For one reason or another I haven't done any dressmaking for well over a year (moving house without my sewing machine, tension on said machine getting mucked up in move, pedal for said machine going missing!) but the urge grew too strong, so I looked for a nice easy pattern to ease myself back in with.
I went for the Anna dress from By Hand London - it had an easy rating, was the retro shape I love, and I'd seen others made up looking lovely on various blogs that I follow. The chosen fabric was a half bolt of squirrel print fabric that I'd snagged at a trade show, knowing that I'd do something with it sooner or later!
So, I set to work, and thoroughly enjoyed the process - the dress came together pretty quickly over an afternoon and a couple of evening's sewing, and although it's not perfect, I'm really pleased with the results.
I'm looking forward to making another Anna now, and changing the few things I need to. Firstly my measurements put me at a 20 according to the sizing on the pattern envelope. However, although I definitely need the 20 across the shoulders and hips, I had to take the bodice in at the side seams and darts for the bust and the waist, so may grade the pattern down in these areas when I cut it next time. Along with this the bodice is around an inch too short, so the skirt hits just above my natural waist. This isn't an unusual problem for me at 5 foot 7, and again is easy enough to rectify the next time. I also fancy swapping out the boat neck to the V neckline variation, as it came out higher than I expected and I don't think it's the most flattering for my shape.
So, now I have a good excuse to go fabric shopping so I can get started on another frock, I've definitely got the dressmaking bug back now!
