Homemade Friday: Butterick 4790 (A pretty dress!)

It seems that I've missed a couple of Homemade Fridays, but that only means that I was too busy making homemade things to write about making homemade things.  And it's good - because I have a backlog of homemade things that I need to share so on the days when I have absolutely nothing I can pull one of those finished projects out and share.

I like to think ahead.

I finished this dress a couple of weeks ago, but only was able to wear it yesterday as the temperature has verged on 'entirely too cold for April.'

The pattern is a retro Butterick one - 4790:

I bought this pattern many, many years ago.  I think it intimidated me, which is why I haven't sewn it yet.  Something about the biased tape.

But I pulled it out and forged ahead.  Guys.  It was really, really easy to make.  However, I messed up a bit and measured wrong and so made it a size too small.  I fixed that by just sewing a button on the front to attach the sides together instead of the three snaps like it called for. I used a vintage button I had in my stash.

Using the button allowed me to give myself more room, but it created an issue with keeping the dress from opening up and 'sharing' my backside with the entire world.

I don't think this will be much of an issue on normal days, but yesterday was blustery and any time I walked outside I had to frantically grab the sides of the dress to keep them closed.  I looked awesome, let me tell you.

Another issue was that using the button created a bit of a gap on the sides of the dress, so my bra showed.  I spend most of the day wearing a cardigan so at least I wasn't indecent.  But it's something I'll have to fix if I want to wear it during super warm weather.

The dress requires a lot of fabric - almost 5 yards - because the skirt is twirly.  I was lucky to find this fabric for $1 a yard, so the whole dress cost me around $10 if you factor in the biased tape, of which you need three whole packages.  Actually, I think the biased tape cost more than the fabric.  The fabric is a light, satiny-type and rayon-ish one.  I think.  It's light enough to twirl in, is what I'm saying.  Actually, as I was walking down the stairs last night it was flowing out behind me and Sebastian asked "Why is your dress going all over the place, Mom?"

I told him it was because I was awesome.

My sister has requested one and I have visions of her strolling out to visit her multitude of cows and chickens wearing a floral, twirly dress.  I've already started sewing on it because I love her.  Here's her fabric:

I LOVE it.  And I want to make another one for me.  Preferably a little larger this time.  With snaps.  And I've already cut out a smaller version that I found for Adele.  It's gonna be so sweet!

Oh - I also made this scarf that matched perfectly to the dress.  I started it months ago and just now finished.  Just in time for warm weather!