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Blog tour and big giveaway for The Colette Sewing Handbook!
All through the month of November, I’ll be participating in a blog tour to help share The Colette Sewing Handbook with the world!
As many of you know, with this book I really wanted to create something that would be a guide to more thoughtful, beautiful, and engaged sewing. That’s why I tried to cover topics that aren’t always well represented in sewing books, such as planning out projects, learning about different types of fabric, and getting a good fit. These are the types of things I wish I’d learned first thing, rather than through years of trial and error. And of course, I wanted it to be very visual and hands on.
You’ll get a chance to see some of that in the posts on the blog tour, as well as some interviews and giveaways.
Giveaway
I’m also doing a giveaway right here, for a copy of the book (signed, of course!) and five patterns of your choice. All you have to do is leave a comment here letting me know your favorite pattern (either from the book or the shop), and I’ll draw a winner on Dec. 5, once the tour is over.
This giveaway is open to everyone, and I will ship worldwide!
ETA: We have a winner! Congratulations to Renee, who was randomly chosen by the random number generator, with her comment:
“I’ve been waiting for a book like this one! My favorite would be……….the Lady Grey coat! I love it!”
Tour Schedule
Here’s the schedule for the tour. Visit these guys for more fun posts, reviews, examples of things they’ve made, and giveaways!
Nov 2: Craft Buds – interview and giveaway
Nov. 3: Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing – lace insertion tutorial for the Licorice dress
Nov. 4: Sewaholic – book excerpt
Nov. 8: Flossie Teacakes – Interview with Sarai and book review
Nov. 8: A Fashionable Stitch – book excerpt and review
Nov. 9: Pink Chalk Studio – Book review
Nov. 10: Craft Gossip – Interview with Sarai and giveaway
Nov. 11: Bolt Fabric – book review
Nov. 14: True Up: Fabric Fives with Sarai
Nov. 15: Frolic! – On styling the book’s photos
Nov. 15: Threads Magazine – Giveaway
Nov. 16: Whipstitch – book review
Nov. 16: Honey Kennedy – Styling ideas
Nov. 17: A Dress a Day – Interview with Sarai
Nov. 18: Not Martha – book review
(break for Thanksgiving week)
Nov. 28: Casey’s Elegant Musings – Project Planning, book excerpt and Casey’s thoughts
Nov. 29: MADE – giveaway
Nov. 30: Sew Weekly – book review
Nov. 30: Oh! Fransson – Elizabeth’s version of the Taffy pattern
Dec. 1: Sew Mama Sew – Guest post from Sarai on grainlines
Comments
steff
November 3, 2011 #
oolong for me!!
Jusa
November 3, 2011 #
Congratulations! You’re an inspiration. I can tell you’re a tea drinker, with some pastries on the side. Very amusing names for your patterns. As daunting as it seems to sew a coat, I love Lady Grey.
Lauren Clark
November 3, 2011 #
Oh, picking a favorite is so hard! I think I’d have to say the Crepe dress, it’s such a sweet, feminine pattern. And all it took was a few small alterations and I was able to were a Crepe dress and top through my pregnancy! Though I’m dying to try the Clover pattern once I’m back to my pre-pregnancy size!
Wendy
November 3, 2011 #
Hi, my favourite Colette pattern is the Crepe dress because it’s simple for a beginner like me to make and so pretty.
RulissaJ
November 3, 2011 #
What an awesome giveaway! I came over from Gertie’s blog… And I adore the new Peony pattern – so classic!! Good luck with the book!!
Nyasha
November 3, 2011 #
I have committed myself to entering for this book at every stop along your blog tour. Love the picture tutorials. Whenever I am stuck on something I just look at the picture again adn keep it moving.
Erica
November 3, 2011 #
I love the Sencha top!
Amy
November 3, 2011 #
My absolute favorite pattern of yours is Sencha. I don’t think I could run out of ideas for how to use it!
Kate M.
