Thank you so much for your wonderful response to the Francoise sewing pattern! I’m so excited to see your creations.
If you're joining the sewalong, next week (w/c 17 Nov) we'll talk fitting, the following week (w/c 24 Nov) we'll start going through the steps to sewing Francoise, finishing up by around 5 December. If you're entering the #SewingFrancoise contest, you'll have some more time to finish up your dress before the deadline on 14 December 2014 - CONTEST NOW CLOSED.
Saving your Francoise sewing for another time? No problemo, the sewalong posts will live forever on the Francoise page on the blog so you can catch up whenever you like. Not sewing Francoise at all? The sewalong will include posts on topics such as making toiles, invisible zips and sewing piping that you may find useful anyway, even if this design isn't your style.
Francoise is such a versatile pattern, so today I thought I’d share some ideas for designing your dress:
* Mix a print fabric for the dress with a solid colour collar (have you seen Marie's gorgeous version?), or vice versa (please will someone make the collar in leopard print?)
* Go classic in monochrome, with a black dress and white collar
* Colour block the raglan yoke or sleeves, or add a centre front seam to create a checkerboard effect
* Create a textured collar with lace, sequins or beading (Christmas party dress, oh yes!)
* Modernise the design with an exposed zip at the back
* Make your own cuffs to add to the sleeves
* Insert piping or another kind of trimming into the raglan seams
* Add details such as (faux) welt pockets on the front of the dress
* Simple is often best, so stick to one solid colour for a striking look
I’ve been pinning ideas to the Francoise gallery on Pinterest, and am looking forward to adding your makes to the board!
What design ideas do you have for Francoise? I’d love to hear!
[Soundtrack: 'Comment te dire adieu' by Francoise Hardy]
