The Birds and the Bees Dress

Okay, so I just like how this picture looked with a filter.  It reminds me of heat, grittiness, snapping peas, and life before air conditioning. 

All of the above is true, except I have air conditioning.  Sweet, sweet air conditioning.

So my first move in giving up was to make something completely random.  

I chose a random pattern from the stash, and some material I had purchased with good intentions that had long since lost their way.

Pay no attention to the unfortunate flower placement here.

 Details:

Pattern: Simplicity 2059 Lisette Contintental dress (view A) (OOP)
ETA: still availabe for purchase here

Fabric: 2 yardsTula Pink Birds and Bees cotton voile

Notions: thread

Time to complete: a couple hours here and there

Back view in action/inaction/deep discussion

Notes:

This is a pretty simple dress with a gathered neckline at the front, and 3/8" bound neckline and armscyes. I originally ordered this fabric because I loved the colors, but when it arrived, I wasn't as excited by the print. Desperate for something fun to sew, I grabbed it and decided it would make a great summer sundress. Unfortunately, I needed an additional 1/4 yard to make the dress full length, so I had to fudge a bit.  

I ended up having to cut the dress about 3" short, then added the length back on with a doubled band cut on the lengthwise grain.  It ended up working well, though, because the extra weight helps hold down the skirt from random wind gusts and exuberant floor vents. You can just barely see the seam line there at the bottom.

I used French seams on the sides and shoulder seams, if only because I like to make it difficult to figure out whether I have it on inside out or not.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who struggles with this at times.  

I am particularly proud of how the binding turned out.  After attaching the front, I hand basted the binding closed, which made all the difference.  The last time I made this I cut it off into blouse length, and while no one else ever noticed, I never liked how sloppy the inside of the binding was.  Warning, excess binding pictures ahead: 

Also, (gasp) I did not line this dress.  Yes, it's voile, but the print is busy enough that you can't see my polkadot underwear through it.  Also, who wants a lining when it's 92 degrees out with 70% humidity? One layer of voile is the next best thing to nakedness.  (See what I mean about not wanting to get dressed?)

The belt is just a self-fabric tie, and I still plan on adding thread chains for belt carriers, but that will be a perfect sitting-on-the-porch-outside-while-the-boys-ride-bikes activity.

Without the belt, it's kind of a swingy a-line dress.  I'll be honest, it reminds me of a teacher I used to work with who wore muumuus.  Not sure I can rock that look, but here's what it looks like:

And just in case you were wondering...

 Birds...


and bees

So, how is your summer going?  How do you handle not wanting to sew what you actually wear?

 Do you find places to wear what you want to sew, or do you just go ahead and wear it, even if you're the only mom at soccer camp in a dress?