I have been in love with Megan Nielsen’s Darling Ranges dress pattern since the day it came out: it’s got sweet feminine touches like a moderately-revealing neckline and gathered sleeves, and like all the indie sewing patterns I’ve used so far, this one was a breeze to follow…

…once I found the perfect fabric. This lovely starry cotton lawn is from Grey’s, as usual.

The neckline is finished with bias tape, so I used some of my vintage stash. (What do you think—1950s??)

This crinoline petticoat business is a little too vintage even for me.

Sewing the back ties. I can’t help taking pleasure in little details that make a dress look store-bought.

My goal was to finish this dress in time for the Boston Book Festival, and I got plenty of compliments that evening. Having too much fun to remember to take any photos though. And at my friend Jason’s night-before-Halloween costumes-optional party I told everyone I had dressed up—as a constellation.

Then I packed the dress to wear on my birthday in Dingle. (Photos by Seanan.)

This is my new favorite dress out of everything I’ve sewn so far. I feel really pretty in it (even if I do look a teensy bit preggo in this shot.)

I got pockets!

It was a lovely birthday. We ended the night with trad at John Benny’s and my pal Jedediah Berry’s The Family Arcana (which is brilliant, by the way).