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This week at Colette Patterns: The joys of self-employment

It’s true, running a business is not all wine and roses. But there’s nothing like waking up on a beautiful 84 degree day and simply deciding you’d rather not go to work.

…Which is exactly what we did yesterday. I put on my white pique Lily dress (which I haven’t had nearly enough occasion to wear) and after a quick stop at the office, we bugged off and spent the day sitting outside, having a pint at lunch, and grabbing some of the delicious coconut lemon saffron sorbet from Fifty Licks.

I also took a little trip to Mill End with Kenn’s mom while she was visiting.

The purple linen is for an article I’m writing for Sew News, and the (gorgeous, gorgeous) aqua silk was an impulse purchase because it was the last yardage on the bolt.

These others are for home things, mostly pillows. There’s a really nice ikat polka dot buried in there.

This one with the pine trees is pretty awesome, I think. Kenn said maybe it looks like Christmas. I just like the simplicity and northwest vibe, though.

Finally, these are some of the last of my favorite garden roses. I planted these this year and they smell like heaven and are called Jude the Obscure. I’m a little rose-crazy at the moment.

Casey found some great links for us this week, take a look!

  • This hand-stamped fabric tutorial is for a handkerchief, but wouldn’t it be neat on a large piece of fabric?
  • How to create a crisp facing on a highly angled neckline.
  • This candy-tin sewing kit is a great thing to take on the road with you or keep in your purse.
  • great video full of tips on sewing knits.
  • What a handy idea for those short on space: an ironing mat you can roll up and easily store (or transport).
  • Thoughts on using silk organza as a pressing cloth (and why it’s a good idea to have one on hand).
  • A little guide to various presser feet and their uses.
  • Love this idea for organizing fabric (up to 6 yards) using comic book boards–looks like like a fabric store!
  • A lapped zipper can be an elegant closure, and this Coats tutorial shows you how to easily achieve a lapped zipper.
  • On a similar topic: if your zipper is too long, here’s a quick photo tutorial on how to shorten a (nylon teeth) zipper.
  • A thrifty way to make covered pattern weights.
  • Need a specific color of elastic and can’t find it? Dye it!

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai started Colette back in 2009. She believes the primary role of a business should be to help people. She loves good books, sewing with wool, her charming cats, working in her garden, and eating salsa.

Comments

Andrea

June 22, 2012 #

Oh my goodness, I am in love with the idea of using of using the comic book boards to make mini bolts for my stash. They are already in my amazon cart. Thank you for the link!

Sarai

June 22, 2012 #

I know, isn’t that so cool? It makes me wonder if they’d fit well in my ikea boxes.

Jessica

June 25, 2012 #

I use comic book boards in my Expedit (that’s what you have, right?) and they work perfectly!

Jane

June 22, 2012 #

Lovely white dress. Your hair looks good at that length too!

maddie

June 22, 2012 #

I’m glad you took the day off! It’s summer and you ladies totally deserve it!

P.S. You looked fab on your day off!

Ginger

June 22, 2012 #

Gosh, I so desperately need a Lily dress! It’s such a gorgeous design!

Sarai

June 22, 2012 #

It is a really great summer dress, if I do say so. I feel very bombshell-y in it, but still sort of casual. It strikes such a great balance for me.

Molly

June 22, 2012 #

Spontaneous days off are the best! I was just in Portland this past weekend and a friend recommended Mill End..that place is great! And the staff was so friendly! I live in a tiny little Northern California town where it’s hard to find anything other than quilting fabric, so I was pretty much in heaven. That aqua silk really is gorgeous… Anyway, I was excited to see a post about Mill End after having just fallen in love with it; I’ll definitely be going back next time I’m in town.

Kat

June 22, 2012 #

I’m buying comic book boards today! Right now I have my fabric rolled up and fastened with an elastic and kind of piled on top of eachother – problem is that some of the fabric gets lost behind the shelf (especially some of the slippery stuff) and it’s not very organized. Also, the elastic can leave marks in the fabric :( Problem is, once I do this I’ll always be looking at my stash and never leave the sewing room again!!! Or maybe that’s not a problem…. :P

Jo

June 22, 2012 #

Your roses are gorgeous! I would be so proud if I grew something like that!

Sarai

June 23, 2012 #

I can’t take too much credit, I just planted them and gave them fertilizer!

We’re lucky, Portland is the “city of roses” so there are hundreds of varieties at our nurseries.

Amanda Lehto

June 22, 2012 #

Wow! The beautifully organized bolts of fabric with comic boards is inspirational. Such a good idea!

Claire Leach

June 23, 2012 #

That sounds such a lovely summer’s day! I usually moan if I am too hot, but so far the British ‘summer’ has been so cold, windy and wet this year. We had a bit of summer in March instead, very strange.
There has to be an up side of course, everything is very very green :-)

Claire

June 24, 2012 #

I followed the comic board fabric tutorial for my fabric, and it’s brilliant. I definitely suggest this as a good way to organise your stash!

Claire

June 24, 2012 #

BTW you look fabulous in your dress and shades, c’est chic!

Emily

June 24, 2012 #

Omigosh! That “Jude the Obscure” rose is just STUNNING!! It would be lovely to stick one in your hair while you’re rocking that dress! :)

Maddie Flanigan

June 24, 2012 #

Thanks for the stamp tutorial! I’m working on a dress that uses stamps but its always cool to see a different way or a different use of materials for the same project.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

johanna

June 25, 2012 #

Wow! You look like a movie star in that dress and those sunglasses…