I’ve been sewing properly for about a year now; this time last year I made the Marie skirt using a sewing machine properly for the first time after it had lain untouched for years. The reason I began sewing was because last Summer, like this Summer, I didn’t have a job, and needed something that could occupy my time before heading to Germany. It’s been a hefty challenge, but I’d like to up the ante some.

So, like my fellow Brit bloggers Tilly and Zoe, I’m planning on participating in the Summer Essentials Sew Along organised by the talented Ali. Here’s the challenge:

"…the Summer Essentials Sew-Along asks participants to sew five(-ish) warm-weather friendly pieces by August(-ish), ‘cause wouldn’t you rather spend August looking fabulous in your homemade threads? The goal: Stock your closet with quality summer basics. The benefit: A group of sewers who will encourage and inspire you…"

Sounds good to me! As I’m heading to Swansea this week and still need to pack (argh!) here’s a really really vague list of what I’m planning to do :

• A cute cap sleeved dress.
• Some sort of skirt.
• Shorts, probably the Ruby pattern from BurdaStyle.
• Some sort of loose jersey top – batwing or cowl neck or something… (I told you it would be a very vague list!)
• Either a loose cardigan of some sort or… a very ambitious warm weather suitable blazer!

Clearly these are all subject to change when I have time to sit down and think through my pattern and fabric stash as money is quite low here! This is a very timely challenge as I’m planning on participating in Self-Stitched-September and it would be nice to have five extra items to add to my self-sewn wardrobe!

I haven’t been completely inactive these past few weeks however – good old Viktoria’s last project was my Swansea Summer Ball dress, which I’ll do a post when I have lovely photos of it in action!