One down and one or two to go!

Hooray! My daughter's birthday is July 3, and she's been bugging me for a dress for a couple of years. The problem is she doesn't want me to measure her, she won't sit still for fittings, and I'm just supposed to guess based on what she looks like. As all my sewing friends know, that doesn't work so well.

A couple of posts ago, I showed a "wearable muslin" I had made her hoping it would fit, and of course it didn't. BUT, when I took it over and she tried it on, I was able to do a couple of measurements, lots of photos, and get an idea of what needed to be done to make it actually fit her properly.

At the same time, she "loaned me" a pattern from her favorite dress that she literally wore out. It was an inexpensive knit from Target or Old Navy or some similar shop, but she loved the fit and it was comfortable. I kept trying to get her to let me have it so I could copy it, but she wouldn't let it out of her sight. Fast forward to the disintegration of the dress. My non-sewing daughter cut it apart, made a pattern, and borrowed a machine from a friend and made herself another one, all without asking one word of advice or even mentioning to her mom that she'd done so. Pretty funny, huh?

Well yesterday, I finished the first dress for her birthday which is the original dress altered to fit. Sorry for the hanger shot, but until I see her on the fourth, that's all I have.

It's a royal blue rayon jersey from Girl Charlee. It's pretty light weight, and should be really comfortable for summer use even with the 3/4 sleeves.

I also ran over to Hancock's on Saturday and got another couple of pieces of knit to make her "favorite dress." Since she had to wait a few years for a dress, I figure two or three are in order. So the next fabric is on the cutting table waiting to be cut out and sewn up.

Holiday weeks are usually slow for me at work, so I anticipate having both of the new ones done before her birthday. The other dresses are just basic knits with a slightly raised waist, and slightly full skirt; she wants 3/4 sleeves, and I'll do my usual self fabric bound neckline. Hopefully they'll be quick and easy and not take much longer than a basic tee shirt.

More later!