Emery Month: Recap and Giveaway Winner!

Oh, what a fun month September has been! I hope you've enjoyed Emery Month as much as I have.

First, let's get to the giveaway winner, selected by a random number generator. Congratulations to Geni M! Send me an email at rosiewednesday@gmail.com with your address to ship your Emery pattern!

What Kind of Emery Dresses Do You Want to Make? 

Thank you all so much for entering the giveaway! I really enjoyed reading through all of the variations you are planning on sewing. It gave me even more ideas for lots more Emery dresses! 

I thought it would be fun to pull out some stats on what was most popular in your Emery dreams. 

• Most people want to make a collar version, almost twice as many of you. 
• Solids won out over prints, although the gap was pretty narrow!
• The most common fabric you'd like to use is wool. Everyone is getting ready for winter!

A Recap of my Emery Dresses

The one that started it all, Jackie Kennedy-inspired teal with a bow.

Then a tulip version where I let the print do the talking and didn't have a bow or collar. 

Last but not least, a leafy version for fall! 

I'm not sure I could choose a favorite; they all make me so happy! Do you have a favorite? If not one of mine, how about one of the versions from the other pattern testers? 

Christine is shipping out the pattern this week to everyone that pre-ordered, and I'm very excited to start seeing other versions of this dress floating about the web! Don't forget, you can also participate in Christine's Emery Dress Sewalong. I suppose now I'll return to sewing up different things! 

Emery Month: Fall for Cotton

My final version of the Emery Dress (for now, at least) is made to order for autumn. This fabric is just right for Tasha and Rochelle's Fall for Cotton sewing challenge. 100% cotton and a leaf print?! I couldn't have dreamed up better!

It's rather stereotypical, but fall makes me think of the beginning of a new school year. So I made a jaunt to my alma matter, The University of Texas, to capture this leafy dress in one of the libraries.

I love the 3/4 sleeves of this version! It also looks dashing with a cardigan. It's a bit too toasty here in Austin for it just yet, but it will be perfect when there's just a hint of a chill in the air.

I did the collar in a matching mustard to really make it stand out. The underside of the collar is in the same leafy fabric. 

I am a total ninny and didn't realize my zipper was off at the top (by a ghastly FOUR teeth!) until I had already hand stitched the lining to it. A result of too much wine drinking and Wonder Years watching while handpicking the zipper. Somehow, I will live with this reminder of my imperfections. Never fear! I had fun doing it, which is really the important bit in the end.

I also discovered the UT library has rows of sewing books, a fact I never knew while studying there. I wanted to make myself cozy in the stacks and settle in for a good read, but I had plans with real people, so the host of sewing instructors immortalized in print had to wait. 

What's Next

• Next week, I'll do a recap of all three versions I sewed of the Emery Dress and announce the giveaway winner! 
• Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the pattern! Open until this Friday, Sept 27.
• Christine just announced a schedule for an Emery Dress Sewalong. I hope you're joining in on the fun!

Emery Month: Come Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me

If you're just joining me, for the month of September I am showcasing all the ways you can sew the Emery Dress pattern by Christine Haynes. At the end, one lucky reader will receive the pattern!

This week's version features a solid color bodice with a print for the skirt. The tulip-print fabric is from Amy Sedaris' fabric line "I Like You." Isn't it amazing how just a few details can completely change the look of a pattern?

Do you see what's pinned to my breast? A tulip brooch!! I found this vintage gem on Etsy. Nothing like a good matching novelty brooch to make an outfit.

From GlumlogMercantile on Etsy

I didn't do any pattern alterations, so you're looking at the same dress sans the bow. That means this version also has pockets, which are always fun, and I did a lapped zipper like I mentioned last time.

I am currently reading the Flavia de Luce series, which is about a spunky 11-year old in 1950 with a penchant for chemistry and solving murders. In between Flavia, novelty brooches, and a snazzy new handmade dress, I just couldn't resist the urge to climb up in a tree and have a bit of an adventure of a non-sewing sort. My mother thought I was a loon, but it was great fun!

What's Next

• Next week, I'll show you the third version of the dress with a collar. It's what I've been sewing for Fall for Cotton!
• See last week's version of the Emery Dress, a teal linen number with a sweet bow at the waist. 
• Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the pattern!

Emery Month: Pattern Giveaway

Update: This giveaway is now closed. 

