I finished my dirndl!!! 5 weeks late!!!

I’m very pleased with the way it looks. There’s a lot I’d change about it, though. The construction process made things a little bulky to shove through my sewing machine.

I’d make the sleeves first (while they are still flat), then insert them. The lining needs to be sewn to the neck and sleeve edges before attaching the skirt. The zipper needs to be inserted before the lining is sewn down, so the lining can be used to make a clean finish on the inside. And there aren’t any instructions for finishing the lining.

There is only one pocket. While I appreciate not having to try to get a pocket installed in the same seam as an invisible zipper, it’s a little odd.

The pleating tape for the apron just needs to be different tape period. The gathers need to be closer together.

Having the sleeves integrated into the dress means I can’t lift my arms very high, thereby impeding my ability to do the chicken dance.

I went to Oktoberfest this year and got to wear my dirndl! Unfortunately, I gained weight so it was a little difficult to get into and breathe in. That prompted my boyfriend to ask if I needed pliers to zip it up.

Construction notes here: