Colette Moneta

The Colette Moneta is still my go-to knit dress pattern.  I need to replace my previous makes because they've reached the end of their life span.  I've made it so many times that there really isn't anything left to say about it, so you're just getting pictures.  

You can see the hint of lining peeking through in the back, so I'll have to stitch that down.

Happy sewing!

Vogue 9297

 I say this every time I sew a pattern from a Big 4 company: I don't know why I don't do it more often.  I like everything that I sew from the bigger companies.  This time, I paired a rayon from Style Maker Fabrics with Vogue 9297 and I love the result!

The fabric is wonderful: It's got some texture to it but is still soft and floaty. I highly recommend it if it's still available. It's sheer so I lined it with a basic white cotton.

It's a Very Easy Vogue pattern, so there wasn't much to the construction. One front bodice with darts, one back bodice with darts, and then two pieces for the front and back bottom portion. I used an invisible zipper instead of the standard one it called for, and I stitched the belt to the back so that it wouldn't slip around as I move. 

Happy sewing!

Colette Parfait

In the past several months I've had several makes that were tragically bad, and so to being the summer sewing season I picked something I know I like and can make successfully: The Colette Parfait dress.  This was one of the first patterns I ever made and I've always loved it.  

I added piping to the gathered pockets:

The fabric is Liberty of London and it's sheer, so I omitted the facings and added a lining.  I didn't understand how to do that when I first started, so I'm going to describe it here in case anybody needs it:  It's overwhelming when you're first starting out, but it's actually really easy. 

1. When sewing the Liberty of London fabric, I only used one front midriff piece and one back midriff piece.  I put them front sides together with the bodice and skirt, and after stitching the seam I serged the seam allowance.

2. The invisible zipper is sewn to the shell fabric. 

3.  I used a simple white cotton for the lining.  I put it together exactly like I did the shell fabric, with no facings and only one front and back midriff piece.  I also cut the skirt pieces one inch shorter than the shell fabric so they don't poke out of the hem.

4. With right sides together and the edges serged, I places the lining fabric on top of the invisible zipper and sewed right down the zipper on top of the lining fabric.

5. Switching to a regular foot, I pinned the top of the shell and lining together and stitched right across the top. You'll also notice that I put my gathers right in the middle of the bodice instead of under each cup.  I like it better that way. 

6. I then flipped it right side out, pressed the seam, and topstitched it.  I know an invisible zipper is supposed to be invisible, but I always find that the fabric gets caught in the zipper even if I press it.  I sew a straight topstitch along the zipper to keep everything tucked in where it's supposed to be.  

Happy sewing!