Thank you so much for all your kind comments on my version of the Emery Dress! I'm as excited as you all are about the pattern. I can't wait to share my other versions with you.

As part of Emery Month, I am hosting a giveaway for one lucky reader to receive the pattern by Christine Haynes.

Source

The Giveaway

Here's what you need to do to enter: 

1. Comment on this blog post. You have until September 27 to enter.

2. Share the giveaway in some way (Facebook, Twitter, carrier pigeon) and you get another comment. 

3. Just for fun, I'd love to hear what fabric ideas you have in mind and/or what version you'd like to sew.

I will announce the winner on September 30 when I do a recap of all the Emery Dress versions I stitched up! 

What's Next

• Next week, I'll show you my second version of the Emery Dress. You caught a tulipy-peek last month when I showed you what was on my sewing table. 
• See my first version of the Emery Dress, a teal linen number with a sweet bow at the waist. 

Pattern Testing for Christine Haynes Emery Dress

I've felt like a kid waiting for Christmas leading up to today. I have so many things to share with you, dear readers!

A little while back, Christine Haynes did a call for pattern testers. She selected one person to test each size, and I was tickled pink to be selected! She announced the pattern today, so now I can introduce you to the Emery Dress!

Will you look at that bow?! Perfection. It makes me feel like Jackie Kennedy. The instructions were very easy to follow on creating it and it's hand tacked to the dress. And pockets! So functional. 

Professionally I work in user experience, which basically means it's my job to make our website more user friendly. Pattern testing was a happy marriage of my personal and professional passions. It was divine.

And here I am cozying up to LBJ (although I bet Jackie never did). With the 1960s feel of the dress, I thought it would be appropriate to snap photos outside the LBJ library. Below I'm out and about on the town fixing to drink some jolly good gin punch. I took this dress all over Austin!

The Innards

The inside of the dress is lined at the bodice. Oh linen, you get so wrinkly after a day of wear! 

The original pattern calls for an invisible zip, which to be honest, would be less fussy than what I did. Using an invisible zip would allow you to machine stitch everything. 

I handpicked a regular zipper because (1) I had an invisible zip break on me once and now I just don't trust them, and (2) handpicking zippers sends a little thrill up my spine. 

A Month of Emery Dresses + A Giveaway!

I have mentioned before that I like to remake patterns. There's a lot of positives to doing that:

• It gives you an opportunity to perfect the fit
• It pushes you creatively to experiment with the same style
• It's time and cost effective
• It's more of something you already know you love and wear

Well, this month I will be bringing you the mother of all remakes: Emery Month. In addition to this version, I'll be posting up two other versions of the Emery Dress in the coming weeks.

Source

A Pattern Giveaway!

Christine  has kindly offered to contribute a pattern to Emery Month! In between all the finished project fun, I'll be hosting a giveaway for one lucky reader to receive the Emery pattern.

In the meantime, head on over to Christine's blog to join in on the excitement! She'll be posting up pictures of all the pattern testers in the coming days.

Sewing Hollywood History: Pillow Talk

This month's Sewing Hollywood History is Pillow Talk, a real classic in my book. This 1959 film was Doris Day and Rock Hudson's first romantic comedy together.

Jan Morrow, played by Day, shares a party line with a real womanizer, Brad Allen played by Hudson. Through a series of antics, Brad ends up pretending to be a Texas rancher so he can woo Jan without her really knowing who he is. It's a peach of a film.

Around the Apartment: A Peignoir

Much of the film takes place in Jan's apartment where she is desperately trying to get Brad to give her a moment to use the phone. Consequently, we get to see some fun 1950s loungewear, like this lovely pale blue peignoir.

Here are some vintage patterns in a similar style. 

1. McCall's 1700, 2. Butterick 6997, 3. Vogue 8448

Around the Office: A Suit

Jan works as an interior decorator, and in true Doris Day fashion, has some spectacular suits for the office. This royal blue one is a particular beauty, a sheath dress with a short jacket worn over it. And will you look at that hat?! 

Here are some vintage patterns in a similar style. 

1. Advance 8780, 2. Butterick 9313, 3. Simplicity 3109

You're in luck if you love that hat because look what I found! Poppycock Vintage, my favorite vintage hat Etsy store, has a similar one on sale! 

Fur hat from Poppycock Vintage. 

If you stitch you up a suit from one of those patterns, you could look just like Doris Day in Pillow Talk!