Past Patterns #807: Mid-Nineteenth Century Wrapper

Here's what I came up with for my wrapper.  I don't know what happened to the color in the picture (well, my 8 y.o. took the picture, maybe that had something to do with it?).  It's kind of a blue and yellow dress, but it comes out kind of brownish/gray.  I had some other fabric on hand that was prettier, but I think I'll save it for a dress I'm really excited about.

Because I was so short on time, I didn't get to do anything too cute with this dress.  I wanted to do something cool with the sleeves, but maybe I can do that later.  I also thought a belt would be fun, but again, maybe later.  Wouldn't a collar be fun, too?  I called my mom to see if she could make me one for Christmas.

To save time, I considered just machine gathering the back, but I really, really love the look of gauging (we practiced it in our Sewing Academy), but took the less time consuming route and went with shirring (zig-zag over two heavy strings, then pull it in). 

I've put 24 buttons on this dress, but it needs one more.  I sewed them on by hand, but totally cheated and did my buttonholes by machine.

I did my first hem by hand, but realized after trying it on (in the picture) that it's too short!  Can you believe it??  I did lengthen it around an inch and a half, but my fingers hurt too much to hem it again by hand, so I just did it by machine.

It took around 8 hours, I think -- I kind of lost track after 4-5, though.

How the draw-cord looks on the inside.  I'm having troubles with it slipping, so I just stuck a safety pin in the cord to hold it in place.  You can see I didn't line the dress.

I love, love, this back.