Volunteered!

What do you get when you have friends/aquaintances that know you can sew and a husband that is good at volunteering you for things?

I'll tell you what...

Jobs altering bridesmaids dresses for 2 weddings, and a commission making a dress and jacket Mother of the Groom outfit for another!

I'm not quite sure how I've got myself into this, but in the last few days I have agreed to shorten and take in 3 bridesmaids dresses for a wedding at the end of July, and alter some others (I don't know how many yet) for a wedding in September. 

Fine, that doesn't sound too bad. 

Then hubby came home the other day and said "J wonders if you'd make her a dress for her son's wedding" (to which we are invited).  J is a lovely lady, very stylish and with quite a simple, understated style, so I thought she'd probably want something quite simple. 

I gave her a call yesterday.

It turns out I was partly right - she does want a simple dress, either shift style, or something fitted at the top with a bit of flare to the skirt.  But, she also wants a jacket.  Collarless and simple apparently, but still a jacket. 

I somehow seem to have said yes I'll make them for her!!!!

I know I can do this.  I made myself a coat last year.  I made my sisters wedding dress, my bridesmaids dress for her wedding and my mum's Mother of the Bride outfit at well.  But, I'm still very slightly scared. 

Please reassure me that I can do it!

I had already planned on making my outfit for J's sons wedding, which I'm still going to do.  In fact I ordered the jacket pattern last night.  I've gone for the Style Arc Julia jacket that I fell in love with. 



I showed hubby and he really liked it and told me to go for it. 

I'll be making a dress from New Look 6123, probably view B, which is the one in the photograph.



 Here's an idea of what the dress and jacket might look like together. 



Pretty cute, I think! 

I have this fabric, a cotton/silk blend that I bought for very cheap on Ebay, that I'll probably use for the dress. 


It's a black, dark blue and stone ikat type print.  I'm now on the look out for some stone coloured linen blend or similar for the jacket.  Unless I find something I like much better of course......

10 comments

  1. Oh my word - you've got yourself a list to be working on! I don't doubt you can do it, you'll be up for an Unselfish Seamstress Award. Love the planned outfit, if it's 'the' jacket pattern then it's worth the shipping costs :)

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    1. Tell me about it! I could well be up for a nervous breakdown award as well! :-)

      When I went to check out on the pattern purchase the shipping cost was £5 less than I thought - so only £21 total. Not bad if you say it quickly.

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  2. That is a beautiful outfit you've planned! I think that stylearc pattern is worth the money. I think i'd make it over and over!

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    1. Thanks very much Stevie. I hope it looks as good in real life! Yes, on balance I think the Stylearc pattern will be worth the money. Once I'd seen it, nothing else was quite right. As well as a jacket for this wedding I could see it looking good in a smart casual outfit with jeans, or over a top and trousers to work.

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  3. oh my gosh, wow. and you do mean you're doing these all for free, correct? honestly, if it were me and it's for a close friend i'd do it for free, but i'd still expect them to supply the fabric and pattern (if you didn't already own a pattern that would work). i just did a baby diaper cover for a friend and the pattern was free, but she supplied the fabric and elastic!

    i hope they all write you very nice thank you notes, and i hope the lady at least takes you out for dinner to show her appreciation for all of the time you'll be putting into this! remember to try to enjoy yourself while you're doing these projects ;) and don't let them stress you out! i hope they are very grateful because you're super generous! =)

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    1. Hmm, not sure if it's for free or not! One of the girls who wants the bridesmaids dresses altered has already said she'll pay me, and to be honest I will accept because I don't like doing alterations. Even a small payment sweetens the task a little!

      The lady I'm making the outfit for will be supplying the pattern and fabric, I wouldn't be surprised if she's got a pattern already, she was very excited when I spoke to her earlier in the week. And she's not the type of person to expect something for nothing, so I'm sure I'll be compensated in some way.

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  4. That is a very cute jacket you're planning. Did you see the version of that dress that MimiG did? You must check it out - it's gorgeous! she's at www.mimigoodwin.blogspot.com

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    1. Wow, thanks for pointing MimiG's version of NL6123 out, it's stunning! I want a red one now...... and a figure like hers! ;-)

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  5. You can do it, lady. But man! Good on you for being so unselfish. I would've had to say no.

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    1. I'm not very good at saying no! And I do like doing things for people, usually they're smaller things though!

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