Sunday, November 18, 2012

Colette 1001: Macaron dress





I'm looking a bit smug in these pics because even though this dress was a beast to fit it is my favourite self made dress of all time! I've worn it all day and I finally get why some women say that a dress is more comfortable than jeans!

So lots of adjustments though;

First muslin  I used a knit yoke in a sz 12 on a sz18 bodice/dress. I got the idea from this dress of Patty the Snug Bug's. I dropped the bust darts and moved them and used a tshirt type knit and lowered the neckline.
Second muslin I used a double knit which didn't stretch as much as the tshirt knit and felt awful to wear.
Third muslin I used a too thin knit which stretched downwards too much and I remembered why I never use darts, I can never get them to shape properly under the bust and get left with excess fabric. This version I also used the skirt from S2176, which I decided didn't look as nice as the patterns straighter skirt.


The final version was just right, lol. The front princess seam bodice pieces are from Colette Eclair, with the yoke in a tshirt knit sz 12 and the rest of the dress in pretty much a straight sz 18. The neckline has been lowered and widened and the sleeves made longer and straighter around the hem. I didn't use facings instead finished the neck and sleeves like a tshirt bands. The skirt I cut with extra wide fitting seams but didn't end up needing the extra at all.


A note on the pockets - they are inset into a slash in the skirt and the instructions have you complete them and then finish the seams, which is nearly impossible. If you cut the slash, sew on the pockets, and serge the slash now, its a lot neater finish and so much easier! (Hope that makes sense, I forgot to take pics while I was doing it)


Because I used a stretch sateen and a knit I got away without a zipper. The fits a little looser than I normally make dresses but this way I can belt it if I want it tighter and unbelted, its perfect size for sitting down all day at work.


Needless to say, I will be making this again!

38 comments:

  1. You look great in your new dress. No zipper you say? It looks lovely and fitted.

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    1. Thanks Marie, I'm so glad I could leave the zipper out, I really hate side zippers!

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  2. I LOVE this dress on you! What a gorgeous interpretation of the Macaron! I've been pondering this pattern but I think you've just sold me. You have every right to look smug - what a beautiful job!

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  3. Beautifully executed and looks darling on you.

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  4. I think that it looks absolutely fantastic! Well worth the perseverance with all those muslins. The fit looks just perfect!

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  5. This dress looks SO GOOD on you! I love the colour, the fit... It's all beautiful!

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  6. This is lovely on you! Glad you were able to get the fit right.

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    1. Thankyou Carolyn! I'm always in awe of how you use your TNT dress pattern and change it up by using different techniques and fabrics. I can see so many different versions of this dress at the moment, I love TNT patterns!

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  7. So you had nailed pant fitting, and now moving into dresses! Didn't take you long to perfect this dress, and it looks super on you. Love the fabric (have seen it just recently at Spotlight) choice and colouring on you. And no zipper - just brilliant fitting...

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    1. Thanks Judith, I really love Spotlights Sateen, it has just enough stretch and is nice and thick (plus it seems to wash and wear really well :)

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  8. It is so good to see you in a dress, although, your pants are grand too. But you suit a dress and it shows on your face. Lovely. Well done.

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    1. Thanks Ruth, I always feel uncomfortable in dresses but this one just feels like I'm wearing a tshirt!

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  9. This is a cute dress and you do look happy wearing it.

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    1. Thanks Joyce! Btw I posted the thread out to you last week, hopefully you'll have it soon (so sorry for the delay)

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  10. Fantastic dress, divine fit, such a great idea to use a knit and it suits the printed fabric exactly. Cheers, a lurker.

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  11. Love it and you nailed the fit!!!! I was interested in your comment about not using darts and getting left with extra fabric under the bust. I just spent the weekend making a Silhouette knit top which has a french dart. I had this excess fabric and no matter how I tried the dart wanted to go right to my bust point :-/....

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    1. There must be a trick to it because I see other well endowed ladies fitting darts properly but I never can! It ends up all baggy and pretty unflattering, but princess seams fit so much better without barely any adjustment. I think from now on I'm adding princess seams to any pattern that has darts!

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  12. Great fabric choices and congratulations on getting through so many muslins! Wow. Love that sateen. V.cool

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    1. Thankyou! The sateens from the spotlight clearance table (as if I buy fabric from anywhere else, lol)

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  13. Suzy I love this dress and it looks so good on you. A great fit and what a lovely combination of fabrics. Beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Beajay! I actually had both fabrics in my stash, it was a total fluke they matched so well!

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  14. This is freaking awesome! I love the finish on the yoke and sateen print is super sassy!

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  15. Ohhh it's lovely! This is the coolest version I've ever seen. Fabulous fit, and fabric! Wow!!!

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  16. This is a really cute dress! I had the same thought about making a Macaron with a knit yoke because it seems like a much more comfortable option.

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    1. Thanks! It is very comfortable to wear, just like wearing a tshirt.

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  17. You totally SHOULD make this again because it's awesome. The shape is great on you! And how fabulous (and comfy) can stretch fabrics be? I'm very slowly been drawn into the world of dresses - there's so much I misjudged about them. Looking forward to seeing your next interpretation :P

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    1. Thankyou! I have a growing pile of sateen and knits to make this up with again and I just keep finding more combinations!

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  18. Lovely! I really like the print you chose :)

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    1. Thankyou! That print has been aging nicely in my stash for awhile, it was good to get it out and sew it up!

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  19. That is so cute on you, and what a great job with the fitting and knit conversion. I have not tried Spotlight's sateen but it is suddenly sounding very tempting.

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    1. Spotlights sateen is actually pretty decent! Plus they have some nice sales on it fairly often (I can never resist cheap fabric, lol)

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  20. I absolutely love your dress! The t-shirt top is such a great idea and you look fab!!! You have inspired me!

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