Earlier this year I was lucky enough to be given the lovely Colette Sewing Handbook as a gift. For those of you familiar with Colette patterns you will know how beautifully presented the little pattern booklets are- well the same is definitely true of their book.
It is filled with fabulous sewing tips and comes with five exclusive Colette patterns. I have just got around to completing my first one- the Colette Pastille dress that is featured on the cover.
I made up the dress in a really warm wool fabric in an icy blue/ green color that I bought online from a UK company called Stone Fabrics. I also decided to add a lining to the dress and lined it with some superior lining from another UK fabric company called Truro Fabrics. I love their lining as its really nice to work with, completely anti-static (so doesnt cling to hosiery at all!) and is breathable so really comfortable to wear.
The pattern came up quite big- I made the size 0 and the top half fitted perfectly but I had to remove a total of 6cm from the hips. To do this I removed 1.5 cm from the front and back side seams from the hips all the way down to the hem and sloping up to zero at the waist.
I also slightly reduced the dropped shoulders as I have very square shoulders that just kind of propelled the capped sleeves straight out and made me look like a cross between someone from the 1980s wearing huge shoulder pads and someone going to outer space! I have had to do this previously with a vintage pattern with similar shaped shoulders so it wasnt really a surprise.
Because I draft a lot of my own patterns I am in the habit of always making up a calico toile before cutting my fashion fabric so these little modifications were no trouble; I just marked them on the calico and then transferred them back to the paper.
I didnt include the pretty pleats that are featured at the hem of the dress on this version as the wool I was using was quite thick and I thought they may end up too bulky.
After I had completed the dress I made a self-covered belt to wear with it. I LOVE making these! They are so quick to do and I think they add such a vintage feel to outfits. I couldnt find the buckles anywhere in the UK so I order mine from A Fashionable Stitch in the USA - she has a great selection of different shapes and sizes and the shipping from America to the UK takes no time at all.
I am so happy with my Pastille dress. I think its a great wardrobe staple and suitable for so many different occasions, day or evening. I will definitely make this dress up again in some other colors; I think it would be super cute with a little coordinating cropped jacket.
I would also highly recommend the book- I think it would be a particularly good addition if you are new to sewing as it provides lots of clear instructions for adjusting patterns to fit. Its also just a really pretty book to own. I am looking forward to trying some of the other patterns.
My full review with additional photos can be found on my sewing blog The Little Tailoress.
mnitts said... Agree with dragon10. I have the book...yet to make something from it. Yours looks waaaay better than the version in the book and I may even have to try it now! 12/19/12 5:52 PM
mnitts said... P.s great to hear where you sourced your fabric. As a fellow UK sewer it's good to hear recommendations for new sites! 12/19/12 6:21 PM
Amanda.Claire said... Your dress is fabulous! I love the little belt too. 12/19/12 6:48 PM
RadarRadiance said... Just a fantastic fit on you, it looks way better than the pattern in the book! Very expensive looking and you look like a doll in it! 12/19/12 7:15 PM
prostheticsgirl said... Lovely! The fit is perfection and I love your fabric choice. I agree, yours is much better than the book! 12/19/12 8:00 PM
Sewiing Sue said... Beautful fit and fabric. 12/19/12 8:05 PM
aliesje said... I've never been a fan of this pattern - something about it just looks unfinished. But I love your version! The belt absolutely makes it! 12/19/12 10:31 PM
Christas said... I absolutely love your version of this dress. It couldn't fit you any better. Very nice sewing! 12/19/12 10:35 PM
Jstarr4250 said... It couldn't be any lovelier on you. Simple and fabulous. The fabric is so beautiful. 12/19/12 10:42 PM
ArtAttack said... You look picture perfect in this...much more beautiful than the model...great job! 12/20/12 0:39 AM
TalyQ said... I love that dress so much. It gorgeous! 12/20/12 3:26 AM
CissieW said... What a lovely, lovely dress. It fits you beautifully and the belt is the perfect touch. 12/20/12 9:34 AM
SavageCoco said... Absolutely outstanding. 12/20/12 11:17 AM
yayis72 said... Fabulous dress! 12/20/12 3:46 PM
2 Airedales n Me said... Just a GORGEOUS dress on you. I think they should reprint the book with YOU on the cover! :) Well done. 12/20/12 5:04 PM
Your version is so much nicer than the one in the book. Lovely dress.
12/19/12 3:20 PM
Very nice dress! Perfect fit! :)
12/19/12 5:44 PM
Agree with dragon10. I have the book...yet to make something from it. Yours looks waaaay better than the version in the book and I may even have to try it now!
12/19/12 5:52 PM
P.s great to hear where you sourced your fabric. As a fellow UK sewer it's good to hear recommendations for new sites!
12/19/12 6:21 PM
Your dress is fabulous! I love the little belt too.
12/19/12 6:48 PM
Just a fantastic fit on you, it looks way better than the pattern in the book! Very expensive looking and you look like a doll in it!
12/19/12 7:15 PM
Lovely! The fit is perfection and I love your fabric choice. I agree, yours is much better than the book!
12/19/12 8:00 PM
Beautful fit and fabric.
12/19/12 8:05 PM
I've never been a fan of this pattern - something about it just looks unfinished. But I love your version! The belt absolutely makes it!
12/19/12 10:31 PM
I absolutely love your version of this dress. It couldn't fit you any better. Very nice sewing!
12/19/12 10:35 PM
It couldn't be any lovelier on you. Simple and fabulous. The fabric is so beautiful.
12/19/12 10:42 PM
You look picture perfect in this...much more beautiful than the model...great job!
12/20/12 0:39 AM
I love that dress so much. It gorgeous!
12/20/12 3:26 AM
What a lovely, lovely dress. It fits you beautifully and the belt is the perfect touch.
12/20/12 9:34 AM
Absolutely outstanding.
12/20/12 11:17 AM
Fabulous dress!
12/20/12 3:46 PM
Just a GORGEOUS dress on you. I think they should reprint the book with YOU on the cover! :) Well done.
12/20/12 5:04 PM