Confessions of a Tenacious Tailor

I love dressing up. Not in evening gowns and formal attire. No. I’m talking little girl dress-up. I think that’s why I got involved in drama in high school. It gave me an excuse for wearing costumes.

When American Christian Fiction Writers announced a genre dinner at this year’s conference, I got excited. Since I write historical fiction, I have a perfect excuse to make a costume.

Let’s get one thing straight. I hate to sew. When I pull out the pin cushion and scissors, take the cover off the sewing machine, and clear the dining room table, my family goes into hiding. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a pretty good seamstress. I’ve been sewing since grade school. But I’ve done it because I had to—not because I wanted to.

I found a pattern for a bustle dress. (Yes, I write late nineteenth century romantic suspense.) The jacket looked a little tricky, so I asked a friend if she’d make it for me. She demurred. Should’ve been my first clue, but I forged ahead without her assistance.

I started with the skirt.

Easy. No problem. It gave me courage to continue. The jacket came next. Fitted. Fourteen pieces in the bodice alone. At least half the seams had to be ripped out and sewn again. <sigh> Determined to finish this if it killed me, I worked and worked.

Then came the overskirt. I made the size the pattern said matched my dimensions, but it was huge. Alter. Try on. Alter some more.

Finally. Finished. If you want to see the finished product, visit my Facebook page facebook.com/lorayoungwriter.

I learned several lessons through this project. (Probably the reason God forced me to make this silly dress. =op Kidding. Just kidding.)

•  #1 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

•  #2 Never trust pattern manufacturers.

•  #3 Don’t assume you have the right sides together. Check.

•  #4 And last, but not least, the next book I write will be Amish. (Just kidding.)

Have you ever taken on something (not necessarily a craft) that was clearly beyond your abilities? How’d it turn out?