The Sew Weekly

Colette Patterns Interview

As part of this super Colette Patterns week, I was interviewed by the gal behind it all -- Sarai Mitnick. She posted the interview over at the Colette Blog. Not only does Sarai create such amazing patterns, but she's created such an inviting an aesthetically awesome brand. Sarai rocks!

Look for "Twenty Questions with Sarai," a very brief interview I conducted with Sarai to appear at The Sew Weekly tomorrow!

And here's just another reason Sarai rocks. She's providing The Sew Weekly with five patterns to give away -- the five dresses that we will be showing and telling this week! How to win? Each day, a Sew Weekly contributor will ask a question in the forums.  Answer that question and you're entered to win that particular pattern (only one pattern will be awarded to a winner though you can enter every day).

Here's your chance to win Ceylon (my pattern from this week).

Swap/Meet Success: The Giveaway

Yesterday at our Swap/Meet I went home with some pretty amazing patterns. I  also went home with a bit more than that -- all the stuff that was left over! And since I promised the gals good homes for it, I'll be holding a bunch of giveaways.

The first giveaway is for these three patterns for a 38" bust:

  

Want to enter? In the next twenty-four hours (by Tuesday 11:00 am Pacific) leave a comment for this post saying which view of these three patterns you'd make first.

 

Swap/Meet Success: The Event

While there wasn't a huge number of folks attending the swap/meet, I have to say that the smaller number meant that I enjoyed the company of each and every lady who came out to Fort Mason! Not only that, I was absolutely blown away by what people brought to the swap -- particularly patterns! Seriously.

Even though this was a fabric swap, the patterns were the real star of the swapping show. Imagine my surprise when, instead of just the usual 70s and 80s castoffs, these sorts of patterns were placed on the table (many of these courtesy of Shannon):

 

So many patterns were brought to the swap that we needed to keep adding tables! Keep in mind that all of this was brought by only nine women!

Based on when you arrived, you went to the tables and picked a piece of fabric and a pattern. All the while, we sat in a circle (support group style) and introduced ourselves and talked about sewing. 

We repeated that twice and then it was a free-for-all. I think I was the most aggressive about putting my mark on one specific pattern, but since I'm shameless, I let everyone know I wanted. Here's the pattern:

Here are the cupcakes I brought. I made the little spools out of Necco Wafers and Airheads.

I made these little button cards as favors:

Thanks to Jenny, Shannon, Deepa, Natasha, Erin, Whitney, Erin, Krissy and Janeen for making the Swap/Meet such a great success!  I hope to put on another event in the near future!

And what did I end up coming home with? Here are the patterns and the fabric:

 

Challenge - 2/28/11

We're working with Colette Patterns this week and sharing our Spring Palette! Get 15% off in March by using the code: SWSPRING at the Colette Patterns shop. Or sew this free bloomers pattern from CP.

Ask: 2/28/11

Do you have a favorite pattern from Colette Patterns? What colors are in your Spring Palette? 

The "As Good As It Gets" Dress

The Facts

Fabric: Floral cotton from Alameda Antique Fair - $7.50 for 3 yards, Navy fabric for bodice - $.25
Patterns: Colette Patterns Ceylon
Year: c. 2009
Notions: Vintage button kits - $.05
Time to complete: 6 hours
First worn: February 2011
Wear again? Yes!

Total Cost: ~$7.80

 

Because I'm so used to sewing with patterns from the big four pattern companies and knowing exactly what to expect,  I was a bit terrified to sew a pattern from Colette Patterns. Ever since I began sewing in earnest I've seen other women raving about CP. It was about time that I gave one a try!

The first thing I have to say is that I love their sizing. Numbers associated with sizes are arbitrary -- just look at international sizes to prove that. That said, I couldn't help smile when the size chart indicated I should sew a size "4." The last time I was a size "4" Back to the Future was playing in theaters. So thank you Colette Patterns for your self-esteem building numeric scheme!

The second thing has to do with the pattern's packaging. I absolutely love how the patterns are presented. They're in a book form with a sewn binding. A little pocket houses the pattern pieces and the instructions are clearly laid out throughout the book. Quite cute!

Once I got over my fear of unknown sewing territories, I began cutting and soon found myself following the instructions to the letter. I wasn't frustrated with the instructions (like I can get with other modern-day patterns) and felt a great deal reassured knowing that the person who drafted this pattern is a contemporary of mine -- someone who was born after fusible interfacing was invented.

The pattern was a breeze to construct! As I sewed my dress I kept on thinking of that line from the Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt film, As Good As It Gets -- "You make me want to be a better man." This pattern, without frustrating directions and construction details, made me want to be a better sewer. It's a pattern that, with a methodical pace, looks finished on both the inside and outside.

With the contrast yoke and sleeves and the feedsack-like print, the finished dress reminds me of my Take Me Out to the Ballgame Dress. The big difference, however, is that I absolutely love this dress and it is about a thousand times more flattering! 

