Monday 16 December 2013

Emery Dress

In between all the secret Christmas-related making that I've got going on at the moment, I managed to find time to finish some selfish sewing - the Emery dress by Christine Haynes.


I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it - with a fitted bodice, full skirt, pockets and the option of a collar or a bow, what's not to like?! It's pretty much my favourite kind of dress so I snapped it up straight away. I then got slightly scared that I might have bitten off more than I could chew because this dress featured a couple of techniques I hadn't used before, but you've got to try new things at some point or you'll never learn, right?

Of course, I needn't have worried! The instructions that come with the pattern are great and I followed the excellent sewalong that Christine just ran, and that was a useful helping hand for the steps I was slightly less sure of, so in the end I think that I've ended up with my best finished garment to date and I'm no longer scared of invisible zips!


I made the dress in a size 12, and the only change I needed to make was adding an inch to the bodice - which seems to be a fairly standard adjustment that I have to make on most patterns. I chose to make view B with the longer sleeves and collar, but followed the steps in the sewalong to change the collar from the pointed one in the pattern to a Peter Pan collar. The original pointed collar is cute, but I love a Peter Pan collar and I'm really happy with how it turned out. 


I almost added the bow from view A too but I've restrained myself at the moment! Although I'm very tempted to use the bow from the dress pattern and turn it into a bow belt in a solid colour to bring out one of the many gorgeous colours in the fabric.

Speaking of the fabric...I spent quite a long time pondering what material to use for this dress. I had found a couple of lovely brushed cottons that I thought might be nice to use for this time of year, but then I found this beautiful Liberty cotton lawn at a bargain price on ebay. There was just enough to make the dress so I thought it was a sign and went with it!


Yes, cotton lawn might not be a standard choice for this time of year, but I love it and as the bodice is lined, and if I wear it with a slip, I've found it perfectly warm enough. And those brushed cottons that I almost used are still in the back of my mind so there may well be a slightly more conventionally seasonal version in the pipeline soon. 


Overall, I only have good things to say about this pattern - if you're thinking about sewing it yourself then I'd definitely go for it!







14 comments:

  1. A great pattern. I've not done a sewalong before for fear I wouldn't be able to keep up. Congratulations on your zip it's .... invisible! Definitely do the bow, it might be too much at other times of the year but it will be perfect at Christmas.

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    1. Thank you! I think the bow will be happening once I've got Christmas present making out of the way!

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  2. What a lovely dress and the style suits you perfectly! And well done on adding the visible zip, you can't see it at all! I am still scared and that although I have put in a few ones, which were not so invisible in the end. And the Peter Pan collar is super cute! I am also voting for the bow belt! Where do you get the brushed cotton from? I am just wondering, because I bought one (I think) and it would be far to thick to make a dress out of it!

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    1. Thank you! The invisible zip was easier than I thought it might be - although maybe it was just beginners' luck?! I know some brushed cottons would be way too thick but saw the one I mentioned in a local fabric shop and, although it would definitely be a thick material for a dress, I think it would probably be just thin enough to make it work - I might give it a try still because if it did work I think it would be lovely!

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  3. It is beautiful! I love the collar and fabric choice. Great job.

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    1. Thank you! I'm really pleased I found the fabric - it's so pretty!

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  4. What a beautiful dress! Love the subtle print it allows your beauty to shine instead of the dress taking centre stage :)

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  5. It turned out beautifully and it looks great on you!

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  6. This is so pretty! The pattern, the fabric, and it looks wonderful on you!!

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    1. Thank you! I think I may have to make another version of this one soon!

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  7. lovely dress and beautifully made, this dress is on my list as well - maybe without a collar for the first one!

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    1. Thank you! It's a lovely pattern - I'm sure you'll like it when you make it!

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