I haven’t found as much time to blog recently as I would have liked. I don’t get hung up about it – despite (or perhaps because of) working as a project manager, I prefer to be fairly unorganised in my own time and don’t like to plan ahead very far. However, I do really enjoy blogging and miss it, as with sewing or knitting, when I’m not finding the time. I’ve always enjoyed writing; when I was younger I wrote stories, plays, diaries. Currently I only write this blog, and while writing dressmaking blog posts is pretty far from working on a story or play, I think for me, it satisfies the same urge.

I did think about starting to keep a diary again, but decided that if Phil kept a diary (not going to happen, but still) I would be seriously, seriously tempted to read it, despite that basically being beyond the pale. I couldn’t keep a diary if I thought there was any chance of anyone else reading it, as I have to feel totally free to express myself in a way that otherwise only takes place inside my own head (I have previously destroyed diaries after finishing with them, as I don’t even want to read them back myself). I decided that if I would be tempted to read Phil’s (imaginary) diary, maybe he would be tempted to read mine – so have decided to abstain. This is despite the fact that I suspect Phil wouldn’t actually have the slightest bit of curiosity, as shown by the fact that he never, ever reads this blog – even though he is mentioned in it.

Anyhow, that was a very long winded route to informing you that I am only just blogging these photos taken during our holiday to Amsterdam back in July. Sticking with the theme of delayed blog posts, I sewed this wrap dress as part of the Wrap Dress Sewalong McCall’s hosted in February 2015, I actually finished the dress during the sewalong time frame but it’s taken me a year and a half to blog it.

This is Butterick B5030, Version E with collar, long sleeves and cuffs. The size of the collar and cuffs gives this a vintage (70s) vibe.

I remember practically nothing about the construction of this dress, but can report back on wearability. It’s quite low cut on me, so I typically pin it closed (I have been planning to add a hidden button, but it’s unlikely to ever actually happen). The wrap skirt gives pretty good coverage, although it does need an underskirt on a breezy day – which could also be resolved by a hidden button, if I didn’t find those kind of useful sewing tasks boring. The fit is pretty good on me straight out of the packet and it’s extremely comfy to wear.

This fabric is a jersey I purchased from Stitch at the Sewing for Pleasure show at the NEC. I used the leftover fabric to make a blouse.

And now to bed, as I’m off to London early tomorrow morning.