Guys– guess what?! I finished my first sewing project (not counting my childhood sewing disasters)! It’s Butterick B5211, view B. It’s supposed to have a self-belt, but I’m not sure if I would wear one, so I skipped it for now.
I don't know what to do with my arms.
I started the dress for a Sewing I workshop at make workshop about a month ago. We were supposed to make the project in class, but the instructor budgeted time a little strangely and I had to do quite a bit of adjusting for fit, so I ended up having to do all the hard stuff by myself outside of class (facings, neckline, sleeve hems, button and thread loop closure, hem). As a result, this isn’t a perfect dress by any means.
I'm very pale.
I like the pattern– the dress has a relaxed style that’s both comfortable and hip. HOWEVER, I didn’t realize when I chose this chambray that the finished product would look like a uniform for a women’s prison. I think a sophisticated print would make this pattern look edgy and cute instead of dumpy and… funny farm-y.
Belted, and less like I belong on a lady chain gang.
This should have been an easy project, but I didn’t know what I was doing. Also, in class, the instructor kind of eyeballed me and guessed what size I should make instead of having me take my own measurements. In the future, I’ll carefully measure before selecting a size so I don’t have to spend so much time adjusting the fit (I had to take the dress in twice, rip out once, and then take it in once more, which was pretty unpleasant). So I’m sort of viewing this dress as a muslin for the next time I make it! But, all in all, I’m happy that I finished a dress! I’m ready to move on to the next project!
Ginger Makes... 
Looks great. Keep up the good work:)
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Thanks, lady! I love seeing all your projects– your little girl clothes are so cute!
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Congrats on finishing your very first sewing project AND being able to wear it! It looks great!
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Thank you!! I really got to know my seam ripper during this project! 🙂
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When you choose the size of your pattern, you will get a much better fit if you go by the finished measurements of the garment rather than the size the company tells you. A lot of the companies build in a crazy amount of ease; everything ends up looking like a sack. Most companies put the finished garment measurements on the pattern or the pattern envelope. (Mostly on the bodice and/or skirt pieces. Really, it is okay to open up the pattern in the store and look if you are unsure what size you will take.) Some patterns don’t do this, which is one of the reasons making a muslin is a really good idea. (You may already know this, but if I had known this when I started sewing again, I would have been a much happier camper.)
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Ahhh! Good to know! I just checked out this pattern, and it doesn’t show the finished measurements anywhere, and if I had used my measurements to make it, I would have cut out one size LARGER! Wow! The Colette skirt pattern that I’m working on right now lists the finished measurements, and it was totally helpful for me to see that. Thanks for the tip!
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It’s very cute. You should stencil/ block print it.Or do a border print around the hemline..
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Awesome ideas!
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