Dear Laura,

after finishing your gathered skirt already quite a few months ago and making many more versions of a gathered skirt as well as tens of other pieces (summer dresses, blouses and first attempts of kids' and mens' clothes) I have come to face my buttonhole-phobia.

It was by far the most complex and difficult project but I could not be prouder. 

I used 2,40m of a heavy wool-linen I bought on Etsy and ended up with a shirt dress that reaches below my knees. I wanted a winter dress that is breastfeeding-friendly as I am waiting for my second child (arriving in 2 months). 

Of course there are imperfections - the buttonholes look hand sewn and each one is a bit different, the smocking isn't perfectly straight and even, and I attached the sleeves wrongly and only noticed that once it was way too late. So I ended up with super wide and a bit too short sleeves and thus cuffs that were too small. Unfortunately, I dit not have any more fabric left and so I decided to go with 3/4-sleeves and open cuffs which I just roll up. 

I do feel this is an advanced project and I wouldn't have been able to finish it at the beginning of my now more than a year long hand sewing journey but now I was ready and it gives me such joy to know that buttonholes are not the huge elephant in the sewing anymore but a problem which I can tackle.

Lastly, I want to thank you for the amazing cut - I will surely use this cut in different ways for many more shirts and dresses. I love that it completely avoids seams on the shoulders or armpits which is not only in line with historical sewing but also with energetic guidelines (no seams anywhere near important meridians and energy lines of the body). Thank you for this course, it was a huge pleasure and a huge jump for my skillset!