The dress is for my job at the Historic Boone home, so I can be in "period clothes" to give tours of Daniel Boone's last home. I borrowed a sewing machine from two friends here, and got right to work. My first barrier was learning how to use a sewing machine that is NOT Mom's lovely 20 year old perfect machine that I've done all my other sewing on in the past.
Once I cleared that hurdle, the sewing part wasn't all too bad. I managed to master my emotions in times of despair, and I finished the dress without any breakdowns, and amazingly with no outside help (unless you count the time I had to ask Jeff if he could figure out what the sewing machine instruction manual picture meant when it illustrated how to thread the machine...) Victory is mine!
I was astounded that the sleeves actually WORKED for me on my first try! 
After sewing the sleeves to the bodice, it was definitely time for a cookie break!
...and here is the skirt sewed to the top!
...the back....
Tuesday (July 8th) I wore my new dress to work without the hem done, and then came home and added a little white ruffle to give it a tad more length. The back still has to be pinned closed, but I plan to sew velcro on because I can't wake Jeff up to have him button me up EVERY morning before work--he has to stay up late for his job! Plus, I read that women technically did not start using buttons on the backs of their dresses until after 1815-ish, and this dress is supposed to fit the turn of the century time period. I have different fabric to make one more dress like this one so I can alternate days! Yay! Well, there you have it: my very first real life dress sewing adventure!
1 comment:
I'm impressed that you finished it in one day!! i got a new sewing machine for christmas and i must say, as was your experience, that it was definitely not my mom's which i have always used and know so well! but now i have successfully sewn curtains for all rooms in our house and a couple of skirts!
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