Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Truffle


 Incredibly creative title, huh?  I was at a loss.

I tried to hold out and not purchase The Colette Sewing Handbook right away.  Not because I didn't want to, but because I'm on a strict sewing budget.  I only allow myself a certain amount each month to be spent on sewing goodness.  That usually gets spent on fabric.


 But I splurged last month and ordered it.  There are lots of great tips and tidbits in the book.  I highly recommend it to someone who is new to sewing.  I mainly ordered it for the patterns.  And I'm so glad I did, because now I have this dress.  The book is well worth it, even if you can't buy fabric for a month because of it. :)-

Oh, how I love this dress.

I really like rayon.  Like really, really like rayon.  Stephanie just did a fascinating post on rayon.  I love those posts she does on fabric types.  I think it may be my favorite fabric to wear.  Not necessarily to work with, but wearing- yes.   I like that it's drape-y and silky without being too thin.  I like drape-y fabrics but not when you can see all the lumps and bumps beneath.  I used a solid brown rayon challis for the lining and a sheer polka dotted rayon blend for the shell.  I'm sure the "blend" part means polyester but let's not dwell on the negative.  The polka dot fabric is actually an army green color, although it reads more brown in photos.  Partly because of the lining, I'm sure.  It's a very muddy green.

I did make a few changes to the bodice.  For one, I cut it two sizes smaller than the skirt portion.  I also straightened and raised the back neckline a couple of inches.  The neckline was initially very wide.  I know I still have some back fit issues, but I think this is better than the last dress I made.  The bodice portion is actually three layers of fabric.  I underlined the sheer polka dot with a layer of rayon challis.  Then I used another layer of rayon challis as a lining.  I used the "pull through the shoulder seams" method of lining as seen here.  The skirt lining and shell were sewn as separate layers.  I hemmed the lining as marked on the pattern, so beware that it's a little short- at least for my tastes.  I lengthened the shell and hemmed it longer.  I like the shorter layer being covered by the sheer longer layer.  I saw a maxi dress on someone recently that was sheer but had a super short under skirt.  I'd love to make something like that.


Ooh, ignore that puckering.  I blame the polyester for that.  Or my shoddy sewing skills.  I was pulling this off the machine ten minutes before I had to leave for the wedding I wore this to.  In fact, I didn't notice it until I took these photos.   I can't decide if I want to go back and fix it now.   The flounce is my favorite part, of course.  I love that it's a simple shaped dress with just a little something extra.  I'd love to make it again one day in a stiffer fabric.
 
  

I definitely recommend it.  I think I'll have to tackle the Pastille dress next.




41 comments:

  1. The dress is great. Thanks for the links, helpful to a mere beginner.

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  2. wow. GLORIOUS. this is a thing of infinite beauty. you've made me want the truffle.

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  3. Had to delurk to say lovely dress, and great choice of fabric. I'm so impressed by all your rayon layers! Good job. Love the shoes with it too!

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  4. Oh, cute dress! I looove the combination of olive and turquoise. So hard to choose between a month of fabric and a book...loks like you made the right choice.

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  5. You did a great job! Very attractive dress on you. Well done.

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  6. This looks lovely on you. I waffle on whether I want to make this dress since it can border on overly formal, but the drape of the rayon and the fun of the fabric make this a version I really admire. I'm thinking of making a ruffle-less version in the fall.

    Actually, I'm still in awe of all the skirts you made last summer! I've been hankering for a skirt block, and just might return to the drawing board :)

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  7. This is so pretty on you! And yes, I love rayon too--except for that whole durability issue, but that's probably because I love it so much that I kind of wear the pieces I have made out of it a bit more than anything else in my closet....thanks for the link of information on it, I'm off to check it out! :-)

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    1. I know what you mean about durability. I have a rayon top I love but it has seen better days....

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  8. Oh it's a lovely dress! I love the dotted fabric, and rayon is so flowy! Great job! The more pieces I see from the Colette book, the more I want to buy it, I've just been prevaricating over this.
    BTW, thanks for your comments on my dress! It really helps.

