Oh it finally happened….I completed the linen dress I posted about an eternity ago!! Thanks to the gorgeous summer we have been having, I’ve even managed to wear it…whoop! whoop!
Burda pattern 7796
Please excuse the awful photo!! It’s the first time I’ve ever posted a picture of me and in something I’ve made! It was also taken by my 10 year old son on my camera phone!! It’s linen, so boy, does it look creased…oh well, it can’t be helped!
This is a dress of “firsts” because, it’s the first item of clothing I’ve completed.
It’s the first time I have made my own bias binding…
…and the first time I’ve made a sleeveless bias bound armhole…. (*not sure if that makes sense) and I’m actually quite pleased with how well the bias on the armhole matched up with the side seam….yeah!
It’s the first time I’ve ever made gathers!! Just look…how proud am I?!
It’s the first time I’ve ever made a handmade thread eye!! Took me two attempts but I’m rather proud of my teeny tiny blanket stitch! And look at my little vintage button too….
It’s not perfect….but it’s so pretty and has lasted a wash or two…
I’ve learnt such a lot from making this dress…my wonderful buy, Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing has been invaluable in helping me work through some of my more “challenging” moments, and there’s been a few!! Do you remember the clanger I made when I slashed through the front of the dress (in two pieces = epic fail), when it should have been one piece!! Oh I was so angry with myself…but I managed to salvage it…see the tiniest seam I managed to get away with to put it back together?
I finished the hem with some red cotton tape…well, it kind of links with the red button!! I like it, it’s quirky, I think.
And the fit?
Hmm, well, it’s a bit small round the shoulders….the bust fit is fine, but the bodice around the armholes is a bit narrow? short? I’m not sure what it is really as I’m simply not experienced enough to put my finger on it but the neckline at the back seems too high, though the front looks fine….
The back has a little slit in it at the neckline (held together with the button and loop closure) and this came together very neatly…
I don’t have an overlocker, so used the overlock stitch on machine for the first time!! worked quite well….though I had a few practice attempts first…how do you decide how close to the edge to stitch?? Still not sure I got this right, I just went with what I thought looked about right!
Trying to be as neat and tidy as possible…
It’s not the most figure flattering dress…reminds me a bit of something out of “Annie” but it’s very comfortable and cool in this hot weather and I’ve had a lot of compliments about it. It’ll do me as a summer staple, and it feels quite expensive on because of the colour and fabric type….linen works quite well like that. So overall I’m very pleased! It’s given me a confidence boost despite being quite a stressy dress to make! I’m not sure it’s an ideal beginners dress as there’s quite a lot of fiddly bits to make and the instructions threw me a bit! However, I’m planning my next dress and I feel this has paved the way well for (I’m hoping) a better second project….do remember I’m a complete beginner!
Tah dah!!!
And the name “Brittany” dress….it was meant to be finished for my France holiday but never was…it became a bit of a joke in this house so it’s the Brittany dress that never was…maybe next year…!!
What do you think? Is linen an ‘easy’ fabric to sew with? Is it an ideal ‘beginners’ dress?
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the polka dot room 
Well done! That looks really good 🙂 congratulations xx
Thanks Jen! came together in the end! Phew!
Your dress looks fab! I’m glad it all came together in the end 🙂
I have that reader’s digest book and its awesome. Great little dress here!
Oh thank you! It was my first sewing anything clothing wise for many many years! and it said it was ‘easy’…hmm…bias bound armholes and neckline, gathering around the bodice, making your own bias tape was not exactly what I would have called easy!! Then the disastrous cutting fabric in the wrong place!! Still, it came out well enough. The fit around back/arms/shoulders is not great but I didn’t make a muslin!! Still, I learnt loads, which is what it’s all about and it does look very pretty on. Inwards and upwards! Kate x
Aw, thanks! My sewing has fallen terribly by the wayside other than small, quick projects. It’s so hard to find the time (and daylight) to sew! Kids have a lot of after school clubs, scouts, beavers, swimming and often it’s 9pm onwards before I get a breather! But I have to work on this as sewing calms and grounds me and I need to prioritise it!! How about you? x
I definitely feel you. I have a lot of big projects on my plate and just doing 15mins here and there can be disheartening as you don’t see much progress. But like you say if you focus on the calming powers of sewing rather than how long it takes to get a finished garment and you’ll be happier in the long run 🙂
You’re right. I hate rushing things and inevitably they go wrong if I do! Yesterday I was on the home stretch for a project when I looked and thought, err, hang on, I’ve like totally forgotten two seams!! They’re still raw…but I realised it was no big problem and despite taking me an extra 40 mins or so to remedy…I was actually pleased that I had been able to without it being a stress…so progress definitely!