Greetings dear creative Hivers, I hope your week is going as pleasant as expected, in all you do , keep trying and don't give up, as success comes to those who don't give up.

A family member, my aunt will be having her 42nd birthday soon, and guess who has to be reminded constantly about it, like I even dare to forget, well, my phone has been buzzing daily, "When will my birthday dress be ready" will always be the first thing she asks, Aunty, don't worry soon follows my reply.

I've been committed to making birthday outfits for everyone around me, as long as I know your birthday, you will be getting a new outfit from me, this obligation first started as a way to improve my sewing skills, as a way to practice more when I first started learning how to sew, it's been years now, and it has become a part of me, no matter how busy I get with my job, I would always find time to make it happen, so now, they don't even wait for me to surprise them on their birthday, and even have the intending dresses I plan to make booked for a birthday photoshoot, the reason my aunt has been on my neck lol.

Thankfully, I finally had the time to make her dress, I have about two other friends whose birthday is same date as hers, so it's been kind of tight for me, but one thing is for sure, I would meet up finishing all their dresses.
Our birthday is a special day that encourages us to be grateful for life and also live on feel with hope and good wishes, I never used to be intentional about birthday celebrations before, not until I had to celebrate my first daughter's first birthday in the hospital, she was critically ill then, and also surrounded by children who were challenged with different ailment, I cried so much that day watching my weak baby lay on the bed, and didn't feel like celebrating any birthday in that condition, but my fellow mothers whose children were likewise in the same condition, some even worst, all encouraged and liven my spirit, before I knew it different gifts starts flooding in, my husband brought a cake, it was a birthday surprise organized by the doctors and patients, from that day henceforth, my hope came alive, that no matter the condition we face, as long as there is life, we shouldn't give up.

Making these birthday outfits is my way of stirring that hope in them as so many people are indeed going through one thing or another, as long as we have life, we should have hope that all will be well, I have a healthy daughter now, and would have regretted if I hadn't marked that first birthday that here.

Without further ado, let's get right into the making process of this dress, it's a simple and stylish dress, just like the owner, my aunty is a plus size woman and loves fitted dresses, colour black also happens to be her favourite colour

Cutting And Sewing Process

• I started by drafting the pattern on paper, then slashed it into three different parts as the dress is a combination of the ankara and plain crepe fabric.

• Transferring the pattern to the fabric, I cut the back on fold, and two pieces for the front pattern, as I would be attaching a zipper to the front

• continuing, I joined the front and back pattern by the shoulders and piped the neckline using the ankara fabric.

• I also attached side pockets

• Next, I cut out a three-quarter sleeve pattern, with a band for its hem which I sewed around both armholes and joined the side of the dress and also the front after sewing the zipper,

• Finally I folded and hemmed the base of the dress neatly

And here is the beautiful final look, I'm sure my aunty will be pleased with her new outfit as I will get it delivered today.

Thank you for reading.❤❤