Colette Dahlia

I am not entirely sure why I am blogging this before other waiting-to-be-photographed makes but this pattern is seriously annoying me.

This is Dahlia no. 2 and it still does not fit right. The waistband yoke ended up being 3 inches too big. 3 inches, wtf. The waistband is kind of 'lumpy', for want of a better word- I am going to unpick the lining and see if I can make it lie better, although I think taking it in by so much at the side seam did not help  matters all that much.

However, my main rant stems from the neckline- which is vast. As in, almost-off-the shoulder vast. The pattern instructions have you gather the bodice last thing, but on this second try,  I did it first, thinking that would make it fit okay; but the back is still way too big. I put some darts in the back to pinch it in a bit before binding the neckline, but it is still big.

I am not by any means an expert seamstress, but I can follow patterns well and don't see where I am going wrong with this pattern. I made up this second one slowly and carefully, in the same frame of mind as the Sew Over It Tea Dress; but still found that pattern far easier. I think I might have to trace the bodice and yoke pieces and completely customise them to get a good fit; although I am determined to alter this and/or go back to my aborted first try, so that I have an ok-fitting dress. But....it is still giving me the rage.

On a positive, this cotton voile is drapey and lovely, so I kind of want to make this dress better to suit the fabric. But: it's a bit hard-going for a supposed beginner pattern isn't it. Sad faces all round....

Autumn in Paris Dress

(excuse the quality, this one is from my phone)

It goes without saying I am behind in both the making-of and the blogging-of projects, but I do have some more seasonally appropriate things to come! For now, this was another Laurel with a wider, faced neckline, a loose fit and bias-edged longer sleeves. I fell in love with this print and made it the day before I went on holiday to Paris at the end of October. The weather was glorious and mild and I was glad of a cotton dress to wear, believe it or not!

Moving House

Yeah it's another Laurel dress...but you don't need much fabric so I could make a whole dress from some Cath Kidston cotton duck and then call it a marvellous bargain. This counts as a September make but it's nice for autumn now too as the fabric is thicker and so feels nice with tights. Which is just as well as it's getting chillier....now for some wintry makes!

Bring Me Sunshine Dress

John Lewis have a whole range of products for their 150th anniversary, including the use of some special prints, and the anniversary fabric has been lovely. I got some on sale as well (and I still need to photograph the result) but fell in love with this summery floral cotton and decided to treat myself to a metre. As I wanted to keep costs down and not use any more than the 1m, a Laurel was my fail-safe option, with little cap sleeves, and lemon ribbon-bias rim for the neckline.

Since I made this dress, it has been a chilly and wet August (yay British summer!), so every chance I got to put it on I have- but finally photographed it after putting it on this morning. I know I have lots of Laurels and Laurel-related items, but I'm not too sorry :( There are some more different patterns coming up though...

Meet Me At Sunset, by the sea | a striped-jersey Colette 'Moneta'

Yup, it needs an iron...

Behold the in-seam pockets... :)

I made a real pig's ear of my first Moneta dress, so was worried it wasn't going to be for me but determined to make it again. Well, what do you know, it was straightforward and simple to sew in one evening (although hemmed and finished another). The worst part was cutting the rubbery/slippery knit fabric, and even then I was cutting it out on the floor whilst listening to Radio 4 so not ideal...! I'm so happy with this dress and can't wait to wear it to work tomorrow. It does help to cut true-to-size...Pure sew-and-wear pleasure, so a thumbs up for Moneta!

Hey Peony | Colette Peony 01

I was so happy to find a copy of the Peony pattern and bought this gorgeous cotton in honour of it. I love how it turned out and am excited to make another version now. I think this was version 2, although I added in in-seam pockets and didn't bother with the matching belt.

For some reason, the bodice ended up really big for me when I made a toile, so I cut it a bit smaller; but it was still loose. I've added in some back darts and the next job is to unpick and re-do the zip, shaping it a bit more. It's a lovely pattern though and once I get the bodice fit perfect, I think it might become a new favourite :)

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!

A Modern Art Top for May | Colette Laurel

This fabric was love at first sight. It was also kind of expensive, but it made me cheerful just sewing it and I think it's made a lovely, bright, comfortable top for skinny jeans or tucked into a pencil skirt for work. Why be subtle eh?!

A Spring Dress | Colette Laurel

I loved this cotton fabric from John Lewis, it seemed so spring-like and a nice way to wear more yellow, without looking like a banana! I was too impatient to test a new pattern so instead made another Colette Laurel, with ¾ sleeves. It was fast to make and lovely for work, as well as reading in the sunshine- if only it was warm enough for bare legs already...

Zinnia 02 | The French-inspired edition

Another Zinnia, this time in navy gabardine. I love this skirt; it’s perfect with some Breton stripes & a spray of favourite perfume :) I want to make a shorter one next and try the other pattern versions.

Colette Laurel 03 | Floral Jersey edition

A third Laurel dress and even more jersey fabric on sale. This dress cost £8 in total so it would have been rude not to! 

So lessons learned here: don't cut a dress out when you are tired or preoccupied. Particularly this kind of material-  a synthetic jersey which was a pain to sew with. 

Second lesson: I also need to take my measurements and fit my clothes much better; this dress ended up way too big. It was a nightmare to limit stretching, even with bias binding and stay-stitching, but still. I ended up shortening it and taking it in at the sides so it looks much better now I think. All in all, it is a lovely work dress but I might stick to cotton jersey fabrics in the future.

£8 though... :)

Colette | Zinnia

Buttonhole in all it's glory

Proud of my in-seam pockets....sad I know!

My first try with my other new pattern, my Zinnia skirt {vs.2}. 

I used some leftover red polka-dot cotton, so I could ‘run through’ the pattern and fit it properly, but I actually think I could happily wear this out & about. It was also my first attempt at in-seam pockets and machine-sewn buttonholes {hence the proud close-up pictures!}. I can’t wait to make one of these skirts in a plain navy for work and maybe in some fun printed cotton for spring :)

Colette Laurel | 02

A Laurel dress, yay! | Striped Breton-style jersey fabric with cotton bias binding |

Sized down although still loose, I love, love it.

Colette 'Laurel' | 01

My first try at my new Laurel pattern; the top {vs.4} | A cotton print and a striped jersey| I would make the jersey top without the darts next time and in general, need to size down.