Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Colette Moneta | and lessons in pattern-cutting



Oh, this dress, how I have hated you... With the arrival of a new pattern, all bundled up in tissue paper with some lovely teal-polka-dot knit fabric, I tore into it like a child at Christmas. I was feeling sorry for myself & home alone with the flu, what better activity than to make a pretty dress?! So first of all, I made an almighty mess of cutting it out. My first bodice was like a crop top {forgot to consider lengthening for my taller self}; my second was like a tent. Re-cut it you say? Why no, not when you can make myriad ill-considered adjustments which might have ended in sniffling tears at the sewing machine and a shapeless smock. Fortunately, all's well that {kind of} ends well... after a break from it, I have successfully made a smaller and have a wearable, albeit still loose dress.

Good things:

  • I bought my fabric (and pattern) online- a first! The shop I found, Guthrie & Ghani, were fantastic too, very prompt and friendly, so I'm glad I gave them a try.
  • This is my first whirl with the new Colette Moneta pattern and I have since established it is going to be a favourite, for easy pretty dresses. It's not you, it's me, etc. etc.
Lessons learned:
  • Don't start cutting a pattern when you have the flu.
  • Don't then attempt to make up a whole dress in one afternoon when you have the flu. 
  • With new patterns, maybe don't try that at all...
  • On that note, don't attempt to 'fix' it when you have the flu.
  • Measure yourself first, damn it!

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