I like a good preamble, which this post has in abundance

Things to do while waiting for the trade window to close: sew a new dress.

If there is one thing I’m not that interested in when sewing, it’s making a test muslin the first time I try a new pattern. I understand the purpose, but I like to play it a little more fast and loose by assembling the pieces and then feigning surprise when it doesn’t fit the way I hoped. Why go for the perfect fit with quality construction when you can make dozens of alterations after the fact?

The Victoria & Albert Museum just put out a new collection of reproduction prints from their collection and I am naturally in love, especially with the pink and blue churches prints. I need a dress out of this! And so came along Simplicity 2588, which I liked for the sheer number of options the pattern gives you and because of the slightly retro vibe.

So, muslins: before bothering to order fabric online (other things I do not love: shipping and duty charges) I wanted to make sure I actually liked the pattern. The woman at Fabricland congratulated me on my choice of fabric after I told her the colours were slightly outside of my usual comfort zone; I can do bright colours, but the combinations of orange, red, and grey in the print give it an overall peach-ish hue, which is definitely not a colour I wear frequently.

This dress is super comfy beyond all belief. I really love the little tabs with buttons around the waist and I like the neckline, which you can’t see in the photo above because I am sporting the sweater in order to cover up some imperfections that I hope to improve on the second version.

One thing I’m going to change is the order that you’re supposed to construct the dress. They tell you to put together the entire bodice and then the entire skirt, sew them together and then add the zipper. I find it really challenging to add zippers once the garment is done, so I think next time I’ll sew the back (with the zipper), then the front, and then sew them together afterwards. I suspect they ask you to do it the way you do because of all the facings and whatnot, but there’s no reason I can’t add those at the end.

Also, best part: POCKETS.

I do not normally name things but I am calling this the You’ll Never Walk Alone dress, in honour of Fernando Torres’ defection to Chelsea this transfer day. When I went to sift through a pile of clothes to find my red cardigan, I found my Torres jersey and got upset all over again. Go me!