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  9. It's so cute, I love how you made it up... Isn't it weird how sometimes you miss little flaws until taking the pictures? I hate that.... It's not bad, but the rest of the dress is so pretty I'd probably take the ten minutes to unpick the seam and reset it....

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  10. Oh AND I love that your shoes match the dots...

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  11. Puckering? What puckering!
    Very cute dress, I like your extra layer in the front too. You look lovely in it.

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  12. Oh Liza, it's lovely. I really like the colette patterns but always thought the book is too basic for me. But maybe I've just got to get it anyways, as you did, just for the patterns (and the pretty layout).

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    1. I thought the same thing, but the truffle pattern made me buy it. Now I'm excited about the other patterns. They look simple, but there is a lot of fitting and the potential for really fabulous pieces.

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  13. How lovely! Those polka dots are so cute! :)

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  14. That's one of the loveliest dresses I've seen made in a long time! The fit is superb, I love the fabric choice and the shoes to pick out the polka dots - perfection. Isn't that fabric a slippery eel to sew with? I avoid working with it for fear of a nervous breakdown. Do you use a rolled hem foot? You've really done that pattern proud.

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    1. Thanks! I did not use a rolled hem foot. I basted right at the fold line when I did all the hems. Then I folded and pressed really well. The basting stitches made a nice crisp fold line and helped keep my hems even. It was not easy, but I think the hems came out pretty nice.

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  15. What an absolutely gorgeous Truffle! I love all the polka dot drapey goodness! Well done! If you're tackling the Pastille next, here's the link for all our Pastille posts from Sew Colette: http://rhinestonesandtelephones.blogspot.ca/search?q=pastille

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  16. The dress is super lovely! I am thinking of buying the colette book too.
    Nice project :)

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  17. Thanks so much ladies! I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I think I may have to fix the ripple-y side seam just so I have no negative to focus on.

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  18. Wow- this is lovely. Great fabric choice and if I weren't totally terrified of hemming that front piece, I'd run home an cut it out. Beautiful work.

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  19. So pretty, the fabric choice is perfect. It also looks much more grown up than the Collette photos, a lovely version. I hope you had a great time at the wedding.

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  20. I love this dress you've made. I wasn't instantly drawn to the truffle dress based on the book, but I love the versions I've seen that have used prints.

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  21. Very pretty dress I love the whole looks.

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  22. This is so pretty! And I can see it being worn in multiple ways and multiple situations - which is sign of a great make to me! Well done!

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  23. What a great dress! The flounce is so flattering and adds just the right oomph to a well-fitting dress.

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  24. This is so lovely! Love the fabric too.

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  25. It looks great! This is like my favourite version of Truffle, ever---you look super curvy and awesome. I really like it in the army-green---it cuts the sweetness of the design nicely.

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  26. I love your truffle! The print is so fun! I am trying to work through the patterns in the Colette Handbook--I just finished the Meringue skirt and I really like the pattern.

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  27. oh, a gorgeous dress is one of my favourite colours! A terrific dress, and it looks just beautiful on you.

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  28. Love it! This is definitely one of the best versions of this dress I've seen and really makes me want to make one! Thanks for posting!

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  29. O.my.word. thank you!!! Thank you for making such a gorgeous spotty dress. But thank you for making it into a truffle and it looking so fabulous. You have reminded me now if this pattern and what I could make some of my random chiffon into....id be extremely happy to have it look as pretty as yours.

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  30. This is quite lovely! The fabric was a great choice for it. And I think you're right - the ruffle goes well with the otherwise simple dress.

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  31. Cute dress and such great colours. I love the contrasting heels. I think you've nailed the fabric choice. You look stunning.

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  32. That is so pretty. I just love the blue shoes.

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  33. Love the chiffon and polka dots! Other commentaries are correct when they say your version is better than collette's. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  34. So lovely on you! This dress looks great and you look fabulous!!!

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  35. Love your gorgeous spotty Truffle! Congrats on your Colette feature!

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  36. That is such a lovely dress. I found your blog through your feature on The Colette blog.

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  37. Really cute dress! I, too, love rayon, as it's just so comfortable to wear. I have the Colette book too and cannot wait to make my own version of the Truffle dress :-)

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