This project was my first dress and I think the first piece of clothing I’ve sewn for myself since home-ec. I found this fabric when I was pregnant with Galen. It’s an organic cotton jersey. It’s rare to find organic cotton with a print like this. I almost bought some to make baby clothes with, but talked myself out of it. If I have a girl, I told myself, then I will buy some to make a dress. ha! When Galen was a couple of months old I saw that the one and only place I’d ever seen this fabric stocked, was about to sell out, for good. I got terribly pouty over not having an excuse to buy it. My boys have lots of what would be considered “girl” clothes. Mostly hand-me-downs and such. And I think they look terribly cute in them. Sadly, society, (and family, and sometimes complete strangers!) say otherwise. So, it seemed silly to me to actually take the time to make something for the baby that was just going to make people give me grief. But still there was this fabric, that I was drawn to for some strange reason. I think the novelty of it got to me and I was about to miss my chance at ever getting some. Then one day it occurred to me. I’m a girl. I could make a dress for me! (yup, I’m a quick one!) So I bought three yards and nearly a year lately, I’ve finally made a dress.

I might wear it for Easter this weekend, but I know that I will be wearing it for May Day. Our family chorus is performing at a local May Day festival and we’ve agreed to everyone dressing in shades of green and white and decorating with flowers.

Excuse the picture quality. They were taken by Iain. Inside. On a very dark and cloudy day. And excuse my wet hair in said pictures.

I used Kwik Sew pattern number 2473, but I dramatically altered it. I attached the bodice from view A to the skirt from veiw c. I omitted the zipper. In order to convert it into a nursing dress I made the bodice two layers. The under layer has two nursing openings and is sewn to the skirt. The outer layer is not attached. I added a band under the bodice to conceal the opening. I shortened the dress significantly, but then again, I’m short! And finally, even though I made a size medium supposedly suited my measurements, it ended up HUGE. I think that most of the time I was working on this project was spent trying it on, taking it in and then trying it on again. I’m still not thrilled with the fit. It’s not nearly as flattering as I would have liked. For some reason it makes my breasts look gigantic. I just didn’t have the heart to keep fooling with it. It’s done. For now anyway. Maybe in the future I’ll try some further alterations, but for now, it’s done. Finally.