Dress: $8

This (the made from scratch dress above) all started when my friend Jessica visited a few weekends ago.  We had a girls night, and she happened to pull out a devastatingly handsome Shabby Apple dress that she recently bought–in hopes to get some advice in altering it, because it was too big in every way.  Then I tried it on, and wouldn’t ya know, it was EXACTLY my size!!  Boy was she jealous!  And boy, wasn’t it a beauty.  I felt so feminine and flattered.  Sadly, I didn’t have $88 on hand to buy it off of her, so I had to give it back (then she shipped it back for a smaller size that hopefully will fit her just right).

But I was determined to make a dress that resembled the fit in some way, and asap stat.  And when I get something set in my mind, Lord help me.

So on Thursday night, earlier this week, I went digging through my sewing stash.  That printed $3.50/yard floral that I had bought months ago was calling my name: fabric. check.  Also calling my name, the pattern my friend Camille picked up for me for $1 at a Joann’s sale a while back: pattern. check.  But what to do about the zipper…dam.  Oh yes!  There is one still attached to that old pillow case – yes!  22″?  Yes, nice.  Ready set go.

Now, I’ll have you know, I am not a beginner at sewing, but I wouldn’t consider it a hobby.  I’d call it more of a skill (read: work, as in, not enjoyable) that comes in handy when I’m broke; I prefer shopping.  I’ve sewn tons of things: curtains, slipcovers,  pillows, a handful of dresses and skirts, shirts…but truthfully, the process is excruciatingly painful.  It literally hurts my back, my neck, and my head.  haha.  I am nothing like my mother, who sewed my wedding dress, the bridesmaids dresses, her dress, the table runners, and the little flower girls dresses for my wedding…and enjoyed it.  (she also sewed every formal dress I’ve ever worn).  The blessing and curse of being the daughter of an excellent seamstress mother, is that I was taught first hand what good craftsmanship means – which is a good thing, unless you are up until 2am sewing and you have to go to work the next day.

Here is what Thursday- Late Saturday night consisted of during every waking moment:

Measure, cut, pin, cut, sew, measure, pin, sew, try on, take off, pin, cut, sew, rip out, sew, rip out, sew , rip out, pin, cut, sew, rip out, try on, pin, figure out the zipper, get confused about the zipper, give up on the zipper, move on to sleeves, figure out gathering, try on, zip up, get disappointed, figure out zipper, pin, cut rip out, sew, try on, serge, try on…RAGING HEADACHE…EXCEDRIN…fix collar…rip, fix again, done.

Sunday morning…ready to wear…proudly.  And I do LOVE it.  Took a few tries, but it fits like a glove!

For anyone ambitious enough to make a dress (or if the above paragraph sounds like it is worth $80 to you), here is the pattern I used: New Look 6723

In addition to the Shabby Apple ‘Toe the Line’ dress, I was also inspired by these modcloth dresses:

Sincerely,

Jones

P.S. Is the cemetery creepy?  Camille and I thought it was pretty, but Brigham got scared when he saw the pictures.  There are cemeteries everywhere in Boston, so I’m kind of immune.