If you read my roundup of the many (multiple) Freya tops and dresses I have made to date, you’ll have already had a sneak preview of my entry for #SewingFloralFebruary. There isn’t an awful lot to say, truth be told; it’s a Freya dress, with a couple of inches added on to the length of the skirt, made up in this pretty fabric from The Textile Centre, purchased at The Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate back in November. I think I bought 1.5 metres and it was maybe about £6pm? I really like the cherry blossom print and the colours are nice and spring-like. I tend to lean more towards dark colour bases so it’s good to try something different, and I am definitely considering sewing up some more garments in pink/coral/red this season.

The only other modification to the pattern is the cowl neck, some bad/non-existent planning on my part meant I didn’t lay out the pattern pieces carefully enough to fit the full cowl neck piece on twice (plus it has to be cut on the fold) which was irritating as I knew I wanted this to be a cowl neck dress rather than the mock turtle. As a compromise, I kept the cowl neck but shortened the drape, and I think it turned out ok. It’s not the most drapey of fabrics, actually but I think it still works.

I do love the look of a Freya dress, I think they are perfectly acceptable work wear and am looking forward to debuting this at school this coming week, but I think they are equally easy to throw on on a weekend, and you have a full outfit without even trying. I also like how grey tights look with both this and the other black Freya dress I have made.

In these photos this dress wasn’t hemmed but I rectified that last night, using a zigzag stitch. I didn’t finish the edges and to be honest if it had never been hemmed I think it would have held up fine. It has a lovely soft touch and isn’t too shiny, I don’t think, but is almost like a neoprene inside – it’s matte black. My fabric knowledge isn’t extensive enough to know what it actually is.

I really like sewing and wearing florals, but managed to squeeze this make in to coincide with this challenge. I am looking forward to seeing all the other entries in my news feed, and also hoping to be organised enough to participate in another challenge very soon!