One down, three to go!

The goal is to have four matching dresses sewn before the end of November.  (My membership at JCPenny's runs out the end of November and I really want a family picture taken and I like matchy-matchy.)

This is Simplicity 5827, size 3.  I've now traced this in all sizes.  And sewn it in just 4 sizes.  I like the pattern, except there's something funky about Simplicity sleeves - I just don't have luck with them.  I can get them in okay, but it always takes some very careful manipulation.

So - G's dress is now done.  I've learned that if I sew in all my "spare time" I can finish a dress in one week.  That does NOT include the cutting out of the dress.  Just the sewing.  I'm guessing it was about 5- 6 hours of actual sewing and pressing time.  I suppose I don't have to define "spare time" - but here it is: all the time gleaned by cooking poorly thought-out meals, by having the girls do housework unsupervised, by not reading to the girls as much, etc.  You get the idea :)

 Sleeve detail - those buttons (same as on the front of the dress) are TINY! I measured and they're about 1/4".  Very hard to manage.

 Showing off my nearly perfect centered zipper.  This is the first centered zipper I've done in quite a while.  But it went in perfectly.  It was the topstitching that I had to rip out and do over.  And I still have some ripples - I steamed the life out of it, but some stubborn ripples still remain.  The top also didn't line up quite correctly - but G moves around a lot, so I'm pretty sure those imperfections won't be noticeable to the majority of people.

Next up: more of the same!! Assuming I get some free time next week :)  We have plans to go on a field trip, butcher (dress) 21 chickens, there's a book sale I really want to go to,  plus do all the normal things we do.  We'll see....