Crepe by Colette Patterns

I love dresses.

I especially love dresses that are cinched at the waist. So when I stumbled upon the new pattern that was being offered by the beautiful people at Colette Patterns, I fell in love.

I fell hard!

Crepe was amazing; princess neckline, a sash, a wrap, and most of all.. a pattern for a beginner. Me!

Image from Colette Patterns

Look at that beauty and tell me you are not in love. Go ahead I dare you... it's so classy yet simple and elegant.

And so.. after much deliberation with my credit card.. I bought the pattern. My FIRST pattern. My FIRST dress pattern. My FIRST pattern from Colette (I heart all their dresses.. but my credit card needs to recover from the exchange rate)

While waiting for the pattern to arrive, I set about looking for fabric. I was hesitant in getting fabric that was too costly, as I didn't know if my sewing skills would be up to par. So I settled with the following:

They were at RM5.00 (USD 1.60) per meter. I needed approximately 4.5m of the print and 1.5m of the contrast color for the sash. The material is silky and has a good drape on it, more commonly used for Baju Kurung.

Finally when the pattern arrived approximately 2.5 weeks later.. I couldn't wait to start.

The pattern piece was so daunting.. on the thin tissue like paper. I was so scared I would rip it.

I laid out my fabric and traced the required patterns on it (in retrospect, I should've traced onto butcher paper or some other paper and then transfer to the fabric. That way it's easier for me to reproduce the dress at a later date). The instructions that came in the booklet was very helpful.

My only gripe was that I do not have a serger, and finishing raw edges is not my favourite thing to do. With bags and pouches, it's easy to hide them with lining. With garments, plus the fact that it will be washed multiple times, hiding is not an option. Zig-zag and pinking shears were my friend.. but please don't look at my dress too closely.. the finishing on the inside is still horrendous.

I humbly give you, my version of Crepe

I love it. I love the pockets. I love the sash.

I learned so much with this.. I learned
a) How to sew in pockets for a dress .. and it's so simple
b) How to sew the princess neckline.. (I so heart it)
c) Most importantly I learnt not to be intimidated by LARGE pattern pieces.

Now that I've made one.. and wore it out (I can't believe it!).. I want to make more. Some people have asked me to make them one too.. hahah .. if only they'd seen the seams (shhh!)

The one gripe I have is the interface for the sleeve. they pop out easily.. Did I do something wrong? I'm thinking of putting in 'steam-a-seam' kind of adhesive to make it stay put. Any ideas?

The story of pants.

Once upon a time, there was a lady who had a strong itch to sew. She was ecstatic to find that her dear sister in law is pregnant, and the cute lil' belly is beginning to show. The lady thought.. "I have a bright idea! I'll sew her a pair of pants!"

"Not any boring old pants... yoga pants!"

"The swanky celeb mums are all wearing them just like these"

And so she cut, and cut, and pieced... twice she ripped the seams. 

Shook her head and said "You know, I don't really know her size." 

"Her baby bump will grow." She thought... "It'll fit her soon... I hope"

Finally she came up with...

And she thought it was good.. 


Alas, it was still too big for her sister in law... 


"She'll grow into it" sighed the lady who had an itch to sew

My first blouse

I'm so excited.

I bought a Cotton Friend magazine about 3 months or so back. It's in Japanese.. but there are lots of pictures in it. I figured, I may be able to piece it together some day.

Then for my birthday this year, darling husband bought me a sewing machine!.. Not just ANY sewing machine.. a Singer Confidence. I was so so so so happy .. I couldn't sleep that night without sewing something. So I sew a pouch.

But I digress..

The purpose of this post.. and I'm so excited

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I made a blouse. Not just any blouse... a stretchy knit blouse with a cowl neck! .. and it's my first attempt!.. and it fits!

From Left:

1) Hanging on a hanger

2) Hanging on me ..

3) Hanging on my neck :)

I changed the pattern a bit, the original sleeve had a drawstring at the end. I didn't want that.. so I used a normal sleeve pattern instead.

The bottom of the blouse was originally just a hem. Instead I cut a big rectangle and made a band to finish.

I love the stretchy knit feel.. I love the fact that it fits me :D (Pattern was free-size.. I 'up-sized' it a little.. yes I'm of the Plus Size variety)

So what do you think?