I’ve decided to join in with my very first sew-along. I have seemed to miss the boat on some of the more recent sew-alongs and competitions, like Colette’s Hawthorn or Laurel ones and I’ve missed things like the Mad Men Challenge and Me Made May.

So I’ve decided to do Christine Hayne’s Emery Dress Sew-Along. The pattern is super cute and I like the 60s vibe, but with modern sizing and drafting which should make it (hopefully) easier than making an actual vintage pattern!

I like both the variations and haven’t decided yet which to make – probably the long-sleeved, peter pan collar version because I love me a collar and it’s Winter so long sleeves would probably be an advantage! I also love that it has pockets – you can never go wrong with pockets in a dress 🙂

I’ve also had the cunning thought that I can reproduce a dress I pinned on my pinterest ages ago using this pattern.

(image source)

I’m not sure why but I really love this dress. I’m not sure how often I would wear a backless dress in my day-to-day life, but I might give it a go!

In other news, I’ve been sewing all day today but I’ve been making a present for my sister’s birthday so I won’t be able to share it for a couple of weeks. I’m also planning some Christmas sewing (mainly for the 2 children in my life) so, again, I won’t be able to post about the things taking up all my sewing time. Which is another reason I’m glad to be doing the Emery Dress Sew-Along because it will make me make something I can share on here at the same time as all the present-sewing. I’m not sure if I’ll have the time (or the ideas) to make as many presents as I made last year, which is a shame because I like making things for other people. Does anyone else find, though, that the only people who truly appreciate a homemade gift are crafty people who know how much work has gone into something? I find if people don’t make things/ understand how long it takes to (for example) knit, then they don’t appreciate the present any more than something you could have bought? I’ve just read this and realised it makes me sound like I only make presents for people to get loads of appreciation and thanks, but that’s not it. Anyway, before I dig myself even more into a hole with people I may or may not have given bought or homemade gifts to, I’ll stop……