I made something for me

My Year 8 sewing teacher would die laughing if she only knew...my mum is still laughing that I have actually made myself a dress. The last attempt was when I was about 18 years old. It worked out okay, but it stopped actually fitting oooh about 18 years ago! I was the most terrible sewing student at school (managed to break more than my fair share of machines) so my mother thinks it's a delicious irony that I'm 'sew into it' now :)

So, I bit the bullet, so to speak, and bought a pattern from Spotlight I'd walked past about 1000 times (reduced to $2 so I thought I couldn't go wrong) and grabbed 2 metres of semi-stretchy 'ocelot' fabric and went for it.

The pattern was surprisingly easy to understand and cut the fabric. The construction was also surprisingly easy, so from go (Sunday night) to whoa (last night) it took only a couple of hours. I finished it at 10pm last night and wore it work.

Here are a couple of touched up photos from my learner photographer husband :) (Thanks Carl for bearing with my instructions.)

Front on (I don't look so pregnant do I?)
And side on (NOW I look quite pregnant!)
I'm very happy with how the dress turned out. The hem's a little dodgy, but I know that would get better with practice. If I make it again I'll try to find some stretchier fabric, although I don't want to sacrifice weight - the fabric I chose is quite thick, which a) is much more forgiving to a lumpy, bumpy figure and b) is warmer!

Too tired tonight for spring Four Seasons quilting. BUT I promised myself I'd get the borders on tomorrow night. Hope to have some progress photos by the weekend.