November 3, 2011 #
I love lady grey and the clover pants! I am a beginner, but would love to have these patterns to take on as I improve my skills :)
Karen L.
November 3, 2011 #
I think that my favorite pattern is Ginger. The patterns in the new book intrigue me, especially the Taffy Blouse as I’m a little scared to sew with such light weight fabric.
adrienne
November 3, 2011 #
I love the Rooibos dress.
Sarah
November 3, 2011 #
I love the Clover pants, but am a little intimidated as I’ve never sewn pants before. I plan on making the Peony first. It’s my favorite!
Stacey
November 3, 2011 #
i love the Cinnamon pattern! It is so classic and beautiful.
sara
November 3, 2011 #
I really love the Peony dress. I think it’s really elegant.
AmelieNoMori
November 3, 2011 #
This is a tough call! It’s so hard to choose one favorite. I think I’ll pick the Licorice dress, I’ve been wanting to make one ever since I saw your pictures of it. I love the collar and the sleeves.
Congratulations on the book release and blog tour! I see several blogs I follow listed here. ^^ I’ll have to go read the other posts too. Thank you for this giveaway.
Jenn Nelson
November 3, 2011 #
Oh it is so hard to choose a favorite. So I have four that I love! Two dresses and Two tops! I love the Peony and Rooibos Dresses! Super cute! And the two tops I heart are the Jasmine and Sencha! I want to make them all! Such a cool giveaway!
Nina
November 3, 2011 #
the pastille is gorgeous. i love the colour you made it in and everything
Tenshi
November 3, 2011 #
My favorite pattern is the Oolong dress, I think, closely followed by Rooibos and Ceylon. And Jasmine, that is one cute blouse. I also love the Lady Grey coat. Basically, everything. :)
I came over here from Gertie’s blog, btw. Very interesting guest post and such a cute dress!
clarissa
November 3, 2011 #
i’m in LOVE with your Crepe pattern!
thanks for the giveaway!
xo
-c
Joyce in NC
November 3, 2011 #
My favorite pattern is Peony. I would love a signed copy of your new book. Thank you.
Nat
November 3, 2011 #
LOVE the Crepe dress. Fits great, with no alterations. Your book would be a fabulous addition to my sewing library. I’ve begun to teach my daughter how to sew and this would be great for her to learn from as well.
Emma
November 3, 2011 #
My favourite pattern of yours is still Beignet. So cute! Can’t wait to get my hands on the book!
Nadia
November 3, 2011 #
Man, it is waayy too hard to choose a favourite Colette pattern, I love them all!! I think if I absolutely had to choose it would be the Lady Grey. A coat isn’t much use down under in Australia, but I love the dramatic collar and the silhouete it creates. Runner up favourite would be the Jasmine top I think.
Thanks!! :)
Chelsea
November 3, 2011 #
I have “Parfait” and made two dresses this summer from it – I LIVED in those dresses this summer. I bet I’ll love any other Colette patterns I try just as much!
Heather L
November 3, 2011 #
I think Crepe is the most beautiful dress ever! I think the style of all your patterns is awesome…great take on modern vintage. Thank you!
Anita
November 3, 2011 #
I think that all of your patterns are stunning! But my favorite has to be the Crepe, due to my love of wrap dresses. I just can’t get enough of them!
Good luck with the book; I am really looking forward to reading it, and to making a gift of it to a new sewist or two.
xo, Anita
Ines
November 3, 2011 #
I saw the Macaron pattern while browsing and stumbled upon your site. It is a very fun pattern and still my favorite!
bunny
November 3, 2011 #
i love the jasmine, it’s so pretty and girly!
Sesseley Williams
November 3, 2011 #
I absolutely adore Lady Grey…!!
Lori
November 3, 2011 #
I love the Macaron- so versatile!
anneke
November 3, 2011 #
I LOVE the ceylon pattern, it’s a gorgeous dress that fits me perfectly and is very flattering to my figure!
Tina T.
