FROCKTOBER - frocks we love: Colette Myrtle

 

We're celebrating FROCKTOBER at The Drapery, 

to kick-start your spring and summer sewing!

When you buy any dress pattern plus the fabric to make it, we'll take 10% off the price 

(in store or online using code 'FROCKTOBER' at checkout). 

Plus, we've teamed up with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, 

and for every pattern + fabric combo sold we'll donate $2 to this great cause.

Today's frock we love is the Colette Myrtle - a pattern we've only had in stock for a month or so. 

Colette are one of the rockstars of the Indie pattern world, and for good reason. Designer Sarai produces classic, well drafted & finished patterns. Every step in a Colette pattern is clearly described and illustrated, plus more often than not there is further information for some techniques available on the Colette website. Each pattern is a little like a sewing lesson in itself - which makes their beginner patterns in particular an excellent option for those new to garment sewing.

 Colette has an excellent array of frock patterns to choose from, most of which we have in store.

Myrtle was designed to be sewn with both knit and woven fabrics. If you've never sewn with knits, there are loads of tips in the pattern about finishing and handling this sometimes-intimidating fabric. 

I made this Myrtle with our organic rib cotton knit. It's a weighty fabric but it worked well, especially for the drapey cowl neck. The construction is really interesting - the front bodice piece folds back on itself, giving a self lined front shell. The raw shoulder seams are sandwiched in between these two layers, such a nice touch. The only problem I had was that this method made it difficult to alter the size once the bodice is sewn. (Had I not been naughty and made a muslin, I would have discovered this. But after sewing a few Colette patterns I felt reasonably confident of my size. Oops). Even though I sewed the size slightly under my measurements to accommodate for the stretchiness of the knit, this still feels a little too roomy.

I'd read online that some people felt that the Myrtle arm holes were a little low, so I narrowed mine slightly as I was tracing off the pattern. I also veered away from the instructions when it came to inserting the elastic around the waist. The pattern has you sewing the casing on after the elastic. Perhaps the weightiness of the fabric I chose made this too bulky? In any case, I opted instead for the tried-and-true method of sewing the casing down first and inserting the elastic using a safety pin, and it worked out fine.

This is a great dress pattern. Made in knit, it is super comfy but the cowl neck makes it look more fancy than the comfort level makes it feel. This would sew up beautifully in a voile or, for a swish party dress, Liberty Tana lawn. There will be more Myrtles for me, to be sure, to be sure.

- Fiona & Jane xx