sewing dresses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sewing dresses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the activity of making or creating dresses through the process of sewing. Example: "She enjoys sewing dresses for special occasions, often experimenting with different fabrics and patterns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It contains upscale apartments, not lofts for sewing dresses.

The New York Times

Two young women have gone into business together, designing and sewing dresses for — they hope — upscale clients.

The New Yorker

Maria Miguelena Barbuena arrived in New York at the age of 12 and went to work sewing dresses in a factory.

The New York Times

Brassaï's series of 1951 photographs "The Seville Fair" includes a vivid glimpse of women sewing dresses; the Cartier-Bresson, taken in Turkey, is of one man's gesture, not apparently flamenco.

The New York Times - Arts

For six years, Mr. Bah had worked for L'Impasse, a clothing store in the West Village, sewing dresses that sold for up to $2,000 with what a former manager, Abdul Sall, called his "magic hands". Mr. Bah often spent Sundays at the Bronx townhouse his cousins had inherited from the family's first American citizen, a seaman who arrived in 1943.

The New York Times

The first victim was a newly appointed vice president who had been in charge of cutting costs by winnowing Carole Little's subcontractors who'd been sewing dresses, blouses and pantsuits for the company.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In the series God, Nature, Work, Eksta staged various scenes with a young woman, played by the photographer herself, in an old, abandoned house – sewing, dressing, reading, washing herself and doing housework alone.

The Guardian

"My best friend is my sewing machine," said Ms. Bouchotte, who sews dresses and curtains, among other items.

The New York Times

She shopped the sales racks at Urban Outfitters and sewed dresses from discounted fabric she bought on the Lower East Side.

The New York Times

In a caravan of livery cabs, broken-down cars, vans and school buses painted bright blue, they are going to sew dresses in factories, make beds in hotels and scrub office floors in central and northern New Jersey.

The New York Times

In a personal speech, he will speak of how his mother sewed dresses for 50p each to help make ends meet and how he wants his daughters to have the opportunity to do less insecure and difficult work.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific activity, use "sewing dresses" to emphasize the ongoing process of making dresses. For example, "She spent the afternoon sewing dresses for the charity bazaar."

Common error

Avoid using "sewing dresses" as a simple noun. It's a gerund phrase, indicating an action. Instead of saying "Sewing dresses is her job," consider "Dressmaking is her job" or "Sewing dresses is what she does."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sewing dresses" functions primarily as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the activity of making dresses. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, highlighting its versatility. For instance, the example 'Before "sewing dresses", start with smaller things, like pillows or patches' shows it used as a subject complement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sewing dresses" is a grammatically sound and commonly used gerund phrase that describes the activity of making dresses. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and versatility. It appears frequently in News & Media sources, with a neutral register suitable for various contexts. While alternatives like "dressmaking" and "making dresses" exist, "sewing dresses" effectively conveys the specific action of creating dresses through needlework.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making dresses

This alternative uses a more common verb, "making", instead of the gerund "sewing".

creating dresses

This alternative uses "creating" which broadens the scope beyond just the physical act of sewing.

dressmaking

This is a single-word noun that describes the craft or profession of making dresses.

dress designing and sewing

This alternative highlights both the design and the sewing aspects.

handcrafting dresses

This alternative emphasizes the manual skill and artistry involved.

tailoring dresses

This alternative implies a more fitted or custom approach to dress creation.

dress construction

This alternative emphasizes the process and structure involved in creating a dress.

assembling dresses

This emphasizes the process of putting the dress together from different parts.

constructing garments

This uses more formal and general language, applicable to clothing beyond just dresses.

clothing design and sewing

This is a broader description that includes more than just dresses.

FAQs

How to use "sewing dresses" in a sentence?

"Sewing dresses" functions as a gerund phrase, typically describing an activity. For example, "She enjoys "sewing dresses" in her free time" or "The art of "sewing dresses" requires patience and skill."

What can I say instead of "sewing dresses"?

You can use alternatives like "dressmaking", "making dresses", or "creating dresses" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. For instance, consider "She is skilled at "dressmaking"" or "She is "making dresses" for the summer collection".

Is "sewing dresses" formal or informal?

"Sewing dresses" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal settings, "dressmaking" might be preferred.

What's the difference between "sewing a dress" and "sewing dresses"?

"Sewing a dress" refers to the act of making a single dress. "Sewing dresses" refers to the activity of making multiple dresses or dresses in general. For instance, "She is "sewing a dress" for the party" versus "Sewing dresses is her passion."