a new dress

I have been working on new dresses.  I have an old Simplicity pattern that I dearly love.  My family calls it my frontier dress.  The ones I have had though are starting to fall apart and shrink in length, which is a sure sign that the fabric is going.  I have been putting more together.

I have been changing the top and changing the skirt.  I have taken five patterns and put them together the way I wanted to.  The first time I did it in front of Russell he was confused and curious.  His mother sews straight from the packaged pattern and does not deviate.  I always deviate except maybe the first time.  It is the way I cook as well.

 

The changes on this one is that the bodice is fitted and so is the waist.  It has a mandarin collar and sleeves that end at the elbows.  It goes down to my ankles as well.  I really like it and find this shape very comfortable.  But I do sometimes get taken for Mennonite or Amish, especially when I add an apron!