Again, thank you so much for all of your kind thoughts and support.
For a very long time, I've envisioned wearing flowery dresses on my honeymoon. It seems so appropriate for a tropical place and a happy time. There wasn't anything in the stores like I imagined (is there ever?), and I decided that I should sew the dresses myself. This past Thanksgiving my mother (an amazing seamstress) helped me get started.
This pattern is New Look 6557. The only modifications were to take it in at the seams for fit, and to shorten the waist pieces by about an inch because apparently, I'm short waisted.
The second dress was made over Christmas vacation, and my mom did a great deal of it. It's Easy Stitch 'N Save 5292. We put a seam in the center of the bodice because it otherwise would have been way too wide.
It has a very wide, swingy skirt, which is a lot of fun.
The third dress is another version of New Look 6557. It's supposed to be a ribbon-edged halter top. When I got done with this one (oh yeah, this dress was all me), the top gapped horribly if I tried to tie it up as a halter, so I instead sewed the ribbon to the back of the dress in a wider-set configuration.
I'm so happy with these dresses. These are the first garmets I've sewn, and I'm so pleased with how they turned out. There's a fourth dress in the works, so I should be set for our trip to Costa Rica in a little over a month!
Holy crap, those dresses are so fun! And I think the last one is my favourite. Could you find dresses like that in a store? Heck no you couldn't. Congratulations and have fun on your honeymoon!
Posted by: marisa | March 22, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I love the dresses. You did a great job on your first sewn garments. My mother is a whiz on the sewing machine. She makes all kinds of dresses and the such, she made all of me and my 2 sisters prom and semiformal dresses plus all kinds of casual dresses. I have never been able to get into it however although I have always wished that I could.
Posted by: Keatyn | March 22, 2008 at 08:29 PM
ohhhh how cute! I love them all but I think the style of the 3rd is my favourite. I'm itching to learn how to sew, if only I could get my mum down for the day.
Posted by: Kelly | March 22, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Such cute dresses; you are bound to have a fabulous time!
Posted by: kim | March 22, 2008 at 09:25 PM
What colorful and pretty dresses! My mom and gradnmother were expert seamstresses but I never got the hang of it. I could never manage to sew a straight line!
My grandmother worked for a dress factory in Scranton, PA for many years. I have a delightful charm bracelet of hers from her years at the Family Garment, several charms connoting various milestones, scissors that work, a sewing machine that moves, an iron, a tiny fountain pen that unscrews and used to write, and a few others that make it a true one-of-a-kind.
I look forward to hearing about your Costa Rican trip! A colleague at work had a magnificent vacation there about two years ago.
Posted by: Linda | March 22, 2008 at 10:17 PM
What an exciting trip to plan for! Your dresses are wonderful - nice job!
Posted by: Stacey | March 23, 2008 at 08:53 AM
They're beautiful! And, really, there's nothing quite as enjoyable as a swingy skirt. I mean, where clothing is concerned....
Posted by: --Deb | March 23, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Those are all beautiful! :D I think the second one is my favorite. The kitty is eyeballing your socks!
You will have a fantastic time. :)
Posted by: Sacha | March 23, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Very cute. I hope you have great honeymoon. P-funk and I spent much of the first year of our marriage in and out of hospitals due to some unexpected family illnesses and accidents. It didn't give us much time for that newlywed bliss, but it did help us realize how glad we were to have each other...and made our delayed honeymoon that even more of a special time that we really enjoyed. I hope you have a great time to be with each other a little removed from the recent worries and sadness.
Posted by: Christy / Not Hip | March 23, 2008 at 06:22 PM
those are super cute! perfect for the honeymoon!!!! (love them with the socks!)
Posted by: stacey | March 24, 2008 at 08:42 AM
These dresses actually make my day! So beautiful and cheery. I'm amazed (jealous?) that these are your first dresses. Don't stop!
Posted by: faith | March 24, 2008 at 09:45 AM
They are very cute. But I can't imagine trying to think about sewing cute summer dresses in our current deep freeze. You obviously are a "glass is half full" type. ;)
Posted by: Jessica | March 24, 2008 at 11:45 AM
What cute dresses! I wish I had the sewing skills to make flowery dresses for myself. I hope you have a fantastic time wearing them on your honeymoon!
Posted by: whitney | March 24, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Damn, those dresses are a tropical delight! Great job!
Posted by: Kim | March 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Beautiful! Perfect for your tropical honeymoon and beyond!
Posted by: Jean | March 24, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Those flowery dresses fit the fantasy perfectly. Sorry life has been a little to real lately.
I especially like the look with the wool socks. So tropical! ; )
Posted by: Liz K. | March 24, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Pretty dresses! But wearing lovely sun dresses and warm woolen socks? :)
Posted by: tiennie | March 24, 2008 at 04:15 PM
I totally have a fantasy of wearing pretty flowered dresses all the time. Dresses are so easy to wear! Just pull one out and slide it on. Done. I particularly love the print on the first one. How fun!
Posted by: Meg | March 24, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Lovely dresses, and fabric. I love the pattern and colors in the 3rd one.
I was sorry to hear about your grandma. It's been a sad time for you lately. I hope the happy memories help you get through this time.
Posted by: Denise | March 24, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Oh these dresses are gorgeous. The last one if my favorite! I love how you just adjusted the halter to be straps. Very innovative. Great job!
Posted by: Deborah | March 25, 2008 at 09:16 AM
These dresses are fabulous. I am, particularly, a fan of the last one pictured. You will have a fantastic wardrobe for your honeymoon getaway, which you totally deserve.
Posted by: nova | March 25, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Oh how cute!! Those will be perfect for a tropical honeymoon!
Posted by: Ruth | March 25, 2008 at 11:37 PM
You are brilliant! Those dresses are great. And as evey one else mentioned, perfect for a tropical vaca.
I love them all but if I *had* to choose one I think I'd go for the first one. I love me some paisley!
Now I just need to teach myself to sew. :-)
Posted by: Jacquie | March 28, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Well done! What cheerful, pretty fabrics! I know several people who have had a wonderful time in Costa Rica.
Posted by: Brenda | April 01, 2008 at 06:31 PM
all those fabrics are fantastic!
Posted by: gray la gran | April 28, 2008 at 09:28 PM