This week I found myself matching some of our studio plants. I picked up this crazy linen ikat fabric over a year ago and just made it into a sleeveless version of the Licorice dress from the Colette Sewing Handbook. Don’t you love the pink planters Sarai picked out for the studio? The plants are so bright and tropical looking.

The foliage on this plant in particular is stunning. I love the painterly look of each leaf. We recently had to treat it for some teeny tiny spiders that were crawling all over it. Poor plant! It’s recovering now and growing some bright new leaves.

Sarai brought in some more paperwhite bulbs that are sprouting up quite a bit every day. While we don’t have any direct sunlight in our studio, we do have lots of indirect light. So far it’s been enough to keep all our colorful plants alive and thriving.

I love having this jungle of plants in the studio. There’s something so warming and homey about live plants indoors, don’t you think?

I hope you enjoy these sewing (not plant!) related links I put together for you:

• Since it’s time to start sewing with summery lightweight fabrics this rolled hem tutorial will come in very handy
• This tutorial shows you how to make those sewing fingers all fancy
• Make a cute maxi dress and learn to dye it with this tutorial
• Learning about your machine’s thread tension doesn’t have to be scary, this Threads article breaks it down for you
• Gertie’s scissor post discusses the different kinds you need to get the job done
• And speaking of scissors, if you don’t use a rotary cutter, this tutorial shows you how (it’s our most used tool here at CP!)

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Friday Link Roundup

Friday Link Roundup

Weekly Link Roundup

After seeing so many cute Meringue skirts in the forum and flickr pool, I knew I should make one for myself. I need some separates and thought this would fit the bill! I decided to make the skirt out of seafoam wool gabardine to stick with my color palette. One thing I really love about this wool gabardine is that it doesn’t wrinkle very much and it was really easy to work with.

As far as fitting, I only had to lightly grade it from one size to another along the hipline. Easy peasy. The scallops are a bit wonky in places because I didn’t step away and take a breather when I should’ve. This pattern is one of the fastest, and dare I say easiest, from the Colette Sewing Handbook.

I was inspired by some of you who used contrasting fabric for the facings. What a great idea! I used this pale rose fabric that may be polyester, I haven’t done a burn test but that’s what I expect it is.

We had some delightfully hot and sunny weather recently and while the skirt is wool, it’s very lightweight so I wore it despite the heat. Plus, I had to get some shots in the sunshine!

Only one more garment and I’ll be finished with my challenge. Three has been a manageable number for me this time around! How about you? How’s your sewing coming along? Anyone else making the Meringue skirt?

Color blocking is a great way to add interest to a simple design. It’s also a fun way to play with color. I’ve always loved the multicolored paint chips at hardware stores and I think just doing a gradient of one color would be lovely.

You can definitely go wild with color blocking and cut out different shapes and sizes. This sweater dress is flush with patterns made by different geometric shapes. It’s easy to go a little wild, and I prefer the more graphic look of sixties dresses. Especially ones that look like Mondrian paintings.

If you try color blocking, think carefully about the placement of colors, the size of the blocks and where they fall on your body. Do you have experience making a color blocked garment? What colors would you choose or what type of garment would you make out of color blocking?

Images: Isabel Marant Dress, Heidi Merrick Dress, Vintage Pattern, VintageKnitting Pattern

{image above: gorgeous 1920s dress from Dear Golden Vintage}

What do you do when the clothes you love don’t match your body type?

I’ve always been a curvy girl. I’m absolutely fine with this. I decided long ago that, given that I only have one body in this life, it’s sort of tragic to go through life hating it or wishing it were different. I try to keep it healthy and strong and celebrate all of its positive qualities rather than lamenting that it’s not movie star perfect.

But there’s one point on which I get a little hung up. I still love skinny-girl clothes.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things I love to wear that look great on a curvaceous figure. In fact, most of the things I like to wear are things I enjoy for that reason: I think I look good in them, so I feel comfortable in them.

