Scots have a lot of things in common with Québécois. They are a culturally rich and distinct nation within a nation, have some history of animosity with England, and love their conceptually disgusting but actually delicious national dish. One thing in which they really differ from us, though, is their apparent love of getting married. I’ve had two weddings to go to in Scotland in as many years (without even accepting all invitations), the same number I’ve attended in a decade in Québec (accepting all invitations). Then again, I can see why: kilts, castles, folk dancing, bagpipes (they’re ok in context), what’s not to like?

So, like last summer, I’m going to a wedding in Scotland next month, and have decided to make my own dress. I made the whole thing from a store-bought pattern and finished it yesterday; the result was less than conclusive. In order to fit in it I would have had to be Dolly Parton up top, and Kate Moss on the bottom. So I scrapped the store-bought pattern and drew my own from scratch, late into the wee hours. This morning I took the dress apart stitch by stitch, and started making it again using my own pattern.

Here’s the work in progress; I’ll post more pictures as it progresses.