look what I made #2!

dress - handmade!!!

belt - modcloth

shoes - vintage

hair bow - hive & honey

First, sorry for the pitiful lighting again... it was super rainy yesterday, but I really couldn't wait for the sun to come out to take pictures of my new dress!! :D

I made this one using the New Look pattern#6020 but only for the bodice. I just did the skirt the same way I did the other one (just a really big rectangle with pleats) instead of following the New Look skirt pattern. The fabric is from JoAnn's (isn't it pretty?! I love grey and yellow!) and I made up the collar pattern myself! I just traced the neck & back openings and sketched out a shape for the collar I wanted. I can't believe it actually worked! :D

I liked this pattern A LOT better than the BurdaStyle one. The instructions were much more clear, and it was even easy to install a zipper! I still had trouble with the sizing and had to take it in a lot once it was assembled, but otherwise everything went smoothly. I want to keep practicing now until I really get the hang of it. I'm so excited about saving money by making my own dresses, and also I'm looking forward to trying to make my own modified versions of some dresses I've seen online that wouldn't fit me (like those xxxxxs vintage dresses on etsy lol!)

some dress details

Thanks so much for all the great feedback on my post this morning!! :D I thought I'd share some close-ups so you can see the fabric & details better. I got the fabric at JoAnn's, and the pattern I used was this one from BurdaStyle. I just downloaded it and printed the pdf at home!

Also, I have to say to anyone who left a comment saying they wished they could do this.. YOU CAN! I can't even count how many times my needles have broken, or my thread snapped in the middle of a project, or I accidentally sewed something together backwards or inside out. And 90% of the sewing patterns and instructions I've read might as well have been gibberish.. it's like a foreign language to me. Of all of the things I've ever tried to learn, this was definitely the hardest, and absolutely took the most perseverance on my part. But I am SO glad I stuck with it! I'm more proud of this simple little dress than I am of my drawings and paintings, just because it was so hard for me to figure out. So I guess my point is .. if sewing seems really difficult, just keep trying! I never in a million years thought I'd conquer my sewing machine, so if *I* can do it.. you can definitely do it! :)

look what I made!!!

dress - handmade (did she say handmade??? YES SHE DID!!)

shoes - c/o blowfish

hair bow - hive & honey

Guess who made her own dress this weekend??! AHH! That's right, the girl who one year ago could barely sew a basic pillow has now made a dress. And it actually. looks. like. a. dress. And I wore it out for a whole day, and it did not fall apart!!! Granted, I had trouble figuring out how to size it correctly so the waist is about 3 sizes too big (hence the matching sash) but otherwise I don't think I did bad for my first try!

And wait, it gets better. I made ANOTHER dress yesterday (this time, it fits) and it has a sailor collar (that I made from a pattern that I whipped up myself!) and a little matching bow. I seriously cannot wait to take pictures to show you guys, I'm just so excited!

Last year I was *this* close to selling my sewing machine because I was so sure I was incapable of sewing. And honestly, I probably would have sold it if I didn't have so much encouragement and help from Casey! She was the recipient of way too many urgent tweets about bias tape and zippers, and I'm so incredibly grateful that she patiently (and enthusiastically!) explained everything to me. She got me from ineptitude at sewing a straight line to making a dress from scratch! Thank you Casey!!!! :)

branchbound giveaway! (closed)

I'm in love with Branchbound's delicate lace accessories, and I'm super excited that Sarah Louise is offering one of her gorgeous creations for me to giveaway here on my blog!

"The ring is made of a stiffened venise lace bow attached to an adjustable silver ring. Ring fits most sizes- approximately 6.5 unadjusted to 11 stretched. Bow is 1" wide and 1" high."

To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know that you're entering, and some way to contact you (email, twitter, blog, whatever floats your boat!) You must be a follower to enter (and, please, none of this follow-and-leave as soon as the giveaway is over jazz.. that's super rude!)

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Tweet the giveaway - Please copy and paste this tweet: I just entered a @branchbound giveaway on @kategabrielle's blog! Enter to win here: http://www.scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com
2. Follow Branchbound on facebook
3. Follow Branchbound on twitter

4. Purchase something from Branchbound & let me know what you bought! :)

Also, the entire shop is currently marked down 20% off for Labor Day! The sale ends tonight, but after it's over you can still snag 10% off with coupon code KATEGABRIELLE! Personally I recommend the lace collar necklaces.. I have one and I absolutely adore it! :)

Giveaway ends on September 12 at 12:01EST! CLOSED