So in a nutshell, Ceylon by Colette Patterns kicks all sorts of butt and I think I've found my go-to dress of this season. Want your own copy of Ceylon. Here's a 15% code to use in March for the Colette Patterns shop: SWSPRING (case sensitive).

And now, my Spring Palette.

I'm all about the primary colors for Spring. Right now, I have an obsession with yellow and floral prints that look good enough to eat. Bold and edible, if you will.

Theme: Spring Palettes with Colette Patterns

This week is a very special week at The Sew Weekly: Colette Patterns is the first ever sponsor of the weekly theme and challenge! That means we'll each be sewing a different dress from the adorably romantic pattern line and sharing our spring palettes as part of Colette Pattern's Spring Palette Challenge. You'll also have a chance to win your own copy of a Colette Pattern.

Want to sew along? During the month of March, readers of The Sew Weekly can receive a 15% discount on their entire purchase (excluding S&H) at their online shop. Use the case sensitive code: SWSPRING

Can't buy a pattern? Check out the Madeleine Mini Bloomers, a free and downloadable pattern created by Colette Patterns!

The "Crazy Bright Springtime" Dress | Sarah Gabbart

Fabric: 2 yards of red broadcloth ($9) and 4 yards of printed cotton ($30) both Fabric.com
Pattern: Colette Macaron
Year: c. 2009
Notions: Invisible zipper (16") - thrifted
Time to complete: 5 hours
First worn: February 2011
Wear again? Yes. A thousand times yes.

Total Cost: $~40

YES! It's finally spring - the weather is beautiful, the air is warm, but not too hot and tons of flowers are blooming all over my hometown. 

In my neighborhood, tons of pink, red and purple flowers are blooming behind garden gates and my spring palette is definitely inspired by the bold, beautiful colors of the season. 

That's exactly what comes to mind when I think about spring - bright, beautiful flowers - and what better way to represent the most gorgeous time of the year than with a crazy bright dress. With flowers on it. 

The fabric is printed cotton and cotton broadcloth from Fabric.com (my go to online fabric retailer). Both are incredibly easy to sew with and behave themselves throughout the cutting process, which is a welcome change from the slippery sari fabric from last week. 

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Colette Patterns - in fact, I have one of each style at my house. I'm a Colette pattern hoarder! They're beautifully done, the instructions are clear and the styles are right up my alley. I seriously love every pattern I have made up so far. 

Since I was familiar with the style and layout of the patterns I was able to jump right in without issue. Nothing in this pattern was too complicated - pleats, darts and one invisible zipper. I can handle that! Five hours later, I was zipping myself up into one crazy bring dress with flowers on it. 

Let me first say I had my reservations about a shorter dress before starting this garment. I'm a knee length skirt gal and above the knee was positively scandalous for me! I am so glad I stuck with the pattern because I love the length - it's the perfect warm weather date dress!

After the dress was finished, I headed on over to one of my favorite places - the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science - for some photos. Yet again, Erin the awesome came through with her mad photo skills - thanks Erin! 

Want to win your own copy of Macaron? Answer this question in the forum to enter!

The "Floraide" Frock | Adey Lim

Fabric: 3 yards of cotton blend ( I think) fabric from Spotlight US$20
Pattern: Colette Oolong
Year: c. 2009
Notions: Lace US$0.50
Time to complete: 5 hours
First worn: February 2011
Wear again? Definitely!

Total Cost: $20.50

 

My Spring Palette is very much influenced by the vibrancy I see in the things I love- fruits, nature and even vintage cars. Here's a collage of images that inspired me (photos mostly from etsy). My Spring colors: Aqua, Cantaloupe, Dragon fruit, Kiwi and also Pearl Barley which I used as a background. Yum!

 I love the mix of these colors too and the floral print is definitely something I'm going for this Spring. What about you?

The fabric I chose for this project is one which I have been saving for the right project, one which I couldn't bear to use. But, it's a great floral representation of what I want out of a Spring Palette. The fabulous thing is when I found out that we would be working on Colette Patterns this week, I knew the fabric has found its pattern in the Oolong.

With the burst of spring blooms on the fabric, I couldn't help but recall the beautiful flowers at an event I was priviledged enough to have visited as a university student back in Spring 1992. The 'Floriade'- an international exhibition of flowers and gardening, held every 10 years in the Netherlands. This dress surely brings back memories of the colorful and overwhelming array of flowers!  Hence, the name.

I heart Colette Patterns! I've sewed two macaron dresses (here and here), a Lady Grey and can't wait to work on the Ceylon and Roobois patterns I have in my stash. And seriously, for dresses like these, one version is never enough!

