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Sunday 19 May 2013

Winter Lace Dress - Laurel by Colette Patterns

So I'm another year older now. When did that happen?!! I remember I couldn't WAIT to turn 18; boy did that backfire ... now I break into sobs of gratitude if by some fluke I get asked for ID.

I like to claim the whole month of May as my birthday. Sorry, not sorry.

Me: 'Husband dearest, can I eat the last piece of pizza'
Husband: 'You've had every other piece!'
Me: 'But it's my birthday MONTH'
*Sound of husband banging head against the wall*

I also half seriously think that all this Me-Made-May-Mania going around is in my birthday honour.

Awkward. But hey, look! I made a dress!

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

The Pattern
It's the Laurel by Colette Patterns in a straight size 10. A great easy pattern to whip up, with lots of different variations. A great wardrobe filler, a flattering cut and a great first pattern for beginners.

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

Fabric
Lace from The Fabric Store and underlined with a cotton poplin. The lace is gorgeous and I normally love sewing with lace, but this one was an a-hole to sew with. It was a thin, super stretchy cheap lace that I purchased because, hey, I love lace and it was pretty. But I should have known better. It took so much extra time cutting this maddening fabric because each piece kept stretching out like pizza dough, and not in a good way. Great. Now I'm hungry.

Alterations
Amazingly, I didn't have to make any changes to the structure of the dress, I just sewed it up in a straight size. The changes I made were just in the finish of the dress.

I underlined the dress as per the instructions,  but made the underlining hem slightly shorter than the lace hem so that I could feature the scalloped edge. I cut into the lace fabric to create a scalloped edge, as the fabric didn't come with a scalloped edge. I featured it on both the skirt and the sleeve hem.

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

I annoyingly didn't buy enough of the lace fabric (another reason I wanted to punch the lace in the face) and so had to either lose the sleeves or cut the dress shorter. Wah! After scooping my heart off the ground, I decided to sacrifice the hem length which made the dress pretty teeny tiny. Perfect with leggings as a sort of long top, but not so appropriate with out.

Pattern matching and underlining
I took extra time carefully cutting out the lace so that the pattern on the lace matched down the centre front and back of the dress and the sleeves. I also made sure that the scalloped edge matched around the entire width of the hem. 
It's so worth the extra effort and makes the dress look cleaner. The simple shape of this dress really allows for perfect lace matching as the lace pattern doesn't get lost in a gazillion seam lines.

The pattern comes with great underlining instructions. Underlining is great for laces, sheer and light weight fabrics. You can also check out my own underlining tutorial here.

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

My thoughts
I love the classic 60's silhouette of this shift dress. You all know I'm a little bit crazy for Mad Men Fashion, so there was never any indecision over whether I would make this dress. Speaking of Mad Men, did you see how amazing all the dresses were in the Mad Men Challenge? Amaze-balls!

Even though this particular lace fabric was a menace to sew with, I'm really happy with the end result. The colour and the drape are really nice, and it's a bright happy shade to cheer up my recently dusted off winter wardrobe. As you can see in the pictures, when it gets dark and gloomy outside I rebel with colour.

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

Styling
For those of you who are wondering how I did my hair, I used this tutorial from my pinterest to get the effect.

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

The necklace is a handmade, hand painted wooden piece that I purchased from the Sew Little Time shop on Etsy. I'm a little bit in love with this store at the moment. Who wants to buy me something? It is my birthday MONTH *cough* 

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

I've seen so many amazing Laurel dresses around lately. It amazes me how you can have one pattern, but with different fabric and a different seamstress you can end up with a completely different looking dress. It tickles my creative fancy.

Julia Bobbin: Laurel dress by Colette Patterns

So what do you think? Have you made this pattern? Are you going to give it a go? Is it your birthday month too? (It can't be, it's MINE ... just kidding-ish)

In all seriousness though, I love birthdays and I'm proud to be getting older. It means that I'm still alive. With each extra candle, each extra wrinkle, each extra grey hair we are given the opportunity to make more dresses. How lucky we are. 

65 comments:

  1. Happy birthday month!:) hope you're having a good one..dress is lovely, cute colour..now I want pizza :/

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  2. It's my birthday today! We are both very lucky ladies, with our little boys!
    I love your hair do- I'm completely useless when it come to hair.
    Are you going to make many more laurels? I like the scalloped hem look, I think its a lovely look, but not my style.
    Happy birthday!

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    1. We are certainly very lucky with our little boys! I reckon I might make one more Laurel. I usually like things a little more fitted, but It's a great wardrobe filler!

