the world’s most perfect Emery?

I never intended this fabric to be an Emery dress, but when things are meant to be, they do have a way of working themselves out. When I first started to pick up a sewing habit, I purchased this beautiful jewel toned quilting cotton at JoAnn, along with the Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity 1371 pattern, which boasted a super cute crop top and cigarette pants two piece set. I felt like the color and pattern of the fabric would pair so well with the structure of the crop top, and envisioned making the pants in a simple black to really highlight the top. The idea was, and still is, really lovely in my head… but fast forward 2 years later and both the pattern and the fabric were still sitting unused in my sewing room. Although I loved the idea I’d come up with, other projects that might be a little more regularly worn, or true to my go-to style, consistently got prioritized.

Sometimes, you’ve got to just scrap your plans and allow your brain to do what it wants! I felt like the colors in the fabric would be a perfect transition into autumn, so I finally pulled it off the shelf and cut into it. And on that day, the world’s most perfect Emery dress was born! Maybe? Okay, I may be a little partial, but hey, I think it falls right on up there in the rankings. I mean, look at the way the stripes just fall perfectly along the darts. It’s just so pretty!

I (along with everyone in the online sewing community, it seems!) truly love this pattern. I’ve never seen an unflattering version of this dress, and I adore that with a different fabric choice, you can make a beautiful party dress and a perfectly casual piece from the same pattern. The sizing of the pattern works quite well for my frame, and I have consistently cut a straight size 6 without any alteration. My only minor complaint is that I don’t have a full range of arm mobility, but I suppose that if I continue to insist on sleeved dresses in quilting cottons, this is the price I will have to pay! (if you have awesome suggestions about this, PLEASE leave them below!)

DETAILS:

dress: handmade by me

pattern: Christine Haynes – Emery Dress

fabric: Striped Quilting Cotton from JoAnn

I have a bit of this fabric leftover, so maybe some day that cute crop will come into fruition. Until then, catch me flitting around in this bad boy. Despite my intense dislike of temperatures lower than 65’F, I’m even finding myself looking forward to wearing this with tights, boots, and a cute jacket here in the next few weeks. If you have similar stories of awesome things that aren’t what you’d originally planned, I’d love to see them!!

• XX Elizabeth