The White Dress

"So, I just want you to be my helper for the next few hours before you leave," Jian said as she took out a binder and sat down. She started searching for her sketch there and just as he was about to sit down, she told him, "John could you unroll the white cotton fabric we bought today."

He nods before getting to work as he takes the fabric out from her closet asking, "Are you planning on making something?"

"Yes, this," Jian said excitedly, showing him her sketch. It was a simple dress that had pink highlights running across different parts of the dress. Jian smiled as she explained, "It's a really simple dress and I made most of the patterns in rectangles to save more fabric, anyways this is what I want to finish for today."

"What are the pink highlights for?" He asked and she smiled, placing the paper down saying, "It's for the white lace." Jian and Johnny spent the next few minutes talking while she measured how much to cut, and he helped pin the measurements.

"Great now all that's left to do is cut, gather and sew," Jian said as she got the fabric scissors. Johnny nods asking, "What about the lace?"

"So, for the sleeves we can add the lace after we finish sewing the sleeves to the dress. Anyways, can you cut the fabric while I go get the machine setup?" Jian asked as she passed the scissors to him. "Sure," he said, taking the scissors and cutting up the fabric.

He passed her the sleeves first as Jian took them and lined it up with the machine. She started sewing while John put the uncut part of the roll away. He started cleaning slowly as he made her bed and noticed the dust on the bookshelf, so he went out and brought the cleaning wipes and cleaned the shelf.

Jian noticed what he was doing as she finished sewing the second sleeve, so she said, in a playful tone, "Johnny do you really think my room is that messy?" He paused before saying, "No, just a little dusty."

She laughed before getting up to get the dress and sew its side then hem it and attach the sleeves to the dress. John continued to clean the bookshelf and once he was done, he placed the cleaning wipes away.

After finishing the sides of the dress Jian tried the dress on over her shirt asking John, "What do you think?" He smiled and responded, "It's very simple, it feels like something is missing too." She nods before glancing in the mirror and an idea comes to mind. She grabbed a few pins and pinned the sides of the dress before carefully taking it off.

"What's that for?" John asked sitting down on the bed and Jian grinned, responding, "To add ties, for a more defined waist." John smiled asking, "Do you want me to cut more fabric?" She shook her head saying, "Could you help me cut the lace while I attach the first sleeve? Just measure the circumference of this sleeve and cut 2 inches pulse that amount." He nods, getting up and opening the bag where Jian had placed the lace material.

"Jian, which lace pattern do you want?" He asked, walking towards her. She paused and glanced at the options before saying, "The third one with the scalloped edges, and also cut about 2 others 13-inch strips of the second one with straight edges."

He nods, sitting back down with the measuring tape and sleeve as he quickly measures its circumference. John then cut 2 inches above the 20 inches around the sleeve, doing so twice for the other sleeve as well as Jian asked, "John can I get the second sleeve now?"

He tossed the sleeve over before placing the other lace trim against the measuring tape as he measured 13 inches, cutting two pieces. He placed the trim for the sleeves on Jian's desk before putting the other lace trims away.

Jian smiles as she finishes adding the sleeves. Jian and John spent a few more hours adding lace to the dress since it felt too plain with lace just on the sleeves, hem, and neckline. She placed lace on the sides to act as belts and then added a bit more lace on the hem before an idea struck her and she added lace on the front from the shoulders down to the hem.

"I think that's enough lace now Jian," Johnny said as he looked at the beautiful dress. She smiled nodding before saying, "Thank you for your help today, John," he nods as she puts the dress on a hanger. The two say their goodbyes soon as Johnny leaves and Jian heads to bed.