I needed a red dress.  For weeks I shopped.  I don’t know why I couldn’t find one.  Isn’t it the season?  I couldn’t believe there weren’t any out there.  I went to more and more shops…even thrift and consignment shops!  Nothing.  I was last minute shopping with Kelly.  She seemed to think we could make a dress in a few hours.  We went to the fabric stores.  Still…nothing!  I decided to try my luck again later that night and wrapped on the bolt inside out (and placed on a table–not in its usual spot), I found some patterned knit fabric that was just the kind of thing I was looking for!

My daughter took this picture of me after church on Sunday.  You can see some of the details.  Can you believe that Kelly was right?  It really only took a couple of hours (with her help–and awesome serging skills).  All I did was cut out the fabric–and even then, I didn’t do such a great job at that!

We used the wrong side of the fabric as the contrast.  That was Kelly’s idea.  She was very much in “Project Runway” mode.  We also screwed up the back but it ended up being a blessing in disguise.  The contrast around the middle was supposed to go all the way around.  But, we like it without.

We also didn’t have time to finish the sleeves or do the hem.  I like it without the hem so I’m going to leave it.  I like the way the bottom rolls up and matches the contrast on top.  I’ll eventually finish the sleeves but I wore it all weekend with them undone and it wasn’t any big deal.

I had enough fabric left over to make my daughter a matching skirt.  She loves it!  It is just an elastic waist a-line skirt.  It took me about 5 minutes.  I used my regular sewing machine.  I have a serger now (I got it for Christmas!) but I didn’t take it out of the box until Saturday night.  I also didn’t have thread for it until Monday night.  Now, I’m ready to rock and roll.

Good thing, too.  I bought some more fabric last night for another last minute dress.  I’m making one to wear to the Mom 2.0 Summit and I leave Thursday morning.  I think Kelly taught me well enough that I can do this one on my own.  Time will tell.

Do you want to know what pattern we used?  I took a class from Judy Kessinger at the Original Quilt and Sewing Expo last fall and I got her FitNice System.  She took my measurements and drew the patterns to fit my body.  I have the whole system and I can’t wait to try some of the other projects.