Another school dress.

Another school dress.

 This post has been a long one coming.  Lots and lots and lots of procrastinating going on on the crafty front!

After making one school dress, I needed to make another one.  This time I was going to follow a pattern, because inventing my own pattern was just a little too much for a novice sewer like myself.  I chose a pattern for an A-line dress from the Girls Style Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori and H.H.  I have been used to downloadable patterns and the instructions in this book were daunting.  At first they seemed sparse, but once I got used to it, they were easy enough to follow.  The one thing that was very annoying with this book was that I had to keep referring to instructions for certain steps in patterns on other pages.  

Another issue I had was the gingham fabric.  It is fairly thin, frays easily, has a stretch to it that the other cotton I have been working with doesn't have and discolours when pressed.  It really put me off working with it ever again and next year my daughter will be in shop bought dresses I think.

Because of all of this was a bit more daunting than the nice picture instructions I was used to, I kept putting off starting this, until it became really really urgent, because summer term is here!

I got there in the end though and this is the result.  I am pretty happy with this and know it will fit my daughter beautifully.  The fact it has no buttons makes it much easier for her to put on and take off as well.

So here it is... 

Elasticated neck with a ribbon tie.  Puffy sleeves.

Pockets.  

Oh and a little update about the other dress.  Apparently the pockets are in a bad place and my daughter is refusing to wear it.  After all that hard work!  Another reason to go shop bought next year I think.

That's all for me now.  Next should be a skirt for myself.  I'm a bit more excited about that project and it comes with a huuuuge instruction manual, so I am sure that will be finished in no time.

Love

B x