I do like a pretty frock for warm summer days. Just recently I’ve fallen for a few light cotton prints from facebook sites, mainly Maggie Tuite and Fabric Heaven UK. They both sell gorgeous colourful cotton for a very reasonable price. The only problem is you have to buy it when you see it as they buy from India in relatively small quantities…well hat’s my excuse for all the squishy parcels that keep arriving!

I decided it was time to start stitching some up before the summer disappears, we’ve been promised another heatwave,but like all weather forecasts here in the UK, we’ll believe it when we see it! Just to digress for a moment, I did hear a plausible reason why weather forecasts are more unreliable than usual at the moment, they usually get information from airplanes but of course there hasn’t been as many flying. It makes sense to me.

Back to sewing…I decided to make a dress from Style 2713, I think it’s a pattern I got from a destash site. It’s a princess line dress with or without short sleeves and a rather pretty deep sweetheart neckline. There are a couple of minor variations but I chose the midi length sleeveless version

It went together pretty easily, I French-seamed the seams where I could and overlocked others.The neckline was a bit fiddly, the point isn’t as sharp as it should be but it looks OK.

I had my usual struggles with fit. It is a fairly loose fitting pattern, but how loose is too loose! I think the main problem is that my body shape has changed and I’m not too keen on the new shape, especially my belly! I’m still drawn to shapes which suited my old figure but probably need to reassess what to look for in a pattern.

Anyway, despite having misgivings I persevered. The neckline has a facing, I decided instead of understitching the facing down, which I often find allows it to peep round, I would embroider round the neckline and arm scythes.

I kept it simple with a feather stitch, I started at the back each time as I wanted the stitch in the same direction on either side. I did think it would be awkward sewing the opposite way to my norm, but I think it was actually easier! I also added a bead at every stitch, ensuring that it settled on the outer line of the stitch. I left the armholes embroidered but free from beads so it didn’t scratch. I’m really please how this came out, pretty and subtle, but not blingy!

I’m still not 100% on the dress but it is definitely growing on me, the fit feels a bit loose, even fora loose fitting dress, but if I take it in I look several months pregnant! Not a good look!

I can see myself wearing this, sitting in the garden ona warm summers day with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio. You can definitely flop around in it!