I have been subscribing to Colette's Seamwork since they started a few years ago. With each newsletter comes 2 free patterns, or pattern credits, and these are very simple to sew. So simple, that I guess I didn't care to download many of them, and I've been accumulating credits. But now Colette has made it so that members can use the credits to trade for the regular Colette patterns, which are slightly more involved and have variations such as top and dress. Nora is one of these, and I really like the sporty look of it. When you see the dress I made, you'll see that the design is also very versatile. Also, what I look for in a pattern is one that can work for my 2 daughters as well as myself. Triple duty!
The fabric called for by the pattern is a more heavyweight knit like ponte or french terry. But the muslin fabric I used was a very stretchy wool rib knit, so binding this with the woven binding as per the pattern directions was a bit tricky. Also, when I had my daughter try it on, she said that she didn't like "those lines in the chest." What lines? Oh, you mean the darts! I had to agree. Number one, we don't need darts in knit tops, and number 2, young people don't like darts because they actually call attention to the bust!
After I eliminated the darts using Maria Denmark's great tutorial, in my next version I used the main fabric as ribbing bands, because I really didn't want to deal with sewing bias binding to knit anymore. It just doesn't seem right. This is lightweight rayon wool jersey with a wool novelty knit as contrast.
The fabric called for by the pattern is a more heavyweight knit like ponte or french terry. But the muslin fabric I used was a very stretchy wool rib knit, so binding this with the woven binding as per the pattern directions was a bit tricky. Also, when I had my daughter try it on, she said that she didn't like "those lines in the chest." What lines? Oh, you mean the darts! I had to agree. Number one, we don't need darts in knit tops, and number 2, young people don't like darts because they actually call attention to the bust!
After I eliminated the darts using Maria Denmark's great tutorial, in my next version I used the main fabric as ribbing bands, because I really didn't want to deal with sewing bias binding to knit anymore. It just doesn't seem right. This is lightweight rayon wool jersey with a wool novelty knit as contrast.
My 3rd version is in hatchi knit from FabricMart, which I had 2 yards of. It is actually really nice stuff, and it's probably a closer weight to what the pattern designer intended. (Some hatchi that I procured previously was much flimsier than this, so I was pleasantly surprised.) I was going to make a top and then realized that there was probably enough to make a dress, and if I didn't like it I could cut it off to create the top. I ended up cutting the 2 back pieces one layer at a time, and piecing the arm of one of them. But that's okay since it allowed me to place a bit of color where there wouldn't otherwise be. I made the ribbing bands for the neckline, sleeves, and hem, and I pressed the bands to the inside, sewing them down for the neckline and the hem.
When I get tired of using this as a dress, it could become a mini-dress to wear with tights, a top or even a cardigan!