November 3, 2011 #
I love Lady Grey. It’s such a beautiful coat that I would love to wear. I just bought the Peony and I also find it so beautiful as well. It’s so hard to choose which patterns I love the best because they are all so beautiful and I would wear all of them equally.
P.S.
I would love a Peony sew-a-long. ;)
Wendy
November 3, 2011 #
Chantilly is my fave, definitely.
Emily M
November 3, 2011 #
Ceylon has been a long-time favorite!
Beverly
November 3, 2011 #
What an awesome give away! I’ve been eyeing several patterns and it would be so much fun to have a new big stack! Currently looking to work up Crepe in a soft (warm) fall fabric, and the Rooibos is a long standing fav. Congratulations on the book, excited to keep tabs on the tour!
Tracey
November 3, 2011 #
The Sencha shirt and the Lady Grey coat would be perfect together. I love both for fall and winter patterns. Too cute!
Sewing Princess
November 3, 2011 #
OMG so much to choose from. I would love Anna Sui Tiny Check Fashion and Apparel Fabric Wool Blend
http://www.hartsfabric.com/anna-sui-fashion-fabric58506.html
It would make such a wardrobe builder…maybe with a couple of contrasting belts!
Liz
November 3, 2011 #
I look forward to reading the rest of your guest posts – I’ve learnt so much already. I really love your pretty elegant dress patterns especially the Peony but as I don’t really lead an elegant dress lifestyle I think the Beignet skirt is my favourite. I’ve seen versions made by several bloggers and they all look amazing.
Maria
November 3, 2011 #
It has to be Jasmine – I’ve run up a few now and they’re great for both work and play. I love tweaking them and seeing how I can make different variants – a great learning curve for a relative newbie to garment sewing like me!
Hannah Goodall
November 3, 2011 #
I have ordered your new bok from Amazon UK, waiting for the book to be dispatched so i can start to create some lovely new clothes.
My favorite pattern is Crepe- inspired by Gertie’s recent sew-a-long!
Jessie H
November 3, 2011 #
I have to choose Sencha, it’s just such a beautiful and flattering shirt.
Anne in DC
November 3, 2011 #
I’m going to say the Negroni. My hubby loves his shirts and people are endlessly impressed when you make menswear (what can I say, I seek flattery and approval where I can get it).
Katie H.
November 3, 2011 #
I am OBSESSED with the peony dress!
Beth
November 3, 2011 #
Thanks for having a giveaway- I’m loving clover!
Renee
November 3, 2011 #
I’ve been waiting for a book like this one! My favorite would be……….the Lady Grey coat! I love it!
Joyce
November 3, 2011 #
I do not have any Colette patterns and do not know which would be my favorite. I would really like this book so I can have a favorite. Thank you for the chance a signed copy and 5 exclusive patterns.
bttn
November 3, 2011 #
From the shop my favourite pattern is maybe the macaron dress.
Kate Cares
November 3, 2011 #
It’s difficult to pick a favorite, I love them all, but if pressed, I would say the Chantilly!
picaropicara
November 3, 2011 #
I’ve been working on-off on making up Nutmeg, but I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Peony which also happens to be one of my favourite flowers! I’d love to make it up in a hot pink or perhaps black with some nice pink or turquoise details
Megan M
November 3, 2011 #
I just found your website through Gertie’s blog and want to get rid of my nerves and just tackle that first project! I love the Lady Grey pattern.
Ohsewfantastic
November 3, 2011 #
I love the post and will be trying this soon! Being a relative newbie to all this, all your talents amaze and excite me – I love the Beignet skirt, I’ve seen such a lot of fantastic models in various blogs that its a definate ‘must’ very soon – just hope I could master buttonholes (not tried those yet!!) – wishing you every success :)
Tatiana Di Maio
November 3, 2011 #
Well, I like all of your patterns, but my favorite is the Sorbetto Top, I am a newbie, and the top is something that I could handle, it turned out beautifully, I got compliments on it, and the fit is so perfect, it’s like it was made specially for me… I will try the Clover pants now, I am feeling adventurous…
Lindsey
November 3, 2011 #
I really like the Ceylon dress. The neckline has a really great shape.
