Tiny bit of background to this dress:
Last year I went to my cousin April's wedding, and as I arrived at the venue, my Aunt came running over giggling away as we'd worn exactly the same outfit!!! A layered blue number from Next.
This year, I don't intend for the same thing to happen again (my Aunt and I are a similar age and similar taste!) so, I decided some months ago to make my own outfit.
I finally decided to give the Butterick 5748 pattern a go. I've seen it quite a bit on different Social Media and blogs and it looks pretty good on all shapes n sizes (which is helpful in my case).
I then spent quite some time waiting for the right fabric to come along. I'm determined to wear my Irregular Choice Girly Pearly shoes - as they're soooo 'weddingy'. So when I saw the 'Cornflower Frenzy' cotton poplin at Clothspot, I couldn't believe my luck with its perfectness, and promptly ordered 4 meters of it.
This duly arrived nice and prompt two days later, which was fab. However, since it was delivered I've had zero time to even think about getting the sewing machine out. I did manage a quick toile a couple of weekends ago (I say quick...it took me 10 hours not to finish it!!) and it became clear that, thanks to the Dualit toaster I bought myself as a birthday treat this year, and the subsequent never ending bread and pastry products I've toasted and warmed on it, I was never going to fit into the size 14 pattern I'd cut out. Ooops!
My sewing skills are somewhat limited and my pattern drafting/altering is pretty much non-existent, so I spent about a week trying to work out how and where I could add 2 inches to the waist ... and considering Butterick 5748 is a lined and fitted bodice on a full skirt, there seemed to be only one solution...5/8 inch on each side seam...well, I think its worked??!!??
Finally, today, I've managed to pin and cut out the fabric (and the bodice lining) and after a couple of hours of slow, meticulous, not deviating from the pattern instructions at all (this involved a few trips to Google to find out how to 'understitch' ... seriously, why can I NEVER get this simple instruction to make sense in my head without seeing it on the internet first?! ... and lots of pressing.
I may only have a completed lined bodice, but I'm really pleased with it!!!! just hope the rest goes as well...in the limited time I have left !!!! ....2 weekends !!! eeeek !!!!
