

Baste the center back with a straight stitch and 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Open the bodice and press the seams flat, facing the side seams.

Place the other back bodice pieces together, and baste the center back with a 3/8 inch seam allowance.
You will need to open this seam for the zipper.

Place the zipper on top of the center back seam. Pin it to the bodice.

Now, stitch the zipper sides and bottom. Use a straight stitch with a 1/8 inch seam allowance.
After this, open the basted stitches you made on the center back.

Then, you will have both back bodice pieces ready to attach together.

Now, place both back bodice pieces together, right sides facing and pin along the armholes and neckline.

Stitch along the armhole and the neckline. Leave about 2 inches open on the shoulder area, so it will be easier to attach to the front bodice.

Turn the back bodice pieces to the right side and press flat carefully.

Now, you will need to place both front bodice pieces together, right sides facing.

Stitch the armholes and neckline with a straight stitch and a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Now, turn the front bodice piece to the right side and press flat carefully.

Now, you will attach the front and back bodice pieces together from the shoulder seams.

Now, place the front and back bodice together and match the shouder seam, the main fabric must be attached together and the lining bodice will be attached after.
Press the seams flat.

Then, attach the side seams of the bodice, main fabric together first, and then, the lining fabrics will be attached with a straight stitch and 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Place the pockets on the skirt, right sides facing and pin the round curve.

Then, turn the pocket to the wrong side. Press the seams with your hand carefully and stitch it with a 1/8 inch seam allowance. Then, press it flat with your iron.

Now, place the back pocket on top of the front pocket, right sides facing and matching the side seams.
Stitch them together with an overlock or zigzag stitch. You can also use a bias binding method to cover the raw edges.

Then, place the back skirt and the front skirt together, right sides facing.

Match the side seams and stitch the skirt with a straight stitch and a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Gather the skirt top by basting it with a long stitch. Then, adjust the gathers manually and make some knots on both sides to secure.
After this, you can make a straight stitch on yout machine to make the gathers firm.
Double fold the hemline with a 1/4 inch and stitch the skirt with a straight line

Insert the skirt to the bodice, placing the right sides together and the front pocket with the front bodice. Pin the skirt to the bodice.

Then, stitch the skirt to the bodice with a straight stitch and 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Finally, bring the skirt to the front and press the seams flat.
You can also topstitch the skirt to the bodice with a 1/8 inch seam allowance.