Well, here we are. 2011. Is this going to be the start of a mega-crafting year for me I wonder? I would like it to be, but, knowing myself as I do, I will probably spend much of the year procrastinating. Does it count if you read about crafting? I do lots of that. I love to sit and read about all the wonderful projects I could start, then plan what fabric I’m going to use and when I’d wear or use said completed project. And then I don’t actually do it. I’m a bit rubbish that way. I need to be poked with a stick to actually get something done. Which leads neatly to my latest project …….
I poked myself with a stick for this one. I wanted to make myself a dress for my work Christmas “do”, so to make sure I actually started (and finished it) I told everyone in work that I was GOING TO MAKE MY OWN DRESS. They were suitably impressed which meant I had to pull my finger out and get on with it!
The pattern I chose was Butterick 4343.
I’d seen Tess Daly sporting something similar in “Strictly” a few weeks earlier and she looked fab in it (I however am not Tess Daly but I didn’t let that minor point bother me!). As the pattern claimed to be “Fast & Easy” I thought I’d give it a go.
Well, it was neither fast nor easy but I rather suspect that the problem was more to do with my lack of expertise than the pattern itself. I needed to make a Full Bust Adjustment in order to contain my ample bosom which took a couple of attempts with a toile. Got there in the end though.
I’d bought some lovely fabric online from Fabricland – “Can Can” taffeta in Shot Peacock colour. They also supplied me with the lining, zip and thread for a grand total of £17. Bargain!
Making the dress went without too many hitches (although I did manage to cut the lining out the wrong way round and stitch it to the dress back to front!). After a lot of huffing and unpicking I managed to sort that out.
Everyone in work got a blow-by-blow account of how the dress was coming on (whether they wanted it or not) bless them, and I managed to finish it with two whole days to spare!
I’m sure you’re all desperate to see the finished result aren’t you? Here it is – drum roll please – Tada!!
