What are we going to do with you UR? The only thing wrong with your dress is that you don’t see what we do. With that fabric (which is lovely) any minor imperfections are hidden anyway. That’s my rule when making something usually, first time in busy, second plain if I like it!
I am going to put my muv voice on now though so be warned!
. Although I don’t brandish a tape measure nearly as formidably as she does you’ll be pleased to hear. You shouldn’t have been surprised at the length of the dress you know. Measurements and tape measures! Read back of envelopes! Make some really simple tops/bodices/skirts etc and even if you don’t wear them, instead of giving them away alter to how you would want them to be, even if that actually renders them unwearable and use them as a matrix against future makes. If you make something that fits you perfectly across the shoulders for example and you put a new pattern piece against it and it is significantly wider chances are it’s going to be too big so you can alter it at that stage. Going back to length, a couple of years back I put on a pair of old opaque black tights with band at natural waist and muv sewed in tailor tacks from every inch and centimetre down from 26inches to ankle length whilst I was wearing them so when I see the finished measurement I know where it is going to end.
I think you do want to carry on sewing otherwise you wouldn’t be on here so I honestly think you need to go back to some basic garment sewing and get the fit right, and then you’ll be ready to move on.
Lecture over!!