It’s the one.  The yellow dress in the painting, ‘Daydreams’ (1905), by the Danish artist, Paul Gustave Fischer. And, at last, I’ve finished it.

Now, strictly speaking, this is NOT week 4 of my ‘Not the GBSB Sew Arty Challenge’. I’ve not sewn like the wind. Indeed,  the Great British Sewing Bee has buzzed off to make some honey, while I’m still cutting, sewing, and (so importantly for this ‘week”s challenge) ironing away. But it is my fourth sew-a-dress-from-a-painting attempt.

And so, less a honey, moneymaking bee, more a pleating, bleating lamb, I introduce to you, my wearable (if your name is Laura Ingalls), Day Dream Dress, based on the dress worn by the day dreamer in Paul Gustave Fischer’s painting of 1905.

So. step one : the pattern

In truth, I adapted an easy top pattern  –

and added two metres of fabric for the skirt. I also had to insert a front panel, pleated horizontally, as well as adding three pleats to the skirt.

I’d adapted the pattern a few times before, minus the pleats  –

so that’s really where I expected the challenge to be. In the pleats.

Step 2 : cutting out and sewing

I used the pattern as much as I could to make the top.

  As you can see, I’m not a perfectionist. The material was creased, and I had a very obvious tension problem. But, I’ve never let a poorly finished garment ( nevermind the threat of it) get in my way once I’ve started. And, as you can plainly see, this time was no exception.

An iron is a very wonderful aid for the mediocre seamstress.

I sewed on, full speed ahead, attaching the skirt as I went.

I then added the pleats.

You might have thought that this would have been easy. But it wasn’t. At least, it wasn’t easy for me.  My two hour top, which I estimated might turn into a four hour dress, turned into a…but I think I’ve shared enough of my shortcomings for now. Let’s just say that I should have used a tape measure, an iron and pins to begin with.

And so, many, many hours later, I came up with a rough approximation of the dress in the Fischer painting. I quickly added a loop and a button at the neck and … Ta dah!

Peas in a pod? Doppelgängerinnen? Twins separated at birth?

Perhaps not.

But if you squint slightly, and look at them at an angle, they do look quite similar. Result! Another successful Sew Arty Challenge.

And look at the pleats.

Oh iron, what a wondrous thing thou art!

And so wearable.

Who would have anticipated the odds on a ‘Little House on the Prairie’ party the same month I make my Paul Fischer dress?

Fate, huh?!