black dress all finished!

The black dress I've been sewing to enter the Tessuti Awards is all done, and it turned out very nicely if I do say so myself! Now all I need is for my model to come around to take some photos - we had made a few times last week to meet up but for various reasons she couldn't make it. I've had a few dramas myself last week - both my husband and I got food poisoning from lunch last Saturday and were quite unwell for a few days and then I managed to cut the tips of a finger on both hands which makes sewing quite difficult with bandaged fingers!

Thanks for your suggestion Jean of doing a double layer for the drape to match the sleeves - I can't believe I didn't think to do that since I'm so matchy matchy in all other things I sew! But it turned out fantastically. I made the top layer slight smaller than the bottom one so the two layers are visible, I sewed pleats into both layers and then I joined them at the top using a French seam. Again, I've just used a brooch to attach it to the dress, I think it's more versatile having it detachable and it is in fact how the original pattern was designed.

And I managed to get the puffiness out of the hip area by taking in the side seams dramatically so it's now quite a snug fit. But since it's wool crepe it has that little bit of stretch to make it still wearable and I think it fits the style better to have it extremely fitted:

So this is my version of the LBD - a short length suitable for a cocktail party, fluttery sleeves for fun and a flattering fit to the body. Hopefully the next photo you see of this will have a body in it!

And thank you all so much for the advice about being paid for sewing - you're all completely correct that I should use my sewing time to sew what I want otherwise the joy might be drained out of it. I do earn enough money in my day job to not need any extra income, but like all of us I could use more time to do the sewing I want for myself and Anna, let alone anyone else. So I've decided firstly not to remind this friend because she has a tendency not to follow up, but if she does I'll only do it this once. And I'll charge her 50% of what the original plus she has to provide the fabric - it's quite a simple full skirt with waistband she's after so I should be able to knock it out quickly but she's still getting it much cheaper than at retail. Hopefully this way our friendship is maintained and I can get on with my ever-growing to do list!