Dear sewing friends!

I am very happy, despite all the fiddly difficulty in making this dress work, to have finally done it! 🌟❤️🔥

Started by daring to cut the straps, which had always been way too long and wrongly constructed in the factory... I wasn't certain, when cutting them, where they'd sit better, but needed to start somewhere.

I spent some time 'draping' and feeling into how the straps should sit - sewed them in a new position, adjusted the bodice, then sewed them into a third position - which finally worked.

Then I undid and restructured some side seams, which I'd created not so successfully years ago... this dress has been sitting in my tea-chest for at least 5 yrs.

Got this right in the end, so that it sits well across my chest and under the arms.

Then, details like the edges and buttons - covered the old button with scraps, the sewed a new hoop for it to close better:

It felt super-wonderful to put the dress on and it fit so well! Phew! It's a bit of a strain without a mannequin to drape on, but with intelligent use of pins and measuring, it can be done - I guess it just takes practise.

Merry dressmaking, lovely souls!

Clare.