Make Of The Month;

February’s Make of the Month comes from Lisa who put the reverse check denim from October’s Sew Retro box to use making this gorgeous pinafore dress.

I am still a little stunned about being chosen as Make of the Month (and I think my initial response to the request from Hayley was a bit abrupt – very sorry Hayley).

When I received this fabric in the October box I was a little unsure what to make with it.  I really liked it but I thought it might be a bit bold for me. I particularly liked the check side on the reversible but wanted to also make use of the denim side.  I washed the fabric, as per Hayley’s instructions, and ironed it and let it sit while I waited for inspiration to hit. The following month Gemma had made this fabric up into a pinafore with the denim on show.  That was what I was missing from my wardrobe, a pinafore dress, that is what I was going to make. I then received my Simply Sewing magazine (issue 61) which had, would you believe it, a pinafore dress pattern included in it.  It was just meant to be. Now I just needed the time to make it.

Over a nice long break off work over Christmas I set to work cutting out the pattern pieces and checked them out for size on my dress form (a very well received Christmas present) and decided that as I am slightly bigger on my lower half in comparison to my top half I would grade from size 12 to size 14.  I then set to cutting it all out and putting it together. I was surprised how much material I had left afterwards so another project will need to be decided upon – shorts for summer perhaps! To make a feature of the denim side I used that side for the patch pocket and the straps. This was such an easy make to make, and the fabric easy to work with, I had it made up and ready to go within a week which is unusual for me.  I am really pleased with how it has turned out and despite being worried about it being too bold for me I have had a lot of compliments from people saying how nice it is on me. It makes a nice change to be able to wear a warm dress in winter instead of jeans all the time. When I make it again I might consider grading it in a little more round the hips but that would be the only adjustment I would make.

I absolutely love getting these boxes as, like everyone else says, it really pushes me outside of my comfort zone and I have ended up with some clothes that I absolutely love that make me feel fab when I wear them.  I can’t wait for the next one.