The Oolong is a flattering V-neck dress with vertical ruched bodice and is entirely cut on the bias. Although it was considered an intermediate level project, I feel that with Colette Patterns' clear and detailed instruction booklet, it is quite the perfect dress for a beginner. The dress being cut on the bias meant that the cut fabrics felt stretchy, I almost felt as if I was working on an easy knit fabric! And best of all, there are no zippers or buttons required. It's a slip on dress!  This makes the dress quite a gratifying sew! When was the last time I made a woven dress that didn't require an invisible zipper or button holes and looked this flattering? I honestly don't think I ever have! And I really do love a well conceived pattern  where I can match all the seams and darts of the bodice and skirt without much difficulty.

I've learnt through previous projects using Colette Patterns that if I were to use the standard size 6, I would hardly need to make any fitting adjustments and likewise, it is true for the Oolong. Sewing this dress did require a little patience though. But it's the good kind that requires you to rest and wait. As the fabric was cut on the bias, I had to let it rest overnight after cutting and again when the dress is almost finished so that the skirt hem can stretch overnight before finishing it. To finish the look and add some variety, I added a simple lace at the sleeves. The lace design repeats itself for 5 rows. I overlapped three of the rows over the sleeves and two rows below it. 

Some readers asked me previously how I finished my V-necks so I've posted some photos of the process for Behind the Seams this week. Have a blessed week!

 Want to win your own copy of Oolong? Just answer this question in the forum to enter!

The "Bye Bye Summertime" Dress | Veronica Darling

 

The Facts

Fabric: Tablecloth, thrifted $3, Lining Grey Lawn $.20
Patterns: Colette Patterns Rooibos
Year: c. 2009
Notions: Vintage zipper $1
Time to complete: 7 hours
First worn: February 2011
Wear again? Yes! Maybe my brother's beach wedding in May?

Total Cost: ~$4.50

Colette Patterns FTW. I've never made one before, but seen the buzz online about Colette Patterns and now can see why. As you know most of my sewing stuff is second hand, so I don't really buy any new commercial products but I would seriously consider getting out of that habit just for the rest of Colette Pattern's collection. 

I don't really know where to begin with this one! It's AMAZING in every way, and Husbie and I think it could be the best thing I've EVER made! Seriously! First up, I had a long look online of other Rooibos creations, to see if there was any secret in fabric, and I noticed a lot of people tried the block colours, or smaller prints like tiny spots or patterns. I hadn't seen any larger prints, and even though a lot of factors were pointing against this working (I'll explain them below) the dress is a piece of wonder and overcame all obstacles!

The fabric is a secondhand tablecloth, with - after I become sold on using it for Rooibos, I noticed - many table/coffee stains. It took about 2 hours of laying out the pattern pieces to make sure I was using the best of that floral print and avoiding the stains. It was particularly hard mapping out the pieces so not all the red flowers were down one side, that there was a mix all through the garment. In a complete fluke, the last piece I cut out was the waist band, with the white horizontal line... and I had no idea how awesome it looked until I sewed it all together.

 

Colette Patterns have the darlingest little sewing booklet with really great instructions and advice all throughout. I initially wanted to do piping (like it suggests in the booklet), but thought it'd be all way too much 'going on' with the floral print, so instead just used a grey (like the flowers) lawn for facing/lining the pockets. As an afterthought the 'collar' pieces, you can see in the pattern, didn't really suit so I've tucked them under the neckline for these photos and will stitch them to the facing/lining.

How great are pockets in dresses?!

The other factors that could have made this an ultra fail:

- invisible zipper with thicker material, but it went in fine! I used a few online tutorials to double check I was doing it right!

- a high neckline & an A line shaped skirt doesn't really suit my body shape, but it has turned out ok. I chose Rooibos because the model looked like Regina Spektor, and not really on the style of dress. Oops!

- Forgetting to resize the shoulders (my usual problem with patterns) actually turned out fine too! I did resize the waist (on the skirt pieces) & shorten the hem before I cut the fabric and am glad I did because I was slithers away from running out of material.

Oh and you have to see the way the facing/lining was attached to the bodice! It was the most interesting way I've ever sewn it! First the neckline on the inside, then you ROLL the shoulders to the other shoulder/armhole and flip it over sew it up, and pull it through. Then do the other side. What's this technique called (if you can understand my bad description!) as it was FABULOUS!

The Colette Pattern Theme this week is also about colour palettes, and considering it's just hit autumn in Australia, I've called this my Bye Bye Summertime Dress and my colour palette is autumnal:

 

I used the colours in the dress to match my accessories as well as the photos are taken near a much loved (and hated!) sculpture in Melbourne currently living near an art centre and a theatre. When we were taking the photos it started to rain, and in typical Melbourne autumnal spirit the sun then shined and the air got all electric! I like that some of my colours are warm *and* sharp as it does reflect our changing seasons.

And yes, you've caught me on another Pin Curl Set Day! Makes for a very vintage look though!

Best, Veronica Darling

Want to win your own copy of Rooibos? Answer this question in the forum to enter.