On My Sewing Table

Life Lesson: Procrastination = Nightmares

I learned this lesson years ago, yet I continue to relearn it every now and then.  This lovely pink ball of fluff is a prom dress with five layers with many fishline ruffles and layers of tulle attached to the top layer.  It is truly beautiful on the very sweet girl who will wear it tonight, but from the point of view of the person hemming it -- well you can imagine.  

Fortunately, I didn't have time to procrastinate as I have in the past.  She brought it to me last Thursday before I left for a weekend quilt retreat.  Monday night I began on the under-layers. No time to work on it on Tuesday.  Changed methods for the top layer Wednesday.  No time Thursday.  Worked, cleaned my classroom, finished lesson plans, set up classroom for Monday, and stayed up until 1 a.m. last night finishing the most unusual hem that I have ever done.

Ready for the prom tonight.  The lighting is not good at nine o'clock in the morning for pictures.  I took up 2 1/2 inches all the way around on the underside.  Because the ruffles are attached vertically, I had to sew between each column of ruffles staring and stopping to avoid catching the ruffle.  Normally, I would have taken it up at the waist, but the ruffles were shaped beautifully, and I would have lost the effect.  It felt so wrong to do such an unconventional hem, but I am happy with the results.  No one will ever know where it was shortened but me.   The hem can even be removed if the dress goes to her taller, younger sister.  Can't wait to see the pictures tomorrow!