The dress looks OK from the front but it doesn’t close right in the back. This particular envelope of patterns calls for “facings” all the time – pieces that are supposed to be folded over and back and sewn in so many ways that I can’t figure out what they’re doing. I came out with more folded over than I should have, I guess, because it takes all my muscle to close the dress barely enough for the Velcro to catch. It certainly doesn’t overlap smoothly.

This was the first time I’ve ever had to match a fabric pattern. Call it beginner’s luck, but it came out perfect. Indeed, it was beginner’s luck because the instructions didn’t offer any suggestions. I sort of guessed where the pieces would line up and tried to cut that way but it came out better than I deserved. I had trouble with the facings on this one too. The tie is attached with snaps. I have this thing called a Snap Setter that I bought for a huge project where I had to put in about 500 snaps. It’s pure genius. No sewing – only hammering.