More of where I’ve been next time, but for now, let’s just look at the loveliness of this fabric. In the middle of last week I realised I have a car, I have a car seat, I have a willing child, and there was nothing stopping me from heading to Fabrics Galore to choose something for the coat. If I’m going to actually sew along, as opposed to just think about sewing along, the fabric being in the house will help enormously. It wasn’t an easy choice – so much fabric is required and I kept steering myself away from the wools with thoughts of bulky seams, but eventually I realised I have done enough bulky seams for other people and I should stop dithering and get the fabric I kept stroking.

And you know what else? That purple wool matches my converse almost exactly…

It’s so timely that Gertie has decided to have a sew along for the Lady Grey coat, because I recently cracked and bought it, almost without any plan to make it. I think I just wanted to have it, and imagine the gloves I’d wear, and how glamourous I’d look going to Sainsbury’s.

But no! It will not languish all unused and forlorn until I find it in nine months and berate myself for not tackling scary coat project. I will be in the company of others, all tackling the scary coat project, but with expert, gentle guidance along the way. You know this is going to take a herculean effort on my part, to make the time to actually do the sewing, right? I’m hoping the group thing inspires me to keep going, in short. In long, I’m hoping that being part of a group that will undoubtedly make more/swifter progress than me will provide a kick up the arse.

The timing is perfect for the season, but for me personally possibly less so. There’s a family holiday coming up and I’ve decided I want to do archery on Saturday afternoons. (There’s a blog post in here somewhere about having a multi-faceted life. At least, if there isn’t there should be.) But hey, we’re in this to squeeze the juice out of life right? I’ll get on it just as soon as I locate my reamer.