The new patterns are at the printer right now and I’m really looking forward to receive them!
In the mean time, I’ll show you the inspiration behind the “collection”.
Inspired by travel, the models are both chic and comfortable. Cruise or safari, which one is your style?
Moodboard: pinterestFabrics: les trouvailles d’Amandine
Can’t wait to release the collection!!!
The denim I used is really nice, it has 2% elasthan which makes it really comfortable. I bought it online at the Sweet Mercerie. As I didn’t find any rivets locally, I didn’t add them. That would be a nice detail but I don’t really feel like paying the extra cost of shipping them here.I hope to show you the second version very soon…
Today let’s talk about the perfect summer dress: the Xerea Dress. Inspired by the 60’s mini dresses, Xerea is easy to sew and easy to wear!
Xerea is perfect for beginners and will delight advanced (lazy) seamstresses: no zipper, no buttons. The dress is put on easily thanks to the open back neckline, finished with bias binding.
For fabrics, I would recommend fabrics with some drape, in particular if you choose the shift dress.
The yoke design allow you to use contrasting fabric very easily: how about color blocking or lace accents? All the hems are finished with bias binding, make your own with matching fabric for an invisible finish or add some subtle contrast to your dress.
Sandra’s beautiful red Quart looks very festive! This is such a great way to brighten a grey Winter.
After choosing your fabric for the Alameda dress, let’s see some style inspiration to help you decide how to combine the colours, patterns or different fabrics to get the perfect dress!
You can use contrasting piping (buy it already made or make your own following this tutorial), contrasting panels, mix and match the skirt and top fabrics, go for a day version or a party look… there are so many options!
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Use different colours or patterned and plain fabrics on the different pattern pieces. For example dark colours on the outside will make you waist appear smaller (great visual trick!). And what about making the flounce in leather? With maybe leather piping? Perfect for the rock’n roll chicks.
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Prints are great! For a nautical look, go for stripes. Want to emulate the Dolce & Gabbana spanish look, polka dots will be your friends. And for the more romantics, florals can never go wrong.
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Bee Made‘s amazing print fabric is perfect for Spring, don’t you think? What an elegant blouse!
I love Gwendolyn‘s contrasting yoke and her beautiful Nani Iro fabric.
I love Marta‘s pretty blue Carme. The discreet print is lovely and make for a casual yet put together look.
Can you believe this is a muslin? I wouldn’t mind having muslin as pretty as Callimetrie‘s casual Carme 😉
Black and blue look great together, like on SB Creations version.
This fabric looks amazingly comfortable. And the red stitching to pick up the dots on the fabric is genious. Congrats l’Irbis!
Annie Coton‘s version is so pretty. The oiled fabric is a very original touch and the cherry blossoms make the perfect background.
Mary Carmen chose to make a contrasting yoke as well. Her fabric looks great and easy to dree up or down.
Dotted swiss: I dream about Sandra’s version. And as she pointed out, perfect for every situation: from the beach to the office.
Ocni‘s version in black cotton is going to get a lot of wear. So versatile it goes with everything…
What can I say about Blousette coquette‘s Carme? I absolutely love the colour! It’s like the twin sister of my last version, hehe.
Kerry‘s printed voile is so beautiful! And those details are perfect. I love how she cut the yoke without pleats and on the cross-grain.
I’m overwhelmed to see the amazing reception you reserved to the Carme blouse pattern. THANK YOU so much!!!
If your photo is missing, send me an email and I’ll add it.
And remember that you can get the Carme pattern here: Carme blouse pattern.
I’ll let you know more about the next pattern very soon as it’s being tested right now and about the great news: my patterns will be available on print! You will be able to choose between the PDF downloadable pattern and the printed pattern to be send at your home. More coming soon…
Have a great week!
2.Fold the pocket over and press the seam allowances toward the pocket.
1.On the right side, match the seams of the two skirt pieces together all around the pockets, with right sides together and pin.2.Stitch, pivoting at the pocket angle.
3. If you insert a regular zipper on the left side (that’s what I will do), match the seams, pin and start stitching from the zipper mark to the hem.
GATHERING THE SKIRT
1.On the skirt waist seam, baste 3 lines of stitches at 1,5 cm, 1 cm and 0,5 cm from the egde (5/8″, 3/8″ and 1/4″).
3.Match the skirt side openings, front and back center, side seam to the corresponding bodice marks, with right sides together and pin. Gather the skirt between the marks until it fits the bodice.
1.Mark the buttonholes on the right side and the buttons on the left side. Mark the buttonhole and button on the under collar as well.
2.Stitch the buttonholes on the right side. Sew the buttons on the left side.
3.Open the buttonholes with your seam ripper. Be careful not the cut the threads!
1.Cut your pocket piece and mark the folding lines. First, fold the seam allowances all around the pocket edges and press. You can baste or even stitch.
2.Place the pocket over the bodice front left side and pin it matching the pocket bottom to the dart leg. Adjust the height as prefered. Mine is situated just over the bust apex.
Today we’ll do some actual sewing, so grab your bodice pattern pieces and your fabric!
BODICE FRONT DARTS
1.Take your bodice front piece and make sure you have transfered all the markings (dart, sleeve marking, zipper marking).
2.Fold the dart in the center with right sides together, matching up the dart legs. Pin into place.
3.Stitch the dart: backstitch at the beginning but not at the end. When you arrive at the dart tip, tie off the threads.
4.Press the dart toward the center.
5.Repeat steps 1 to 4 for the other bodice front piece.
BODICE BACK DARTS
1.Take your bodice back piece and report all markings (darts, waist and collar center, sleeve and zipper markings).
2.Stitch the darts like for the bodice front and press them toward center.
SIDE SEAMS
1.With right sides together, pin the bodice front’s right side to the bodice back. Stitch, press the seam open and finish seam allowances as you prefer (serger, zig-zag, binding, french seams).
2.I decided to make a turned-and-stitched finish.
3.On the left side, stitch from the armhole to the zipper marking. Depending on how you finish you seam allowances, you might want to finish them before stitching the side seam (serger, zig-zag).
SHOULDER SEAMS
1.Pin the shoulder seams together with right sides together and stitch. Press the seams allowances open and finish them.
BUTTON PLACKET
1.Take the bodice front. Fold and press the fabric margin (1 cm, 3/8″) along the interfacing, following the markings, like on the picture.
2.Fold again follwing the markings (3 cm, 1,2″) and press.
3.On the right side, stitch very close the fold. Repeat on the other bodice side.
That’s all for today! You can now try your bodice, it’s open on the front and at the bottom of the left side. Tomorrow we’ll see how to add a little breast pocket. So cute and practical!
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I hope you’ll like the new patterns, the