bits and bobbins

have you seen the new patterns from colette patterns, the brainchild of the incredibly talented sarai of sweet sassafrass? as of this past few weeks, she’s added the stunning oolong dress, lady grey coat, and sensha blouse you see above (and several more patterns!!) to her already gorgeous, vintage-influenced, figure-flattering pattern offerings. i love how each of her patterns come packed inside a little booklet that’s lovingly designed and jammed full of incredibly thorough and well-written instructions. the patterns themselves sit nicely in a little built in fold in the back of said booklet…totally smart packaging design, sarai!

i’ve made the beignet, a high-wasted button up the front skirt (in a navy blue pique) and i love it! so i can say that as far as i am concerned, colette patterns come highly recommended!

have you made any of the colette patterns? which ones? how did it go? are you a fan too?

a related aside: wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were more indie pattern companies out there, offering things to suit different whims and tastes, that maybe the big pattern companies can’t reach or address (because they are perhaps pursuing more average tastes?)…what a wonderful idea, no? do you know of any other great, small, stylish pattern companies? do share!

take a gander at this glorious patchwork DIY sweater-cape made by finland’s outi of outsapop trashion, above! the sweater-cape and instructions on how to make one for yourself were recently published in the helsingin sanomat. she graciously re-printed the instructions on her blog, in this post, along with an english translation. how AWESOME. thank you, outi!! the project looks complicated, yes, but really, all it takes is some time and a little effort, and whoa, are the results stunning, or what??

(back in the bronx, in a storage unit, i’ve got some piles of felted sweaters that would be put to good good use using this pattern! if i ever get around to using them and making one of these, you’ll be hearing about it…)

in recent weeks, i’ve run across some VERY chic sewing patterns for knits, available for free via the internets, and i thought i’d pass the word along…

martha of uniform natural designed this drapey stunner called the origami wrap sweater, which is easy peasy, but has a sculptural shape and is suitable for any mid to heavy weight knit (as long as it doesn’t have a whole lotta stretch, she says). she just put it up the other day; i totally want to make one…stat. wow…martha. just…wow. breathtaking and incredibly chic.

the gals at sydney, australia’s tessuti fabrics have this drapey tent-shaped tee up on the web for download here. i’ve made one myself already, it’s amazing! the sleeves are fitted, and the rest isn’t, it’s very loose and comfy and kind of, i dunno, japanese, 80s-ish or something? i am so wanting to make another, but want to make it longer so it’s more of a tunic/dress thing. i think i could just about live in it, so roomy and cuddly it would be. it comes out in a small-ish to medium size, so if you’re bigger or smaller you’d have to add or subtract from/to the side seams. sews up in a flash.