Plum Anna dress

I held off blogging this week in the hope I could photograph my finished dress on, but due to the absence of my photographer (Dan) and lack of ability to work out the self-timer function on my camera I'm afraid I'll have to make due with shots on my dummy.  Anyway here it is my finished Anna Dress

 

It does look better on, but as you can probably tell it fits like a glove.   No opportunity for any large meals in here!

 
I was really chuffed with the invisible zip, which you can hardly see at all.

 
A shot of the inside, the bodice has a facing rather than being lined.

 

 

 For the hem, I just turned under a 1/2 inch hem.

Overall the pattern is pretty straightforward.   It is Handmade by London's Anna Pattern.  I cut a size 12 which is my usual bought dress size, but it could probably do with a little more ease.   I didn't make any other changes   The instructions are really clear and comprehensive, and with a cotton fabric I think it would be pretty straightforward.  However, this  fabric wasn't easy to sew, its silk satin charmeuse.  I bought 3 metres for £21 and I have at least a metre left to make a blouse.  It feels gorgeous, but as you can guess slipped around a lot!  So although the dress isn't my usual style I do like it and it should be quite versatile.

I've also been making bound button holes on the New Look jacket I'm making.  I enjoyed making these, quite therapeutic.

 
I followed Gertie's instructions and the pattern for the jacket is also from the book.

 

 
Can't believe I didn't photograph the finished button holes, but I will show them when the jacket is completed, I'm quite excited with it so far.

Like a lot of the country Cumbria is raining nearly every day, but when we did get some sun over half term (one day) it was lovely.

 

 

 

 

I just had three days off at half term and didn't really do much other than some sewing, knitting and watching a few films etc.  Lets hope we get a lot more cold but sunny days!