Carole--I did the exact same thing when I made my wedding dress. It makes such a wonderful trim for neck and sleeves. I usually try to wash instead of dry cleaning and most times, have no problems.

Thanks again, everybody. One thing I did after my granddaughter and I made the flower girl dresses was to design and make under-slips for them, since they were VERY see-through. The little girls can use them to play dress-up in later. (Sorry it's side-ways - it's a iPhone picture!)

All you projects are just lovely , Carole !

Carole, what a beautiful wedding gift--modern and classy! Teal really becomes you and you did such fantastic work on both the outfit and the bag. The girls' dresses are precious. So, so well done!

Carole,

The quilt - I would have love to receive this as a weeding gift -is gorgeous.

The dresses are exquisite, they were lucky little girls.

And your outfit and bag are lovely. Such a nice color!

Andrée

Carole, The quilt and the wedding clothes are so beautiful. What alot of work! I am like you forced to return to sewing clothes when it's time for a special event and can't find anything appropriate for the occassion in the stores. Very nice work and I can understand you are happy to be finished. The little girls dresses are adorable.

RItzy, the lace I bought to cover the base fabric had those scalloped edges where a selvage edge would be. I carefully trimmed it off on both edges before I cut the pattern pieces, and used a small zig-zag stitch to stitch it around the neck, sleeves, and bottom edge of the blouse during the construction process. You can't even see the stitching. I was delighted with how well it worked out. I also washed and dried everything before sewing even though the fabric said dry-clean only. It washed and dried perfectly, and I was able to throw the outfit into the laundry (delicate) after the wedding, then toss it in the dryer on low, and it came out not even needing the touch of an iron. The skirt has a built in slip, attached only at the waist and back zipper, and the jacket is lined.

I did try on "store bought" outfits first. I would have had to re-make anything I bought, so I figured I might as well make something from the beginning.

I will be SO GLAD to get back to quilting!!!!

Carole--you have been busy! I love the colors and pattern of the quilt. I have the same problem--I have to adjust every pattern of clothing I make and it does take a long time but making the muslin mock up saves money. I just took a look at your profile picture and your blouse is beautiful! Love the trim on the arms and neck.

Thanks, Charae and Sue, and yes, Wendy, that is the blouse in my profile picture. That was taken at the reception. It was an outdoor wedding and it was really too warm for the jacket most of the time. I deliberately went with the dark teal because I knew I was expected to be in some of the pictures that the photographer was taking after the ceremony, and I didn't want to clash! Much as it was a pain to make the outfit, at least I knew I could get an appropriate style and color for someone my age if I made it myself.

Wonderful Carole, they must have been thrilled. Fabulous colours

Flower girl dresses are so cute and pretty as is your bag and clothes, well done. I love that you wore the same colour.

Is that the blouse you are wearing in your profile picture. The colour is very good on you.

Carole, the quilt is absolutely beautiful! And the dresses, your outfit and bag are amazing! I only sew flat these days so clothing construction boggles my mind.

Carole, congratulations on all the wedding outfits, gifts and additional family members. Everything is beautiful!

Thanks! I don't enjoy sewing clothes because of the fitting issues. I had to redraw almost every pattern part to get that outfit to fit me. I made the essential parts in muslin first, thank goodness, but that made it take a long time. I was so glad to be finished with it. I LOVED doing the embroidered evening bag, though. It was fun using the hot fix crystals to embellish the quilting intersections on it, and the machine embroidery went well, too.

The quilt was made of 18" blocks and went together really quickly. It was a BQ quilt from Maple Island Quilts. (The young couple had told me their bedroom colors and said they were keeping it modern.) They didn't know I was making the quilt, but it was a big hit! I am so glad it's all behind me at this point. The wedding was beautiful and it went well. Company has returned home and things are slowly getting back to normal.

That's a fabulous quilt Carole - and the clothes for the wedding are beautiful too.