Here's finally another project that's been a little on and off.

When I got my sewing machine last year, the first thing I started "fantasizing" about was a 50s style dress in white w/black polkadot sateen, so that was one of the first pieces of fabric I got. I had this idea of combining one of the tops in one of my vintage patterns with a circle skirt.

I made a muslin for the top first, and the size was fine. I did wonder if I should alter the darts in the back, but I didn't. I attached a piece of fabric to see if my estimate for my waist for the circle skirt was correct. After making the actual dress pieces, attaching the skirt to the dress and putting in a side zipper, I realized that I should have altered the positions of the darts in the back. Oh well, although not ideal, I know from the alterations of PUG dresses I did last fall that undoing seams, even on finished garments is not a disaster, especially if it makes the garment more wearable. And, I knew that I had to do something if I wanted to feel OK wearing it, so I did. For the hemline finishing, I just chose to make a double fold and a visible seam. On this dress it's not that visible anyway, but also since this is a 360 circle skirt of 27 inches length, I deliberately wanted to make it as easy as possible for myself (the finished hemline is about 5,5 meters long...).

So, not perfect all over, but I think (hope!) I'll wear it, for daytime or dress up with a petticoat and heels. I learnt a lot, anyway, and since I didn't really know what the result would be in advance, combining a random top and a skirt, I'm quite happy. A part of me wants to make another dress using this pattern now that I know what to do (I have this floral sateen in mind), maybe with 3/4 skirt, but I also have lots of vintage dress patterns I would like to use too, so...