It is not unusual for a kind of barter economy to spring up among friends: you help with a move and are fed in return, or pay your pet feeder or plant waterer with gifts from the holiday you went on. However, some friends bring more to the table than a bit of practical sense and goodwill. Rather than spend the best of the day speculating on the role of washers or what it means that something is ‘earthed’, they have real, professional knowledge of tasks that could otherwise go horribly wrong. (Plumbers and electricians must have the most faithful friends in the world). And then it just doesn’t seem right simply to spring out for a few bottles of red wine.

Take my good friend Gabriele, a trained hairdresser and colouring specialist with the papers and experience to prove it. She is somewhat overqualified to snip the ends of my hair. But she does it anyway (in addition to the above, she is also nice), and so I thought it would only be fair if I made her a dress in return.

First we looked at pictures to narrow in what she was after, spoke about fabric and what occasions she wanted the dress for. Based on that I made a few sketches.

Dress sketch I – the winner!

Dress sketch II – also nice, just less so.

Then we went to look at fabric. She wanted a summery dress that would work both for day and evening – smart casual, in other words. Without any encouragement from her denim fanatical dressmaker, she chose an indigo cotton twill, and a chambray/denim-like plain weave with a textured grain. It was just such a pleasure to work with, and look at.

Two times denim. Mmmm …. denim …

The bodice is Gretchen Hirsch’s cap sleeve cocktail dress, from Stitch with Style 2013. I redrafted the neckline to fit the standing collar, and drew the skirt myself. I didn’t line it – the fabric had plenty of stand, and Gabriele would not be needing it for warmth. However, the fabric did like to fray so all seams were either felled on the inside, bound with bias tape, or hand overcast.

Not a loose thread in sight.

The finished dress …

… and its new owner. Looking good!

She was very pleased. So was I – I’ll have a clear conscience when I go for a trim next.