Basic body complete, and stuff I've learned

[amethyst73]

It's a good idea to make a mockup, even of an easy pattern, because the sizes are probably not going to map precisely to you.

I cut this pattern to a size 8, since I'm fairly small and size 6 dresses in shops usually do me pretty well.  Butterick 8 is *almost* too small in the hips, and their standard distance between waist and hips is a little different from mine.  Oh well.  It does fit well enough to manage for a day, anyway!  

(Gawd, I hope the sleeves end up being okay.)

here's a terrible photo of me in the basic body o' dress!