Tag: feature

I finally finished! I had plans and schemes to do more than just 2 Colette Laurel dresses but with all I took on in the last month, I’m very happy with the 2 I finished!

These are both underlined in the bodice with the main fabric, which is a very light weight gingham. It’s a poly-cotton blend and before you say “Ew!”, it’s not like that. It’s super light, on the pretty sheer side, and very breathable. In fact, the only obvious ‘polyester’ thing going on is that it unravels wicked fast. I was inspired by a yard of some early 80s Concord calico I was gifted.

Yeah. I went full Country Bumpkin. I grew up in a town called Boring. I can do that.

Can you believe how tall she is? I’m about 5’9″ and she’s only 8 years old….this is the size 2 of the pattern.

I used the #1 pattern and added the pockets as well. I used the vintage calico for the 1/4″ double-folded bias tape – smaller to keep it a bit more subtle.

I could have moved the invisible zipper up a smidge, but overall the installs on the Laurel is really smooth.

Ok, so I did get the zipper flipped on one of the installs and had to redo a side. It’s true. It’s easy to do. I was distracted by baby cuteness.

I’m a bit rusty at embroidery. I contemplated some chicken-scratch cross stitch or something more elaborate, but stuck with simple double herringbone on the pockets with a super light weight stabilizer.

I entered the dress into the Flickr group for the Laurel dress competition. There are some amazing, amazing, amazing dresses in there. Cross your fingers for me.

We went to Burgerville today for some fast food picnic action and Hazel tested out the dress at the park. You can say all you want about a dress, but one that still looks good in this much movement and play…you know it’s a good dress. I’ve said it before about the Sorbetto, but Colette makes fabulous patterns. I used Swedish tracing paper to trace the 2 sizes without actually cutting the pattern, but I really think if you can get the print book, it’s the way to go.

Action Colette Laurel Dress Montage:

Robert, Hazel and I braved the crazy spring weather to take photos in the Colette Sorbetto blouses. It rained buckets right after this, but luckily we got some fun(ny) shots in.

If you’re on the fence about sewing apparel, this is a great starting place and it’s incredibly versatile if you’re a bit more advanced. Or maybe you just want a half-dozen more tops for spring/summer ’13 – this will do it!

Hope you enjoy…and many thanks to our photographer!

Ah. I really love finishing a project. That moment of ‘done’ before I go off into other directions.

There was a bias tape snafu, oh…and I wasn’t paying attention when sewing the 2nd bottom seam and let the feed dogs do this number:

Nothing a seam ripper can’t handle, and overall it was a very simple and clean process, even doing 2 at once. In fact…the (free from Colette here) Sorbetto pattern is so easy and such a great wardrobe builder, I’d have a hard time justifying sewing one at a time.

Other than minor pleat snag above, I really was extra diligent and good about using my seam gauge and pins in the tiny hem. In this light-weight cotton and in this form, it’s important in order to get the correct drape in the final blouse.

I’m happy with how the bias tape edging turned out and super in love with the light gray color on the pattern – I think it keeps it sophisticated and keeps it from being too fussy.

I’ll get some Mommy & Me photos taken this weekend, I hope, with Hazel and I in our tops. Pacific NW weather isn’t always so predictable for such things. I think I have enough of the fabric leftover to put a little something together to have Zoe match too. We shall see.