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  3. I really like this tunic length- it's great for winter sassiness!
    Milk that birthday month for all its worth- a birthday pastry a day is a must! ;)

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    1. What's my excuse for the rest of the year with daily pastries? I'm in trouble!

      Thanks Amanda!

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  4. Happy birthday month! I claim all of March for myself. And perhaps the tail end of February and the first bit of April.

    Not to mention September is my half birthday month! I get all slouchy and sad because my mom's birthday is on my half birthday so I don't get to celebrate it *properly*.




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    1. Um, half birthdays is an AMAZING idea. Consider it stolen! :)

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  5. Um.

    Also. Love the dress. Original reason to comment. Right.


    Maybe my heart just started racing faster at the mention of birthday.

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  6. I'm completely avoiding my birthday being in 3 weeks - which is hilariously cause i'm turning all of 24.

    Love the dress! The lace is divine and the colour is sweet as hell!

    So glad for the braids tutorial. I admit to secretly studying your hair yesterday trying to figure it out.

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  7. Happy Birthday month! (It's mine too!). Your lace Laurel dress is darling- I like it as a tunic. I just discovered your blog and I have to say I love your style! I'm a new follower!

    -Melissa

    http://scavengerhunttheblog.blogspot.com

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  8. Your Laurel is my favorite of the ones I've seen so far. Love how you styled it also!

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    1. And now you're MY favourite! Thank you Ashley, that's a great compliment!

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  9. Happy Birthday month! Your dress is totally adorable:)

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  10. Happy birthday month :) it's always good to milk it when you can! Mine was last month and I made it last about two weeks. Your laurel is lovely and a great use of lace, you always manage to make lace look great, I always worry I will look like an escaped bridesmaid. Something for me to work on perhaps :)

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    1. Sometimes I think I TRY and look like an escaped bridesmaid :) Thank you Ms Lizzie! Happy birthday month for April x

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  11. My Boyfriend and I are born in the same week of March so we claim that entire week as our birthday week and drive our friends mad! Cute dress. I really like the soft pink and it goes lovely with your hair

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  12. Happy birthday! I love your laurel. I have also made a winter version of it but had some problems with the amount of ease in the sleeve so have out it to one side ofr the moment.

    I love your jacket too- is that handmade?

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    1. Thanks Jano! No, I bought this jacket. Though I've recently made a blazer and I'll be posting about that soon!

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    2. Julia: First off, I LOVE your blog! What are your thoughts about jacket patterns that would mimic the one you're wearing (that you bought)? It goes PERFECT with the dress!

      P.S. Do you have any headband tutorials using elastic/ruffle effect?

      Thanks!

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  13. Happy Birthday! You are not just a year older, but wiser and more gorgeous! Such a pretty dress. :-)

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  14. Happy Birthday!

    I myself love getting a year older, I dunno makes me all grown up LOL.

    Love this dress.. I must really try some of the Collette patterns - everyone says that they are really easy to do. Must buy and stop just looking.

    Well hope you had a fab day.

    Stephanie

    (http://in-my-backyard.net)

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  15. Happy Birthday Month!!! Love your version of the Laurel!

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  16. "Is it your birthday month too? (It can't be, it's MINE ... just kidding-ish)" Hahahaha, oh Julia, this is why I fell in love with your blog, aka you. Lovin your lace Laurel!

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  17. What a cute dress. I love how we can struggle to get something made with our sanity intact, but in the end it doesn't matter so long as the end result looks good.

    Happy Birthday month! I'm a May baby too - my birthday was yesterday. (Not that I get older anymore).

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  18. happy birthday month. june is all mine ;D
    nice laurel and i love your styling and pics. and the wit <3

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  19. What a great dress. I made the Laurel in lace too! Sounds as if my lace was a bit better behaved though. Lovely to see you at social sewing on Sat :)

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  20. you lovely julia have great taste! i love that etsy store too but couldnt afford that necklace! i ended up buying 15 beads very similar and handmade and putting it on a cord! I want the littler earings they have too!

    ALso. cant wait until my hair i long enough to do that :o

    And, Gorgeous laurel! I havent used the pattern only because i made one up just before it was released almost the same....but with french darts ^_^

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  21. Cute and lovely to see ya https://www.facebook.com/SassySewingBees

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  22. Love, love, love your blog!! My 18 year old daughter is also obsessed with Mad Men and we have been making dresses inspired by the show for quite some time now. We always find lots of inspiration on your blog, thankyou!!

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    1. That's awesome! Thank you for your kind comments :)

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  23. This dress is beautiful Julia and it totally works as a tunic with leggings!