Annie
November 3, 2011 #
My favorite Colette design is the Rooibos. I’m working on the muslin for my first one right now!
Anne
November 3, 2011 #
It’s so hard to choose a favorite pattern! I just made a Sorbetto last night and I absolutely love it (and plan to make several more!). I have daydreams of myself in several of the dresses, especially Peony, but right now I think I have to say I’ve been craving the Colette pants the most!
Anne
November 3, 2011 #
I meant *Clover* pants, of course!
Sarah
November 3, 2011 #
Jasmine is my favorite!
Krysta
November 3, 2011 #
I’ve been enchanted by Crepe since I found your site! though I do love the unusual neckline on Ceylon…
Taysha Riggs
November 3, 2011 #
I like the beignet!!
Lynn Mally
November 3, 2011 #
I’m not a new seamster, but I have learned so much from your site that I ordered your book–in part in appreciation for your efforts and in part because there is always more to know! Best of luck to you in your venture.
Allison
November 3, 2011 #
My favorite is Jasmine – I’ve been wanting a vintage-inspired neck-tied blouse for ages
Shannon
November 3, 2011 #
I am in love with Clover. A thank you on top of that for providing such a great sewing tutorial for these on the blog.
Rose
November 3, 2011 #
What a great giveaway! Please enter me. My favorite pattern is the Ceylon dress.
Ashley
November 3, 2011 #
Oooo so many nice patterns! Its hard to choose but I would have to say the Lady Grey is my favorite ;) I have a thing for coats haha!
jessica
November 3, 2011 #
my favourite is sencha. Its a very simple pattern but it’s the details that make is so beautiful. And it works to so many things depending on what fabric you choose.
Michelle
November 3, 2011 #
I’m very excited about your book (and all your patterns) – I think my favorite pattern is the Ceylon dress, now I just need the courage to make it.
Chris Howard
November 3, 2011 #
Ohhhh, how exciting! I’d have to say the pants pattern looks to be my fav!
Jo
November 3, 2011 #
It’s very hard to pick just one pattern, but I made a Sencha recently in blue & white polka dot- very fun! So, right now, I’d say Sencha is my favourite. Jo ✂
Christina
November 3, 2011 #
I really love the new Peony. I haven’t had a chance to order it yet, but it is lovely and classic!
Katie
November 3, 2011 #
I have been eying Sencha. This is perfect for so many people in my life!
Jennifer
November 3, 2011 #
What a generous giveaway! Though hard to choose, I’d have to say my favorite is Peony. Congrats on the new book! I’m looking forward to reading all those tour posts.
Joelle
November 3, 2011 #
Ohhh I have to admit that I have a thing for the macaron dress. I just Live the pretty neckline and all those gorgeous details. I may just go and buy it ( despite the scary shipping fees to Sweden) because I don’t know if I can wait to my next visit to the states to get my hands on a copy. I just love reading your blog, it’s always very inspiring and/or very helpful!
Candace Clay
November 3, 2011 #
I had pre-ordered the book and anxiously awaiting it’s arrival!! I would have to say that Peony is my current love, but I have a thing for most all colette patterns.
Kris
November 3, 2011 #
I’ve been coveting the Lady Grey for some time now. One day I’ll get up the nerve to make a coat.
Florence
November 3, 2011 #
Definately parfait!! This books on my christmas wish list too!
Dre
November 3, 2011 #
I love them all! I’m looking forward to making the crepe dress for next spring as well as the lingerie/nightgown.
Caroline H
November 3, 2011 #
It’s a very difficult choice to make, but I would have to choose between the Ginger and the Crepe.
Have a great blog tour!
butterfly
November 3, 2011 #
This is such a lovely idea! I found it through Gertie’s blog. Your post was so clear and easy to understand. Looks like I’ll be reading all your guest posts.
