The Summer Of No Pants* 2015 ~ post #5

Dress number five was made out of my Grandmama's Damask table cloth.  If it had turned out, I intended to wear it to my Cousin Laura Ann's wedding back in April.  But it did not.

Good news:
1. Even though I had never sewn with this type of fabric before, it went together VERY well!
2. And the invisible Zip (here) was THE BEST looking one I've ever put in! =)

Bad news:
1. Something went wrong in the bodice: it is oddly too tight (even though it's a pattern that I've made lots of times, and it should have fit).
2. the bodice was too long, but I did not know until after my perfect zipper went in.
3. And the skirt was too long. (I know, I can fix that, but why?!)

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How did I finish the raw side-seams?

 First, I trimmed them, then I sewed a second line of stitching farther out...(see photo above)...then I sewed single-fold bias tape to one side, folding over at the arm opening (see below photo).

Last, but not least, I very carefully (so as to only catch the lining and not the dress fabric) hand stitched the single-fold bias tape to the lining, so it is now neat & flat (see below photo)!

I wanted to have a gathered skirt, but the fabric would NOT be gathered....so...free hand pleats were the answer:

*SONP not is officially happening this year, but I like to sew, and wear cute dresses & skirts anyway, so I'll just do my own thing....(Summer of No Pants is a Google+ group, and anyone can join & post at anytime.)