Red Belle Dress

Finally. My first proper post! I finished this dress last weekend but I have not had a second to take any photos and post about it. So after just finishing work I decided I would put it on and get some snaps. The dress is inspired by/copied from Julia Bobbin's take on Butterick B5603. As soon as I saw it on her on blog I had to have a go myself. It was probably a bit ambitious for my first foray back into sewing after a couple of years but here it is.

I followed in Julia's footsteps by using the bodice from the pattern but altering the skirt to a pencil skirt that I had to draft. It was a bloody nightmare! But three toiles later and I had a skirt that fit. I think it was worth it in the end though and I love the fit of this dress.

I moved the zipper from the side to the back but I couldn't find an invisible zipper so it looks a bit rubbish. I'll probably leave it at the side next time (and there will definitely be a next time).

I really like the V shape in the back of the dress. Because I moved the zip the collar isn't joined like it is in the original pattern which made it a bit trickier. I had an absolute nightmare with the collar, I just couldn't get my head around the instructions so in the end I bodged it and kind of regretted it. It's a bit unfinished and has all kinds of loose ends and fraying on it.

I made the dress out of 100% wool crepe from Linton Tweeds in Carlise and it is as bright as the pictures look.

A couple of things I will change next time:

• Figure out how to do the collar properly!
• Adjust the bodice slightly (the skirt fits amazingly but I can't actually breathe).
• I would keep the zip in the side seam.
• The darts in the back don't match up so I'll have do some adjustments somewhere.
• And finally, line the whole dress rather than just the bodice. Yes, you can see my tights through it but it's not too bad in daylight. Honest!

I'm here!

Here goes it, my first blog post. I’ve recently stumbled across the sewing blogosphere and I can’t believe what I’ve been missing out on so I thought I should join in!

I can’t confess to be a newbie to the sewing world, I’ve been sewing in some form on and off for as long as I can remember. I think my mum must have taught me how to use patterns when I was a teenager and one of the first things I made were four red skirts we danced in at a school variety show (we danced to Fame!). I know I still have the skirt I wore so I might even post a photo soon.

So I’ve been sewing for a while but I’ve come to realise that I’ve never really refined my skills and I tend to rush things and bodge it a bit rather than taking my time and getting it right. I’m hoping that this blog will force me to sew more, challenge myself and improve my sewing technique. Fingers crossed!