But two of my favorite fashion eras, the 1920s and the 1960s, are known for glorifying the thin, small-chested, youthful, and boyish silhouette. These styles weren’t designed with my body in mind. But I love them, nevertheless.

What do you do in this situation? Wear them anyway because you love them? Worship them from afar?

I think knowing how to sew can be so helpful in this case. One thing I’ve found that works is reinterpreting the styles I love in a more flattering way. That can mean adding a bit more waist definition to a cute 60s style shift dress. Or maybe cutting a loose flapper-style dress so that it skims your curves. There are lots of ways to take a style that isn’t inherently flattering on me and make it work.

Do you stay away from styles that you know aren’t ideally flattering for you? Or try to make them work?

Name: Caroline

Skill Level: Intermediate

Pattern: Macaron

Her Blog: Miss Jackson Design

Her post about the pattern: Spring Macaron

What kind of fabric did you use? Light blue cotton for the shell, vintage hand-dyed kimono silk for the contrast and pockets. The whole thing was actually just a trial to use up some fabric I had lying around but it worked out really well.

How did you decide to reflect your personal style in the pattern? I just wanted to add a bit of flair to the dress since the cotton was so plain, then I came across the silk in a damaged kimono I was given, so I thought using that was a good way to make it more exciting.

What thoughts do you have about the project? The pattern is fantastic – a really nice cut, fit and feminine design, and I especially like the cute sleeves! I had to add a front and back seam in the contrast pieces due to a lack of silk, but hopefully it isn’t too noticeable. I love the dress and will definitely be making another version or using parts of the pattern for other projects soon.

Thanks, Caroline!

This week Sarai had to rush to fit in some last minute work before her much anticipated trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen. She’s over there now exploring and having a good time.

The rest of the week I was by myself in our pretty studio working on some upcoming posts and projects for y’all. It’s times like these that I wish we had a studio cat. We couldn’t name her Colette but maybe Coco would work. While Sarai and I have talked about having one around, it’s not very likely as there are too many hazards for a kitty (pesky sewing pins and fluffs of threads on the floor). When Sarai leaves for vacation I always draw a picture of an imaginary studio cat and leave it on her desk. If we can’t have a real one, a drawn one will do.

I found some fun links for you this week and I couldn’t help but add one kitty related link!

• If you’re feeling inspired from our lace inserts post, check out Aya’s tutorial on adding pretty lace to a cardigan
• The details on this embroidered sleeve are simply amazing
• Catnip heart toys are a fun way to use up your fabric scraps
• If you have a beautiful antique sewing machine this post will show you how to clean it properly
• The weather is getting warmer here in Portland and this milkshake looks absolutely delicious and a perfect warm day treat

Do you have any special plans this weekend? I’ve got to work on my spring palette, I’ve fallen behind since I’ve been spending more time gardening than sewing. Hopefully I’ll have something to share with you next week. Have a great weekend!

You may also like:

Friday Link Roundup

Weekly Link Roundup

The great sewing blog roundup!

Patchwork is often associated with fixing holes or adding a cutesy detail to a garment. That’s why it’s a lovely surprise to see patchwork come into its own as a really beautiful detail. These Erdem dresses play with pattern and color to create a unique fabric design. Think about ways you can make patchwork beautiful like these dresses. These are simple silhouettes and it’s the fabric that really makes them stand out.

The edgy leather dress plays with the different textures of leather to create an interesting effect. You don’t have to use leather to get this look, think about double sided fabrics with different textures such as charmeuse. The shiny and matte sides, while the same color, have two very distinct looks.

This dress has a patchwork look but instead of being actual patchwork it’s a printed pattern. While it’s tricky to find a good print, you can always try your hand at making your own with sites such as Spoonflower.

What do you think? Do you like the patchwork look? How would you incorporate it into your sewing?