Amber
November 3, 2011 #
My favorite would probably be Chantilly, but there are several I love :)
Alaina
November 3, 2011 #
My favorite pattern is definitely Violet. I dream of making it in a black, sheer swiss dot to be worn with jewel toned skirts!
Jen
November 3, 2011 #
I really love the Taffy blouse from the new book and the Sencha pattern. Definitely have both these items on my wishlist.
Meghan B
November 3, 2011 #
I’d have to say that Lady Grey is my favourite pattern, I’m a sucker for a lovely coat.
Frankie
November 3, 2011 #
My favourite would have to be sencha. Such a versitile pattern in my opinion.
Charl
November 3, 2011 #
I love your work! I’m especially fond of cinnamon and oolong. Looking forward to the rest of your blog tour (thanks for the lace inset tutorial over at Gerties) and the book!
Megan
November 3, 2011 #
I love the Crepe dress and wish I had participated in Gertie’s sew-along. I definitely need more separates in my wardrobe so I love Sencha, also. The polka dot sample is darling!
VictoriaR
November 3, 2011 #
It’s so hard to pick a favorite pattern. I guess I would choose the Crepe.
Loudesid
November 3, 2011 #
That’s not an easy choice but I think the Rooibos pattern is my favourite.
All the dresses I have seen are just wonderful.
I’ve got this pattern for a while now but I will first start by the Crepe one .
Thank you so much for this giveaway!
Caroline king
November 3, 2011 #
They are all so lovely and I would love to make them all but the dress i would love to sew is Peony and perhaps some Clover pants…..the choices the choices! Can’t wait to follow your blog tour – sounds brilliant!
Katharina
November 3, 2011 #
I would love to make a Jasmine Blouse- it seems so pretty and practical.
Amy
November 3, 2011 #
The Jasmine blouse is on my wishlist to buy next; I also love the cute dresses in your book.
Corinna
November 3, 2011 #
while i (sadly) haven’t had a chance to sew one of your patterns yet, the sencha blouse would be my first choice. or the clover pants, they look great but i’m scared of sewing pants!
Sara
November 3, 2011 #
I have been oggling over the Parfait for years now. It’s silly but I have been too afraid to sew a garment since it has been about 20 years since I last sewed clothing for myself (didn’t have a machine around after 4H and finally got one in college for pillows, small projects, etc).
It is time. I sucked it up and made a simple dress for Halloween purposes and it turned out better than expected (minus the seams finishing… that could use more practice). I’m looking for muslin to practice on before making one of your dresses. Here’s hoping!
DebB
November 3, 2011 #
Congratulations on the publication of your book!! I am really enjoying your Snippets Newsletter. I have to finish up some other projects before giving your patterns a try – but Lady Grey is really calling to me!
Ellie
November 3, 2011 #
I’m in love with the new Peony dress pattern. The Clover pants look great too!
Ainslie
November 3, 2011 #
A favorite Colette? Impossible. I just finished my roobois and am so excited to wear it. Waiting for nutmeg in the mail and am thinking about how to get my hands on a clover….
Sarah Louise
November 3, 2011 #
Such a lovely giveaway – I can’t wait to buy the book :)
My favourite pattern is probably the Beignet skirt. My wardrobe is in desperate need of a few skirts!
Rhiannon
November 3, 2011 #
I think it would have to be peony, I could see myself making one for each day of the week for work, and fun.
Brooks Ann Camper
November 3, 2011 #
I’m so excited about this and reeeeeallly want to win a copy of your book and some of your amazing patterns! My favorite pattern is Nutmeg, and I can’t wait to try Jasmine. So pretty!
Kimberly
November 3, 2011 #
The Sencha! Hands down the Sencha!
Kirsten
November 3, 2011 #
I admire all the different patterns…though the Jasmine blouse is the one that is calling the most right now. Bias cuts are so flattering and feminine!
Sarah
November 3, 2011 #
I really love all of the patterns, but I just started my peony muslin and I can’t wait to wear the finished product! Plus, I keep finding all kinds of fabrics that I want to make it in… Beautiful!