I made some progress on dressy, my first big sewing project. The front skirt panel is now attached to the front of the bodice, so it's finally starting to look like a dress. I couldn't get a good picture since it's so long - I'll have to wait on that until I can hang it up somehow. Anyway, except for the hem at the bottom, the front is finished. Comparing it to knitting, I'm guessing that I've done the equivalent of completing the back of a sweater, since the front of this dress is the easiest part with the simplest shaping and styling. The back is made up of more parts and has a zipper. Yikes! I did start on the back pieces in class on Thursday. Here is one half of the back of the bodice, which has been stay-stitched and has half the back tie attached. Purty.

In knitting news, I've begun to sew up elizabeth III. I was so anxious to see if it will fit this time, that I just sewed up enough of each seam to be able to slip it over my head and get a feel for how it will look. And... drumroll please... she's going to fit perfectly! Okay, I know I said that last time, but then I was thinking that adding the neckband would lift the sweater up quite a bit. Now that I know how it will hang when it is done, I can say with confidence that I knitted it just the right size - snug and shapely instead of big and baggy. It seems fitted just right through the waist and the length of the body and sleeves should be much better. Apparently, all the resizing calculations that I did were correct. I am so relieved! So now I have to finish sewing up the seams, add a neckband, weave in all the ends and then celebrate!!

[By the way, I am pro feeling like a woman, but con Shania Twain.]