Just to recap, this was my pattern inspiration. An Azzaro cotton dress that cost $2,741. Lol. I "drafted" my own pattern for this one, sort of. I used the bodice of the pattern I am going to make my grey interview dress out of, to test for fit. That turned out to be wise, since I really need to shorten the bodice at least an inch. The sleeves I drafted on paper to be five lump scallops. The skirt is just a drindl, a big rectangle gathered at the waist and the ruffle is the same.
On to construction:
It was easy to make. I originally did the side-boob darts, but this fabric was a pain. It really likes to stretch out on the diagonal. So I ended up with some wildly pointing uneven lines. I took them out and left it loose. Instead of waist darts, I made small gathers like the inspiration dress. It's not very obvious, but it makes the bodice looser. The back has waist darts. Pictures were taken walking the dog to the river, which sis a few blocks away.
All layers of this dress are doubled up because the fabric was so sheer. I thought it would be pretty lightweight, but it is rather heavy. The bodice and back were done first and turned right side out because the fabric also frays terribly. I then made the sleeves (again, doubled) and just top-stitched them down. They are floppy and cute.
The waistband is about an inch wide and drops a little below my natural waist line. Fortunately not to the "dropped waist" point that I hate so much (and
Lisette- I know I am not the only one!)
The skirt was easy to make. It is double layer rectangle that I gathered at the waist to the appropriate size. I then added the bottom ruffle to it. The ruffle was easy because it is just folded in half and attached, so there was no need to hem! Yay!
Below you can see the Molly's Ew for this project. I put in the metal zipper in a very half-assed, on-the-machine-with-no-basting fashion, and you reap what you sew. (Edit- I went back to spell sow correctly, but I made a pun! By accident! It stays.) So I have an incongruous, semi-exposed zipper on a girly dress. Meh, at least it's a side zipper. Maybe the lump of hair on the back of my head will distract you!
While slightly warm for today's 93 degree weather, I am sure it will get a lot of use. The ruffle bounces while I walk and it looks very nice. Overall, pretty nice and I'm glad to be finished with it.
Is anyone else obsessed with the weather on their phone? I have New Orleans (77 rain), Chicago (93), Salem, Or (parents- 67 rain) and Ulsan, South Korea (brother- 75 nighttime). I find it really interesting to compare the weather in my four places of interest. I would add Paris, but the weather there remind me very much of Oregon- gray and rainy.
Anyways, I made a curtain for the bedroom, so soon I will have some of the house to show you. I am also reading a play in French to try to improve my French, since I have been applying to French and History job openings. More on that later!
I made it out of rayon challis, which is quite nice for the 70-80 degree spring in New Orleans. We went to French Quarter and took pictures in Jackson Square.
I shortened the skirt 4-5 inches, but I did not take into consideration the narrow hem for a circle skirt. It is too long for my taste, especially for a summer dress. It is very comfortable, though!
It has a slightly raised waist, but not quite empire-waisted. I think I need more waist definition. I did see a pregnant woman wearing a romper, which made me shudder.
The back is really pretty and I hand-picked the zipper like usual. We were going to go to the horse races, but apparently racing season is over! I was convinced it went Thanksgiving to Easter every year, and now I am sad.
So, while I will not be making this out of beautiful red silk, it is certainly a nice summer dress that will get a lot of use!
It was in the 60s and somewhat sunny today, so it was much better for pictures. We stopped to take pictures on the way to the library, in front of my favorite mansion on St Charles Avenue. I call it the Wedding Cake House, since it looks like one to me- very elaborate and frou-frou.
I understand the logic of having front center seams, since the skirt is cut to be shaped without making darts. But I always feel like you get that weird line, and it wants to settle between my legs, instead of being smooth. Pah. 
The print loses some of the details in the pictures. It has an empire waist seam, and a top-stitched yoke that makes the straps. It was my first attempt at adding padded bra cups, which was fairly successful. I can take little credit for these puppies.
I think it is somewhat snug, but Andrew is quite pleased. He seems to think this dress is very sexy. I guess most of what I sew are not-tight, work dresses. Maybe I should continue my running, which I have not done one single day in the new year. That would make it a bit looser.
The back. I think the lack of darts contributed to those pulling wrinkles. I have never done a sway back adjustment, but this dress could have used one. I handpicked this zipper too, and it looks good, but not awesome.
Overall, I am mostly pleased with this dress. When the weather warms up, it will be nice to wear around. And any dress that doesn't require the torture of a strapless bra is a win in my book!!!
or, this Michael Kors dress. I like the cheetah print lace.
Andrew also brought me some sauces from the UK. One is brown sauce, and the picture is of onions and apples. The other is HP sauce, which Andrew says tastes like "crappy BBQ sauce." Soon I will taste them for myself. 
Wish me luck!
4. My aunt cleaned out her stash of vintage button and now I have 6 billion. I need to think of something red, with lots of buttons!
5. I have cut out all of the pieces of my next dress...
6. My boyfriend is back from his 2 week trip...and he nearly owes me my 100 follower dinner. Yay! (This should be #1, but I don't feel like renumbering...)
It is an Advance pattern 9077, size 12. It does not have a date printed on it, but it looks very 50s to me.
I have bought the fabric for my next dress- and I think I will start it tonight.
