Ok, so I made this dress last week during Selfish Sewing Week and snapped a quick picture on Instagram to share and then proceeded to wear it on four other occasions, today being one, and not for the entire day any of the times sooo...it seemed like it was probably time to finally get some pictures!
Of course, they are timed tripod pictures, it was just beginning to rain...and I had just arrived back home after helping out at Violet's school... and before that I had just arrived home from a quick run (thus the running watch still on) and literally tossed this dress on and left, well after a quick spritz of perfume! So, yeah, the pics are not great! The dress, the Josephine blouse and tunic from Made by Rae. I had been holding back from buying this pattern for quite some time...I don't know why really, I mean from the moment I saw it I knew I needed it...it's the pleats!
I added three inches along the bottom to ensure that it would be "dress length" rather than "tunic length". Since I'm short I probably didn't need to, but just in case. All the seams are finished with bias tape which gives it a nice professional look. And, because I'm no longer afraid, I hemmed it with a blind hem (thanks again to this tutorial)! (see here, I changed my shoes, just you know...for a "different view", a bit more fancy!)
Initially I had planned to make the dress with the sleeves, but then, as it turned out I didn't have enough fabric for the sleeves, so despite my flabby arms, I made the sleeveless version...
In the end I am so glad I did because now it's perfect with a cardigan or without. Honestly, those sleeves would have made it unwearable for the rest of the summer, so yay for no sleeves...now I must do some more push ups!
The fabric: eggplant double gauze from Imagine Gnats. I initially bought this double gauze with the intent to use it as part of my purple outfit for Shades of Me but went a different direction. Also, I was a little nervous about making something out of double gauze...what if it was see through?!
I will never, ever be afraid of double gauze! Aside from the fact that it wrinkles fairly easily...it is amazing! So, so comfortable! It makes those darts come out nice and smooth! And, really, it's just heaven! Ok, so next...order from Rachael 2.5 yards of double gauze in several different varieties (maybe throw in some chambray?) and then make several more Josephines!
It's, I think, the dress of summer! Just saying! And besides, I can't possibly continue to wear this one four times a week!
Oh, and hey look at that...the sun's out now...guess I could go try to get some better pictures...
