Hello everyone
It's another beautiful day here and I'm glad to share with you the transformation I made with this iro and buba traditional outfit into a simple off shoulder gown with double flare sleeves.
Iro and buba is a traditional outfit made with lace or Ankara fabric, it is usually made with expensive fabrics, it is a traditional outfit in the western part of Nigeria. Wearing this outfit makes the wearer looks cultured with a beautiful head gear on it. This particular iro and buba was gifted to my friend Shola by her mother-in-law when she went visiting her, ordinarily, my friend will never wear such fabric but since it was gifted to her by her mother-in-law and she had no option than to wear it or better still transform it into something nice that she can wear just as I have made for her.
According to Shola my friend, this lace fabric has been given to her for a while now, she just decided to make something simple and nice with it instead of keeping it at home without putting it into good use. I went to pay her a visit and after staying with her for a while, she brought out this fabric and asked if I can make something nice from it, I smiled and told her not to worry, I will see what I can do.
First, I knew I could only make a pencil gown from the iro but the choice of upper bodice was not decided not until I was going through my phone and I saw this outfit, just very simple and nice, so I decided to make same for my friend with her iro and buba.
Just the iro (wrapper) was enough for me to make the pencil gown with the upper bodice, from the wrapper, I cut out the lower part of the gown using shola's measurement for the front and back with lining.
It was set aside while I drafted out the upper bodice of an off shoulder princess dart bustier on a brown paper using her bodice measurement after which it was duplicated on the main fabric to cut out same shape.
The front was padded with warden at the bust area to make it stand firm, it was turned with matching color lining for neat finishing.
The lower part was also sewn and turned inside out for neat finishing, the upper and lower part were sewn together and I have this off shoulder pencil gown with half cut princess dart bustier.
Now that the gown is almost ready, I proceeded to the cutting of the sleeve, I folded the buba to cut out a flare sleeve using the round sleeve x3 and the desired length of 6". I bought a matching color satin material to cut out the second flare of 8".
The double sleeve were turned with lining and it was gathered with an elastic band.
The sleeves were sewn to the armhole circumference and I have a complete outfit of an off shoulder princess dart bustier with double flare sleeves.
With this, I'm sure my friend will be so glad with the beautiful outcome when delivered.
