Pigeon wishes x Pauline
By Emma (@SewDoItEmma)
You will never know how long I procrastinated cutting into the ย beautiful fabric provided by Megan at Pigeon Wishes โฆ letโs say it was painful.
Why you ask? Well, I was scared, to be honest. Scared of making a mistake but thatโs ok, isnโt it? Sometimes I tend to overthink and then my mind goes into overdrive about what could go wrong and then common sense usually taps me on the shoulder (thank goodness!), tells me to chill the heck out and โyouโve got thisโ. It indeed happens to the best of us but sometimes we gotta cut into that beautiful fabric!
This collaboration has been on the back burner for a while, Megan and I have been quietly chatting via DMs on Instagram about how and when we could work together. Itโs been such a lovely time getting to know her and talking about our plans.
Iโve caught glimpses of the fabric that is stocked at Pigeon Wishes HQ via Instagram stories (one of these days Iโll pop in, if I can and stay forever!) let me tell you itโs a feast for the eyes and thatโs only in the 2 dimensional form โฆ Iโm imagining me stroking all the fabrics in real life.
My love of the buttons, which apparently was only meant to be a side burner for Megan โ yes I hear you (what!?!) has only grown stronger โฆ I try and reason with myself every button launch but the prettiness takes over and before I know it Iโve order maybe two or three packs/cards or buttons. Let me be honest here, if I could get one of every packet or button card โ Iโd do that in a heart beat!
Letโs talk about the chosen pattern, like the title suggests it is the Pauline Dress by Closet Core Patterns. When it first came out, I have to be honest here โ it was like a โmarmite momentโ but slowly after the release I was seeing beautiful versions that were teasing me. For me, this is usually a good sign that a. Iโm going to like the result and b. Iโm going to enjoy the sewing process. I donโt know how I know, itโs just my good old intuition.
The Pauline Dress has really cute features in itโs design like the knife pleats, square neck line and a key-opening at the back. For this collab, Iโve chosen to go with the version b, which shouldnโt really come as too much of a surprise if youโve been following me for a while! Iโm a lover of puffy and billowy sleeves and gathers so version b just sung to me. I think both versions have so many options when it comes down to choosing the fabric, whether youโd like a more structured look with a cotton or chambray or a softer look with a viscose or tencel, the Pauline could be seen differently in so many fabric options.
Before I give away what fabric I went for, Iโm going to say the Pauline is quite advanced, especially with the bodice. Getting the knife pleats in the right position and direction was no easy task. The square neck line needed precision to get the straight lines. Sure, the instructions were there every step of the way but I had to keep focused.
Lately, Iโve been loving the soft feel and look of drapey fabrics but choosing from Pigeon Wishes Shop was no easy task when it came to the crunch.
So, After much deliberating I opted for this gorgeous dark green Bemberg cupro bark crepe satin which is real life is so silky but itโs not silk. Itโs absolutely gorgeous. A really nice drape and handle. The bark jacquard on it is simply stunning, subtle but strikingly beautiful.
Iโd say the Bemberg Cupro is the same weight as standard viscoses and I feel itโs more slippery which helped put the fear into before I cut into it. I was literally dancing back and forth with the rotary cutter in my living room at the table, just full of jitters thinking if this goes wrong, what the heck Iโm I going to do?
Fortunately it didnโt. Are you relieved? I am, once I finished the dress I let it hang for a minute, whilst I stared at it in disbelief that I made it. Why, you ask? Well, sometimes thereโs that element of self doubt (yes, I get it โ believe you me).
Iโm chuffed with myself, the finished dress fits perfectly but the weather hasnโt been playing fair for cool photos in amongst Scots pines. That vision will just have to wait until the wind and rain dies down. In the meantime, I hope youโve enjoyed seeing the dress and details with that beige wall behind me and hearing about my thoughts on the fabric and the pattern.
Although the fit is bang on there was a slight mis alignment after I put in the invisible zipper in. The seam ripper had to come out so I could align the back seams, fortunately it was only one side that was wonky (Iโve got an idea how I did it and the fabric was fairly shifty) and it was easy to fix. I think I may have to go in again as I noticed that the fabric at the bottom of the zip in bumpy, perhaps itโs the overlocker stitches that are causing the bumps? But other than that, I have to say it was fairly straightforward and not stressful.
Iโm taking something from this, actually quite a few things. I have a good skill set now and my head needs to remember that.
Ok, I need an occasion to wear this or do I?
