Choosing 'THE ONE' (pattern choices!)

So you've found thirty thousand gorgeous dress patterns online and in shops and you're all eager to start stitching away on your entire summer wardrobe for yourself and every member of your friends and family! Hold your horses, here's a quick list of things to consider when deciding which dress to start with:

• Difficulty: It can be quite easy to find the most beautiful, most perfect dress ever and fall so head over heels in love with it that you forget that you've only been sewing for five minutes. take time to consider the difficulty of the project before jumping in and slicing fabric.
• Fabric Cost: Another important thing to consider is the price of the fabric you want to use, and how difficult it is to sew. For example, even though satin can come quite cheaply, it can be the biggest pain to sew. If you are on a tight budget, or you are inexperienced with sewing the type of fabric that the pattern calls for, maybe reconsider the project and wait until you have more money or experience. There is nothing worse than making a dress and spending hours on it, then not being able to afford to go anywhere to show it off!
• Preference: Do you really like this project? Or do you just love it on first sight but after closer inspection, dislike the project a little? Make sure before you start a project that it isn't just a case of getting a new pattern and being excited about it. I have lost so much time (and money!) to starting projects through excitement and not actually wanting them. I regret not putting my attention into the older patterns I had that were even more lovely!

It boils down to just picking the right project, on these factors and the other large factor, TIME. Do you have enough time to make this project, and enough time to wear/use it? Try organising your patterns against difficulty and time, so a pattern can be quickly selected and eventually you'll work your way through the list of fantastic and beautiful creations!