Garden Party Dress | and not giving up

There are 2 patch pockets, they are just well-camoflaged....!

Zip neatness :)

This is a new-old dress. So I actually made this dress a while ago, from an old Simplicity pattern and this floral print cotton, which reminded me of Liberty print but was cheap as chips. The original pattern is a 60's shift dress with an interfaced neckline detail and optional 3/4 sleeves, which I've not described terribly well but is a nice-fitting pattern I have used before.

I had made the sleeved version, tried it on again earlier this summer and thought what in the name of.... I looked like I was wrapped in a nanna's tablecoth and it was as frumpy as all out- I actually stuck it in my fabric box. However, I went back to it and realised my neckline and my zip were pretty nice and it would be a shame to undo all that effort, so over a period of time, I unpicked the sleeves, finished the sleeveless armholes off and took the hem up. I used the sleeves to make some little patch pockets, which are actually almost invisible on the photo but I so like them. I have worn it alot in the recent hot weather so it's made me realise I don't always have to start from scratch to make something 'new' to wear....

Colette Moneta | and lessons in pattern-cutting

Oh, this dress, how I have hated you... With the arrival of a new pattern, all bundled up in tissue paper with some lovely teal-polka-dot knit fabric, I tore into it like a child at Christmas. I was feeling sorry for myself & home alone with the flu, what better activity than to make a pretty dress?! So first of all, I made an almighty mess of cutting it out. My first bodice was like a crop top {forgot to consider lengthening for my taller self}; my second was like a tent. Re-cut it you say? Why no, not when you can make myriad ill-considered adjustments which might have ended in sniffling tears at the sewing machine and a shapeless smock. Fortunately, all's well that {kind of} ends well... after a break from it, I have successfully made a smaller and have a wearable, albeit still loose dress.

Good things:

• I bought my fabric (and pattern) online- a first! The shop I found, Guthrie & Ghani, were fantastic too, very prompt and friendly, so I'm glad I gave them a try.
• This is my first whirl with the new Colette Moneta pattern and I have since established it is going to be a favourite, for easy pretty dresses. It's not you, it's me, etc. etc.

Lessons learned:

• Don't start cutting a pattern when you have the flu.
• Don't then attempt to make up a whole dress in one afternoon when you have the flu. 
• With new patterns, maybe don't try that at all...
• On that note, don't attempt to 'fix' it when you have the flu.
• Measure yourself first, damn it!