Customised sobretto top by Colette

A few weeks ago I found, just by chance on my google reader, a link to a free pattern download from Colette for the Sorbretto top. It's quite a simple easy top made up from just two pattern pieces with a pleat down the front and endless opportunities for customising it to your own preferences.

I had a few fabrics that I've been wanting to make into vest type tops for a while but I couldn't find a pattern I wanted....until now.

Last week I completed my first top with a Liberty print fabric. I ended up only using about 60cm of the fabric (and the whole width of that) and made my own bias tape for the edging too from this tutorial (I would recommend that you made the tape a bit wider than it suggests though).

The modifications I made were:

• added an extra two darts at the front to make it more fitted
• brought the side seams in a bit to make it more fitted
• created a button opening down the back (so I could get it on and off, now that it was more fitted)
• lowered the neck line slightly
• lowered the seam under the arm (I think it was digging in a bit because I made the top more fitted)

Below is how much I took the side seam in

And these are the extra darts I added to the front either side of the pleat. 

 The front dart again, showing what size I made it. 

I you want to practise pattern manipulation to really make a top fit you well, I would recommend this one as  its pretty straight forward. I just kept trying the top on as I went along to make sure it was sitting the way I wanted. Also, always make sure that any changes you do make are symmetrical on each side or else the top won't sit right. Remember the download is free...so if you have any spare fabric around..which I'm sure a lot of you will...then there is no reason not to get started on one!

Parfait dress from Colette

I've been wanting to make the Parfait dress by Colette Patterns since spotting it online a while ago now. It has a gathered bust, a fitted waist with an invisible zipper and fastens with buttons at the strap. 

I've not made many patterns for a long time. My Mum taught me how to do it when I was about 16 or 17 and I made a few little blouses. Then when I was at uni I made a winter coat but since then I've made mostly smaller items where I just figure it out as I go along, or roughly sketch out my own template. When I decided I wanted to start making patterns again I decided to do it on a smaller scale first and made up a lovely little dress from Oliver + S, see this blog post for pictures.  I was pleased with how it turned out and all the terminology all came back so I decided it was time to move onto something that I could actually wear!

I choose a tan coloured, lightweight cotton poplin with pale pink buttons for my first version of the dress. I wasn't entirely sure how it would go and didn't want to use fabric that was too expensive for my first try at an adult pattern since I was a teenager.

Here is how it turned out....

This is my invisible zipper, perfect for a dress like this as it just looks like a seam and all you see is the little toggle at the top (which is hidden under the arm anyway). 

I didn't have to change the pattern at all really. I cut out the size corresponding to my measurements and I just had to make the straps a little shorter by adjusting where the buttons go.

My 'research' trip to London

Never one to pass up an opportunity to visit the big smoke, I tagged along with the other half to London for a few days this week to get some business research done while he had to go to the office.

I think its really useful when starting a new business to see what else is going on out there and London is defiantly not short of haberdasheries, fabric stores, creative venues and generally cool funky places that have put thought and planning into their appearance, look and branding. So off I set to do some mystery shopping and some.....well.....just regular shopping too...and some amazing coffee drinking and delicious cupcake eating - it would be rude not to!

This coffee is seriously good stuff - Monmouth Coffee! Not to be missed if your in the Covent Garden area, in fact not to be missed at all - I went out my way twice to go here!  

Ahhh...the classic vanilla cupcake from the Hummingbird Bakery. I might have had a chocolate and mint one too - it was there daily special - like I said, rude not too! 

The colourful buildings on Portobello Road - gorgeous and bright in the sunshine! 

I love browsing a bit of the old stuff - I mean vintage..retro! 

So this is where all the old sewing machines go when they die - sewing machine heaven in All Saints, Notting hill. 

So other than eating, drinking and browsing, I did manage to find a few goodies to bring home. I went to the Stitch and Craft show too at the Olympia yesterday as well which was fun and picked up some things....and so my project list grows even longer (blog post to come on that next week!)

I found these gorgeous soft smooth leather off cuts....

 Which will turn into little snap frame purses with this little purse frame I also picked up. 

Ahhh...a girl can never have enough Liberty print. This will turn into a little summer top before too long. 

 I also topped up my stack of prints with this Liberty scrap pack from Ray Stitch, the plans for these little bits.....possibly some hexagon paper piecing. 

I've been looking forward to getting this Colette dress pattern for ages now and plan is to get started this weekend now that I have my fabric and buttons (both from Cloth House).

At the Stitch and Craft show I picked up two of these up cycled selvage yarns made from jersey fabric. There are pretty hefty and chunky and they will be turned into a crochet storage basket. 

 I can never pass by a bargain and these four colours of mini ric rac went together so lovely so I could't resist! 

Another bargain...7 little packets of buttons - all shapes and sizes which will be transformed into a bouquet of flowers as soon as I find some florist wire! 

So I'm going to be pretty busy this weekend then with all of this...and I've got a birthday to celebrate (not mine - the hubbys). Would love you to stay tuned for how all the projects turn out....