Images: Black Leather Dress, Printed Patchwork Dress, Erdem Dress 1, Erdem Dress 2

Name: Donna

Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Pattern: Crepe

Her Blog: Random Knits

What kind of fabric did you use? I used a 100% cotton floral print that I loved as soon as I saw it! For the ties I used Kaffe Fasset’s shot cotton in Vermillion.

How did you decide to reflect your personal style in the pattern? I loved that the pattern was so feminine! The pink and red in the floral print is completely me. I work in a craft store, so I make an effort to wear something handmade every day, so this year I’ve made a lot of pretty sundresses. This is absolutely one of my favourites, and it always receives lot of compliments!

What thoughts do you have about the project? This was a great pattern for any level of seamstress. There’s no buttonholes or zippers to worry about, and not a ridiculous number of pattern pieces, but it looks so great finished, and is so wearable. The hardest part about it is the armhole facings, but if you take your tine and think about what you’re doing, it’s not bad. The instructions are very thorough, and easy to follow.

Thanks, Donna!

Lily is a form fitting dress with strong design lines. Before we named it Lily, I always referred to it as the Sophia dress, after Sophia Loren. The dress has a classic sexiness to it just like Sophia Loren had in those old 1950s movies as she wiggled from scene to scene in her closely fitted clothes. Choosing fabric for this dress is really fun because it works in so many beautiful colors and you can use contrasting fabrics for the flaps if you so desire!

Fabric drape

This dress is very structured. It fits close to the body and requires a fabric that doesn’t have a lot of drape. Why? Because fabric with a good amount of drape, such as cotton voile or silk crepe de chine will sag under the weight of so many seamlines. If you were to use such a fabric, you would at least need to underline each piece for stability. Instead, look for light to medium weight fabrics with a stiff drape, fabrics that sort of stand out and away when you hold them up.

Fabrics: Teal, Mustard, Wavy Lines, Stripes, Red, Seaglass

Types of fabric

When choosing your fabric, make sure your fabric isn’t too thick or heavy. This dress has lots of seams and a heavy weight material will create really bulky seams. Armed with the knowledge that you need something a bit stiff, there are many types of fabric that will work with this dress. For a formal look, try silk shantung or dupioni. For a more casual look, cotton poplin, cotton sateen or a medium weight linen will work really well. You might even try some cotton or silk twill fabric or a pretty eyelet. For the photo shoot, the dress was made in a cotton blend orange twill, cotton/lycra purple pique and a medium weight linen/polyester blend. The mix of poly with the linen helps to keep it from wrinkling too much, which is important with a fitted dress like this.

ideas

• contrast the flaps in different shades of the same color
• contrast the flaps with the same color but different fabric, such brocade, slubbed fabric or a semi-sheer chiffon (which will need to be interfaced or underlined)
• add a lining when sewing with eyelet and use a contrasting color for the lining

This has been a doozy of a week. With a half marathon in just a couple days, a race I’ve been training for for at least 5 months I might mention, Kenn and I have both gotten ill. I’m holding out hope that I’ll be well enough to run Sunday, even if I’m not at my best. Think good thoughts for me!

On the plus side, I was able to guzzle herbal tea from these lovely teacups I thrifted, in my favorite Franciscan pattern.

I also learned that Caitlin loves filling out forms. Who knew?

And this is what I’m working on for the palette challenge, a swingy little jacket in a gorgeous Pendleton wool. I’m afraid progress is rather slow, because sewing is not my favorite thing to do when I’m sick. Knitting is more my speed right now. Sewing just seems too high energy and requires too much thought when I’m sick. Do you feel that way?

Here are some lovely links for you to peruse from the sewing and blogging world:

• These cute yellow buttons would be perfect on the Iris shorts
• Mena Trott’s circle skirt is giving us lots of ideas for fun embellishments
• Tasia gives some helpful tips for sewing stripes
• An oilcloth storage bin is a perfect idea for stashing some fabric
• Wondered how to move a dart? Sunni shows you how in this excellent tutorial
• Threads has an article up showing us some simple mending techniques.
• I’d love to see this exhibit on Schiaparelli and Prada at the Met.