I’m starting to think that I may have to rename my New Wardrobe Challenge to Amanda Makes Heaps of Colette Patterns Challenge. It’s going to be pretty true for the time being. At this current point I have all bar two (I think?) of the Colette Patterns and have been hoarding them like some kind of crazy grizzly bear with delicious fruit after hibernation. Now that I’m sewing again it seems like a mighty fine time to try them out. So bear with me for a while (See what I did there? Pure comedic gold free of charge on this blog!)
So the first of my Summer Plan patterns (aka things that won’t make me overheat when I wear them) was the Taffy blouse from the Colette Patterns book. I picked up a stunning Japanese lawn at Spotlight over the Christmas period which was 30% off. Win! I’m not a huge floral fan but I have to say this one I had been eyeing off for a while.
This pattern presented a number of challenges for me. One, this was the first pattern I have ever traced and due to a lack of tracing paper used baking paper. This worked fine but would not tape together so I used the good old stapler I ninjaed from my mum years ago. Thanks Mum! It was nice to leave the pattern paper whole and folded away neatly incase I want to make this again (highly likely) and may change measurements. Two, French seams. Whoa. That was a revelation. Thanks again to the Colette book (and some supplementary googling) I was able to slowly and carefully work these out. And once I grasped the concept behind them it is pretty rocking. I loved how neat the inside of the blouse looks. In fact, so much so I’ve just taken a picture of the inside seam. Have you seen sexier French seams?
Third, bias binding. I can’t believe I have ambled through my sewing journey this far without wandering across this before. That stuff is FIDDLY! Jeepers. It would have been easier to try and use my cat as bias binding than that tape.
I think this was in fact the most time consuming part of the whole process. All up I used about 4.5 metres of tape and it was painful to pin and sew. The effect is wonderful and I’ll definitely give it another go. Though maybe with a martini to sip incase I get too cross…
I think this was in fact the most time consuming part of the whole process. All up I used about 4.5 metres of tape and it was painful to pin and sew. The effect is wonderful and I’ll definitely give it another go. Though maybe with a martini to sip incase I get too cross…
So, what I loved about this pattern:
- Easy to copy and cut out.
- Nice and quick.
- Easy instructions once you slay the dragons of French seaming and bias binding.
- Beautiful drape.
- The magic wing-a-ling sleeves that hid many sins. And possibly a cupcake if I’m desperate.
Things I would change for next time:
- Add a little length to the blouse. It looks great standing but I fear it may be a bit short at the back when I sit in jeans. Or maybe I should just make a high waisted skirt and be done with it…
- Shape the sides in just a smidge.
- Make my own bias binding.. bwah ha ha!
- Try adding the ties back in. I’m not a huge fan of thin ties so I opted out this time.
And now the big reveal…. Apologies for the photography at night making things blurry…
And because we always need multiple perspectives…
So there it is folks. Part two of my New Wardrobe Challenge and part one of my Summer Plan. I’m thinking next on the cards will be a Beignet skirt and maybe a Sorbetto top. You don’t want me to break from the Colette bandwagon too soon, do you?
Gorgeous top! I love the print you chose. So nice to find another Aussie blogger on the interwebs.
Thanks, Kat! The fabric is so lovely and cool in summer. It’s great to find more Aussies kicking around. Someone else understands the heat at the moment 😀
Hello, I just found your blog by clicking on a comment at Bec’s naughty shorts. Also have a tea dress from way back. Love your style, have also developed a sewing obsession in the last year. Yet to try a colette but my local library stocks burda style mags so have been prolifically tracing hundreds of patterns, well maybe tens, but more than I can reasonably make. On the baking paper front after I used up my roll (and was also annoyed it would not tape together) I brought a monster super value roll from woolworths and its different, only greaseproof on one side, annoying for cooking but does mean the tape works on the other side. Its not quite so see through but good enough and well cheap too. Happy sewing.x
Hi Lucy- and welcome! Aren’t the tea dresses from Naughty Shorts crazy awesome? So glad there is another baking paper lady kicking around- I think we’re pretty frugal and spesh 😀 I’m almost at a point where I’m willing to buy some proper paper on line… Maybe… Perhaps… But I’m just too cheap! 😀
This is so gorgeous! Can’t wait to dig into my Colette book! 🙂
Thanks, Jos! It’s such an easy top to make and I think I shall be creating more once it warms up again. Give it a whirl, I say!