The school holidays went straight to my head, and I made a rash decision that I suspected I might regret even as I was making it.

Shopping for ribbons, but lacking a sixties day dress for my eldest daughter to wear with them in Hairspray the musical, I accidentally flicked through a pattern book, flopped over some floral fabric samples and flounced out of the store with everything I needed to whip up a retro frock. 

Why on earth would I do such a thing you ask?  

Obviously I am completely deranged – well, I was by 1am the next morning when, nine hours in, I decided not to try putting the sleeves in while I was too tired to see straight. 

I took a small break to toss and turn in bed, dreaming of selvages and seam allowances, before rising early to spend a couple of hours finishing the fabulous number off.  

So, there it is, hanging in the lounge room like a trophy. 

A couture fashion item for one, created in just under 12 hours and booked to appear centre stage for at least 12 minutes in total; including a couple of dance numbers and possibly a jail scene. 

I have to admit I had fun though. 

I felt like a mad scientist working on a wildly exciting experiment in the lab over a bubbling Bunsen burner, but was of course, an over-excited mother hunched over her whirring sewing machine at midnight with wild hair. 

Pinning and cutting and basting and sewing and trimming and tacking and clipping and hemming and ironing and checking the pattern, re-checking the pattern, staring menacingly at the pattern and walking away from the pattern before coming back for more. 

It took me a while to regain access to the hibernating needlework skills section of my brain as it had been in recess for more than 15 years - since my red satin silk ball gown, and my brain had needed a little rest after that one. 

I love making stuff! 

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been able to bake a cake for more than 12 weeks that I really appreciated this current opportunity to carefully add all the ingredients in the right order and with the correct technique to produce something frivolous and fun. 

No regrets after all.