You've got mail!

I received the following in my inbox yesterday:

Hello, We have received new release date information related to the order you placed on August 16 2011 (Order# [redacted]). The item(s) listed below will actually ship sooner than we originally expected based on the new release date: 


Sarai Mitnick "The Colette Sewing Handbook: Inspired Styles and Classic Techniques for the New Seamstress" 
Previous estimated arrival date: November 22 2011 - November 29 2011 
New estimated arrival date: November 03 2011 - November 08 2011


Yes!! Do you think the publisher expedited the release date because the pre-orders and reception have been overwhelmingly positive? I sure would like to think so! I can't wait to receive it some time next week!

completed - Sorbetto from Colette Patterns

finished sorbetto this weekend. was totally procrastinating by playing ffxiv most of time. this is the second time i've done colette patterns. the first was the mini bloomers that i kinda messed up because i didn't think transferring marks was all that important (yeah, lol). this time, i faithfully followed the instructions and i must say that they were very clear and the shirt was very well constructed.

the less than satisfactory - i didn't anticipate the shirt to be so fitted - at least through the armholes. i cut a size 4, and had to lengthen it by 2 inches. the pattern itself was too short for me even though i do not have a long torso. the only complaints against the pattern were the tightness of the armholes and the length.

construction wise, i used french seams on the shoulders and side seams. omg i love love love french seams! i used to be so intimidated by it but once i got used to sewing the wrong sides together first, it was so easy! (a big thank you to A Fashionable Stitch's seam finishing tutorials!) i HAND-STITCHED the bias tape together, which was the most time-consuming part of this shirt. (i used colette pattern's bias tape tutorial).

i'm wearing the shirt at work today!

close-up of the bindings:

and some love for french seams:

funny story about the fabric, which was on clearance @ hancock, 100% egyptian cotton. i hesitated on purchasing the fabric because it looked kind dowdy (it looks less dowdy on me, right??). i knew i wanted to make a top out of it, but wasn't sure how it would turn out. i asked the cutter lady if it looked like curtains. she responded enthusiastically, "yes it does!" my next question was "so...you think if i made a shirt out of it, that it would look like curtains?" she immediately backtracked and said "no no i don't think it would look like curtains!" hahaha! anything to make a sale!

so let's see:

pattern: free
fabric: 1$/yd (i only used a yard!)
thread: 100% polyester from stash. i still have lots of coats & clark threads left. bleh. $2.00
grand total: $3.00

ETA: EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE A SORBETTO! TRUST.

~another project finished before my vacation 2 weeks ago after the jump~

colette pattern ~ mini bloomers project

after a week of procrastination, i finally spent an hour this weekend to finish the mini bloomers i started last week. they are super cute but i'm not totally satisfied with them...they're too...low on the hips for me and i have no butt to speak off to stop them from sliding down my non-existent hips.

process in pics:

looks like ginoooooooooormous granny panties

a detail i love: 2 bands of elastic encased in 4 casings.

a little mismatch when i hemmed the bottom. too long on the inside seams. *shrug*

big mistake: did not mark the openings when i cut the fabric. so...the buttonholes were eyeballed. did not match placement for casing...at all.

yeah, those buttonholes are supposed to be between the two rows of stitchings. did not happen.

but you can't tell, can you? :P

on me. see? no hips, what.so.ever.

pattern snapshot:

pattern ease: pretty easy. instructions well really easy to follow.

pattern accuracy: mmmm i cut out a size small, probably could have gone with an xsmall. the inside seams might be too long? i'm not sure. overall, not bad. 

fabric suggestions: i used lightweight gingham. i assume any soft cotton, flannel, and silk would work well. not suitable for heavyweight fabrics.

will i make this again? yup! i want one in flannel, haha!