It seems my cousin would disagree, but I don't have a huge stash of fabric. At least I usually buy fabric with a project in mind. It might then sit waiting to be sewn for a while as I hurry to make my way through my epic sewing list, and it might then change course in what it will become, but there is always a project in mind.

Except when there isn't. Exception to every rule right?

Sometimes fabric is just too perfect and this embroidered linen is that. I bought it on a whim from Mood online two or three years ago and I think I did have a project in mind, but when it arrived it was even nicer than I'd realised and the project just didn't seem worthy of it. Every summer since it's come to the top of my 'to sew' pile and then been put aside as I just could not figure out what it should be. Archer; not special enough, Vogue 1507; not drapey enough, Ogden Cami; yes, but I had two and half yards so that would then leave awkward amounts of fabric for something else.

Then a couple of weeks ago I knew it had to be a dress and I saw a picture of something with a similar type of fabric and I knew it had to be based on the Seamwork Catarina Dress.

I have sewn this pattern once before and If you haven't tried the Catarina, I would highly recommend it. It's straight forward, with a lovely shape to the bodice and aside from the instruction's suggestion to use clear elastic at the waist which makes it very restrictive, it's a nice pattern to sew. In my earlier version I ended up taking any kind of elastic out completely and leaving it loose and much preferred the silhouette, so that is what I did with version two.

This time I also didn't bother with the sliders on the back straps and I fully lined the skirt as well as the bodice as the linen is a little transparent. I made the lining for the skirt by adjusting the pattern piece to pinch out some of the ease at the waist so that it would still be a little gathered but not as full as the shell.

I added one patch pocket; one just seemed a little more interesting than two and I used the selvedge as the top of the pocket so that it's a little fluffy. I like the interest that it adds.

I'm thrilled with the result and actually think it's one of the most wearable garments I've ever made. It has jumped the blogging queue because I love it so much and know that if I leave it too long that pristine white linen will not be quite the same.

So, my actually sitting on my impatience and waiting for the right project has paid off. Maybe there is something to be said for having fabric just because you love it. That, however, sounds dangerous both for my budget and my storage space, so I think I'll stick with my current MO.

How many pieces of fabric do you reckon you have in your stash?

I think mine's about 18-20 pieces. A lot of which came from me losing my mind in The Fabric Store and Tessuti when I was in Sydney, and all bar one or two have a project in mind.

See you soon x

Random pocket Catarina