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  24. Lovely dress. Wish I could wear that colour. I wasn't that sold on Laurel but people have done some fab versions! x

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  25. Happy Birthday. Lovely dress and it is super cute as a tunic!

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  26. This it's beautiful ... Love the styling too

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  27. Such a beautiful dress, I have my Laurel pattern arriving soon and there is so much inspiration out there. Have a happy birthday month.

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  28. Hmm!! Happy birthday!! I should steal your idea about bday month! Hehe!! Mine is in may too!!

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  29. Laurel is beautiful in lace! I would have had to buy that lace too, the pattern is fantastic. Happy birthday month!

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  30. Happy birthday month! Your dress is darling.

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  31. Happy Birthday month, I'm a May baby myself and it's an excellent birthday month :-) Such a beautiful Laurel, I'm a sucker for any type of lace dress really. I love that you added the scalloped edges on sleeves and hem

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  32. I think it's very cute, expecially with your grey jacket!

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  33. I really like the tunic length. Birthday and Mother's Day in may, totally justifies the festival of Julia.

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  34. I've been thinking of giving this pattern a shit. I saw a really cool sheer white fabric in spotlight last week and I think it would make a cool summer version. I'm just not sure of the shape on me. I tend to need a bit more definition. Although I did see one version that had waist darts added so maybe I could try that.

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  35. Hip hip hooray, happy birthday beautiful. Your Laurel looks lovely in lace.

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    1. Whoops that's my daughters Google account :) We both wish you a fab day.

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  36. Happy birthday you crazy girl! LOVE that last sentence. Yep, it's all about the dresses pour moi aussie!

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  37. Betty Stitchup20 May 2013 at 22:11

    Happy Birthday Julia! It's mine this month too - I usually make a week of it but I'm with you - birthday month it is from now on! Love the dress, the lace is so pretty and it's a groovy length - very 60's.

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  38. Happy Birthday! That's a very cute dress. I love the way you've styled it. Your whole outfit is so cute!

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  39. Julia, you look absolutely wonderful! I haven't sewn this pattern before - I've been too stuck on lingerie! lol Happy birthday!

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  40. Happy birthday month! You have become a master of lace goodness!

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  41. Happy Birthday! This look is so nice! I love this dress and the lace! I haven't sewn it yet, but it looks like something I might have to do! I just finished a nice cotton jacket with a drape in the front, you can see it on my new sewing blog. BTW: Any ideas on when the next Mad Men challenge will start? I wasn't able to get in on the last one since I'm a new follower, but I'd love to get in on the next challenge. I just watched all 5 seasons on Netflix and I am hooked! Love that show!

    -Reyna
    http://www.MySewingHabit.blogspot.com

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  42. Happy birthday, lady! This is too sweet-- absolutely love that pink lace on you! I love the Laurel pattern-- I made a most unladylike Jurassic Park-themed version of the dress, and am cooking up a few more!

    Hope you have a lovely birthday month! :D

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  43. So pretty, lady! Love this. Happy bday!

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  44. Happy Birthday!! Loving the Laurel pattern in Lace. May you have an awesome B-day month.

    http://www.lollipop-couture.com/apps/blog

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  45. Happy Belated Birthday!!! I love your version of Laurel. All the work you did with the lace is really impressive. Nicely done!

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  46. Happy Birthday Month! The dress looks great and totally worth all the stress with sewing it for that result :)

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  47. wow.How style you are!!!

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  48. Wow Julia, I love your blog, who takes your amazing photos for you? I've been inspired to start my own blog, ANY feedback you (or your guests) have for me are appreciated. http://annakistideas.blogspot.com.au/

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  49. Such a beautiful 60's silhouette! You look amazing and have done such an excellent job making this. Happy birthday month to you! xo

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  50. This dress is suitably for your birthday.

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  51. Hello, Happy birthday and what a pretty birthday dress to have made and now be rockin! :) Im new to these here parts of the blogosphere, your blog is very pretty and now im off to explore more of it. Cheers!

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  52. BEAUTIFUL!!!! My Colette Laurel doesn't even compare to yours!

    http://sewcharleston.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/colette-laurel-in-white-eyelet/

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  53. That is a beautyfull Laurel! You inspired me to make my first Laurel Dress! I gave you some love at my latest post on my blog: http://trollemors-hverdag.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=th83f0EBAAA.hP0KOuWSauaqzP6N1IJPsw.dfmUaSdpBAmhFOFnpQGSjw&postId=3232227233367984689&type=POST

    Have a look:D

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