Tessuti's Valerie Top

Did you see Tessuti released their new pattern today called the Valerie Top? Well, here is my version:

Before you go thinking I am an amazingly quick seamstress to have purchased the pattern, prewashed my fabric, cut the pattern out, cut the fabric out and sewed the whole thing in a couple of hours, I made this top last weekend - I was lucky enough to be a pattern tester for Colette (note: sewing this top did take only a few hours - but I'd prepped my pattern and fabric beforehand).

I've never been a pattern tester before and I have to say I was lucky to cut my teeth on one of the Tessuti patterns. It came together like a dream. I swear that when Colette drafts those patterns she is thinking of me ;-)

I made a size small in a silk/cotton voile and didn't have to make any adjustments. Pretty cool. The instructions are very clear and make the slightly more advanced elements of this pattern extremely easy. For example, Colette outlines perhaps the easiest way I've ever seen to attach bias binding that has been cut on an angle. Whenever I've had to do that in the past I've always sat there staring at the two tails of binding for about three hours before yelling "Michael!!!!!!!!!!"

I really recommend this pattern. I'm going to make a plain black or navy in a silk crepe de chine -- this one goes perfectly with my Clovers and my Moss Mini skirt so I figure I should make another one!!

I've got a few projects to post soon - catching up from my sewing over the Christmas/New Year break. Currently I'm sewing Vintage Vogue 7164 in an Italian printed linen I picked up in Brisbane. What are you sewing?