DIY Day - Dress

My DIY "day" started awhile ago. I wanted to learn something new this year and I decided sewing would be just the thing. During the summer I took a 2 night basic sewing course. When I say "basic" it was BASIC. We learned all about the different machines, how to sew a straight line, that scissors are really "shears" and the difference between "pressing" and "ironing". We did make a pillowcase but when finished with the class I was disappointed because I did not feel prepared to sew anything from a pattern.

(pillow case)

Upon visiting the same shop a few weeks later, a little dress on a form caught my eye and I decided I was going to attempt to make it for my 4 year old. Christina helped me pick out coordinating fabric and I took it all home.
Then it stayed in the bag for oh, another month until I went to my Mom's one Saturday morning for breakfast. I showed my Mom the pattern and she whipped out some shears and with her direction I managed to get the dress cut out. Flash forward another couple of weeks and the fabric and pattern are back in the bag. I was too stinking scared to start on the dress! I didn't have a clue what to do and was so afraid I would fail I just never even started.
I talked with my Aunt one day and she mentioned that she would be in my area later in the week so I asked her to come by and help me get started on the dress. That night I thought "doggone it...I am going to start this dress all by myself" and I did! I started and found that surprisingly it wasn't as hard as I thought to read the pattern!

My Aunt did come by and helped me figure out attaching the sleeves to the bodice and I went back to work on it. Later my sister Beth came by and helped me with another section I was struggling with and then little by little I worked on the dress at night doing one section at a time, all the while amazed that I was actually sewing a dress!

(first ever pocket!)

I had two things going through my mind while making the dress. First "done is better than perfect" (who said this? was it The Nester?) and the thought that I needed to finish the dress before my daughter grew into another size! This was motivation to get it done.

I was thrilled as I saw it coming together and you can only imagine my surprise and delight when I sewed the skirt on the bodice and then turned it all right side out and beheld my very first creation.
My daughter was thrilled with her dress and it will be one that I will keep forever!

Side note: For me, making this dress was so much more than just a dress! For years I have let fears of not doing something perfectly hold me back in so many areas, but now I feel like I can conquer the world. Okay, maybe not the world but why not that slipcover that I'm been pondering making? What's the worst that could happen? I am reminded of a verse that I have quoted often in my life...

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

I have written this verse on my chalkboard so that every time I am in the kitchen I see it and am reminded NOT to be fearful!

Head on over to Kimba's to see what other fabulous things things people have done themselves!

~Victoria~