Flowers in the Sun

I love boating and fun, easy clothes to wear over my swimming suit while out on the lake were actually a big part of my original urge to sew. I still haven't really sewed any of those project ideas, but this simple sun dress has seen a lot of wear. (Sorry for the bad inside photos, but I'm way behind on getting pics taken and it is so cold outside now).

Eventually after floundering around on my own for a while I looked for some online sewing resources. Freeneedle and BurdaStyle were some of my first big finds and have proven invaluable in my sewing journey. When I saw the tutorial for the eight dollar dress on BurdaStyle, I knew it would be a good project for me. It would be cute and comfy to romp around in during the summer and would give me just what I needed at that point -- time at the sewing machine that was interesting and rewarding, but not too complex.

The fabric is cotton with just a bit of stretch. I love the print. It reminds me of paper we used to use in elementary school art class. When we scratched the black paint off our drawings showed through in fun colors. These flowers are much more delicately done than any of my grade school scratchings ever were.

I knew when I chose this fabric that it didn't have as much drape as would be ideal for this type of dress, but I really wanted something that would be easy to work with and durable to wear. The dress needs to be able to withstand being pulled on and off multiple times on an when I water ski or swim. It has to handle getting showed in a bag, soaked with water, scorched by sunshine, and tossed through the laundry. The black is starting to fade a bit, but a little wear has worn some of the stiffness out of the fabric and reduced the poufiness around my belly. This simple dress has definitely earned it's keep. I may try to whip up another version or two before next summer so I can have a little variety.