On the 24th day of Me-Made-May I wore my new Colette Hazel dress. I used an *African cotton fabric I found in the remnants bin at Rolls and Rem. I was drawn to the colors instantly. I debated buying it, not finding it too much of a bargain at £3 a meter (Remnants can average £1.50 a meter at Rolls and Rems). I walked around the store with it and decided I couldn’t do without it. The colors and patterns were much too good to pass up.
Initially I thought I would use it for another gathered skirt. But after discovering I had enough for a Hazel dress I went for it.
This dress, surprisingly didn’t need many adjustments. Because the skirt is gathered I didn’t have to worry about waist size. The only changes I did were to the front and back side bodice pieces. I graded half an inch to each piece to get the waist measurement needed. And that’s it. Viola! That’s my kind of adjustment. I’m not going to lie. Sewing as a…uh…curvy woman can be such a big pain in the ass. Eighty percent of my patterns are suited for women smaller than myself so I am always having to change patterns to fit me. So it was such a nice relief not to do much to the Hazel pattern.
The dress came together very easily. I lined the skirt just because I’d love to wear it on cooler days with tights. I love how comfortable the dress is and that it has pockets. Bonus!
I cannot wait to get back from my trip to the States so I can whip up a yellow version. This is the type of pattern that can be made in various colors and prints and never look like the same dress. So why not make multiples? I am all about making more than one of things I enjoy wearing (hello, Ginger skirt!).
*Check out Roisin’s gorgeous African cotton Hazel dress.
