This post is part of my Colette Diaries series. Feel free to check out my original Colette Diaries post for schedule and previous posts!
Today I begin work on the Colette Crepe dress. It’s an easy dress that wraps closed with ties…no buttons or zippers! In case you’re following along at home, feel free to check out the Crepe pattern for yourself at this sweet discount: SEWSWEETCREPE. The discount is valid in the Colette pattern shop until end of day August 31st.
The pattern calls for 4 yards of fabric, and so I decided to use these thrifted bed sheets; I have 2 twin sheets and they were $6 for both. The stripes in this fabric run on a diagonal, and that’s how I left it when cutting for the skirt.
There are 2 skirt pieces (front and back), and for each 2 pieces needed to be cut. I changed it up a tiny bit and cut each of the skirt pieces on the fold, as pictured above, because I didn’t want to break up the rainbow stripes. I did the same thing when I made the Colette Ginger skirt, and it worked out really well.
There are 2 different options for necklines, the rounded neckline and the sweetheart neckline. I opted to go with the rounded neckline because I have a small bust and I was worried that my upper body might get swallowed up with that sweetheart neckline. Maybe it’s just in my head. I kept going back and forth about it, really.
I am using a contrasting fabric for the ties, to make them stand out. I decided to go with a sunny yellow fabric, also thrifted. The yellow fabric came from a king-sized yellow bed sheet, which I purchased for $1. I used part of the sheet for backing for this quilt.
This is my first project entirely made using thrifted and also repurposed materials. The rainbow sheets were $6, the yellow fabric $1 (and I had already used half of it on the quilt!), and my thread is vintage (I got it for free from my grandmother’s friend), so the total cost of materials for this dress is only $7! Hopefully I can pull it off and it looks smashing, because friends, that’s a bargain.
What a cool sheet! Can’t wait to see the dress 🙂
I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Sounds like it will be pretty neat!
What great fabric! I love the rainbow stripes. Congratulations on some successful thrifting. Can’t wait to see how the dress turns out!
Ditto the coolness of the rainbow thrifted sheets. Thanks for posting the code, too. I went for it!
I thnk that you could rock the sweetheart neckline, though. I should try that version and we can compare. (I too am not busty… But I think that the sweetheart neckline can offer a bit illusion of those of us less-endowed. LOL)
Can’t wait to see how your rainbow frock “develops”… Bad pun. :-/
It is supposed to read, “a bit of illusion FOR those of us less-endowed.” oops!
I
I can’t
G
(Gah! Sorry about those three comments before this….3:30 am commenting on a phone is probably not the best idea!). Anyway…I cant wait to see this dress and how the stripes are going to play out. Very fun!
I agree with you about the sweetheart neckline. I’m wary. I think that, without the bust to at least somewhat fill it, those lovely curves at the neckline will only make my lack of curves more obvious! So curious to see the finished project. I love the concept… and the price!
Hey I have those sheets from when I was a kid. Can’t wait to see the finished product.
I am SO excited to see how this turns out!! So cute.