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Thank you and Colette Sewing Handbook update
First, I wanted to take a minute to say a giant THANK YOU to everyone who bought my book, wrote me with kind thoughts, posted pictures, or left reviews on Amazon or elsewhere. You all have been incredibly supportive, and it’s wonderful to see that this massive project and huge amount of work is actually being enjoyed by real people!
In fact, the book has been so successful that we are already heading into the second printing. Can you believe that?
On the flip side, I’ve been hearing reports that the book has become increasingly hard to find now that the first print run is selling out. I know it’s been hard to find in the UK, and today we noticed that even Amazon US is not shipping the book immediately.
Kind of a bummer, but it should just be a temporary issue. In the meantime, we still have plenty of signed copies in our shop.
Thank you for making this book such a success. It’s really rewarding to actually see it leave the nest like this.
Comments
Paige Reaux Geter
March 7, 2012 #
Loved this book! It was beautiful and insightful. My grandma who is teaching me to sew really enjoyed flipping through it and nodded her head with an emphatic approval (which is a BIG deal)!
Popbabe7
March 7, 2012 #
I got it as a Christmas/ Birthday present. I haven’t had a chance to tackle any projects yet, but just looking through it makes me feel inspired!!!
Samina
March 7, 2012 #
Congratulations on the second printing! I pre-ordered mine from Amazon & since I’m a CPA in tax season, I really haven’t had a chance to sit down & savor it. It’s on my table & I caress it every so often as I pass it. I’ve got a date with it @ 5pm on April 17th, though!
Kristen
March 7, 2012 #
Congrats on a second print so soon! I got mine as a Christmas present and have enjoyed reading the tips on pattern adjustments and fabric choices.
For people looking to get a copy from a book store, Powell’s Books (one of those must stop spots for anyone visiting Portland) sells online and several of their physical locations have multiple copies available.
Jade Sheldon
March 7, 2012 #
I am so happy and so proud of all that you have accomplished. I’m also honored to have been a part of it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. When is the next book coming out? ;)
Sarai
March 9, 2012 #
Hugs to you, Jade. :) I think I need a little time off from book writing, though.
Linsday
March 7, 2012 #
I just bought the book from amazon.ca and it should ship out within the next week…so I’m pretty excited! I also bought Peony and it just arrived yesterday….now I just have to wait for my material…but I read thru the pattern last night and it is absolutely beautiful. This will be my first dress ever and I’m sooo thrilled to be making this one. There will definitely be more Colette patterns in my future!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful pattern layouts and your fabulously detailed instructions!
Lindsay
Seraphinalina
March 7, 2012 #
It is well earned success, the book is truly wonderful.
Cynthia
March 7, 2012 #
No, thank you! Your success is just a testament to what a great product you’ve put out.
Lizz
March 7, 2012 #
Congratulations on the second printing! Well earned!
Loralee
March 7, 2012 #
After checking out the book multiple times from multiple libraries, I finally decided to invest in my own copy and couldn’t be happier!!! Don’t know what took me so long, really. LOL! FYI, Barnes and Noble was super speedy so they must have copies on hand. ;)
All the recognition is well deserved. Kudos to you.
Raquel
March 7, 2012 #
Great! But I am still waiting for the Kindle version… Cannot understand why it was not released yet! So many people reading your site, your blog, your FB… Perfect book to be sold in digital form…
StephC
March 7, 2012 #
How exciting! Congratulations on a second printing!! :)
Gwen
March 8, 2012 #
I bought your book last weekend and went to work on the Truffle dress. Your tone in the book is very reassuring. As a longtime knitter, I tend to be intimidated by fabric because, unlike yarn, once you use it you can’t put it back into its pre-used (uncut) state. But after reading through the book, I traced off the Truffle bodice, made a muslin, made some adjustments, traced off another draft and am in the process of making a second muslin. I love the idea that patterns are meant to be adjusted and that, if something doesn’t fit right off the block, it’s not because my body is weird. I’m sure I will end up with a whole wardrobe of your clothes over the next few years.
Sarai
March 9, 2012 #
That’s really cool, Gwen… I’m really happy to hear that that message came across. :)
Kelly
March 8, 2012 #
I haven’t bought a book in at least 3 or 4 years (opting for the library instead), but within a week of learning about this gorgeous, relevant, modern, and amazingly helpful book, I marched down to Barnes & Noble and picked up a copy, as I was much too impatient to order it online and wait in agony until its arrival, even though it’s at least 25% more affordable on the internet, which is a big deal to someone on a miniscule college budget like me.
Your book is the only one I’ve come across that doesn’t make me feel like an old lady (not that I don’t love old ladies! I’m just not one quite yet…) for wanting to learn how to sew my own clothes at age 21. Thank you, Sarai!
Also, I just read your Day-In-The-Life interview at Tilly’s blog. Simply put, you are my hero.
Sarai
March 9, 2012 #
Wow, thank you so much! What an incredibly kind and sweet comment. :)
Krystal Diaz
March 8, 2012 #
Thank you for writting such an informative book and awesome patterns! It was nice meeting you at Sew-LA for your book signing. It’s always nice to meet sweet person like yourself :D. Hope your success continues!
Jennie Warren
March 9, 2012 #
I found the book on an online craft store after Amazon uk told me that it had gone out of stock. Just wanted to say that it has inspired me to make my own clothes. I can sew but by no means a skilled seamstress at all…but heres to a year of handmade clothes.
Thanks so much for sharing your talent and teaching me to sew.
All the best
Sarai
March 9, 2012 #
You guys, all of your comments are SO nice. Thank you. I am blushing.
Kristen
March 10, 2012 #
Congratulations !!! What a testament to you! Everytime I wear my Meringue skirt I get loads of complements, which increase when I tell people I made it. I have been sewing forever and that skirt is by far the most complemented item I have ever made! Thank you!
Kristen
Clare
March 12, 2012 #
I was suggesting the book to my kids as a mother’s day present, we looked on the website but the postage from the US made it more than we could afford. Gutted! But as I was out shopping last week I popped into my local Waterstones and it was there on the shelf at cover price, and in my shopping bag within minutes! I love it! Thanks for putting together such a beautiful book, it will help me progress my dressmaking so much, it is just what I needed to move from self taught beginner to competent seamstress.
Thanks Collette team :)
Becky
March 14, 2012 #
I was pretty astonished to find it in a Waterstones in Milton Keynes…that was my Christmas book tokens sorted out lol!!!
It’s even unavailable at Book Depository which surprised me……
Simona
March 16, 2012 #
Hi Sarai,
Finally I received your book, after a few cancelled orders on amazon.co.uk and finding a small website in the UK who still had your book at a reasonable price. It’s great. At a first glance I’ve already learnt some new tips for my sewing. So I’ve decided that I want to make some of the projects in your book and make a few post on my blog about it (it might be some time, still need to finish some other projects before).
Can I use a few pictures from your book in my posts? Please let me know.
Regards,
Sarai
March 16, 2012 #
Simona, of course! That would be wonderful.
Rachel Alcock
April 10, 2012 #
hi simona could you please tell me where you managed to get your copy .im fed up with my orders getting cancelled it would be much appreiciated :)
Sara Mason
March 17, 2012 #
Mine arrived yesterday (I’m in the UK). I’m about to go on maternity leave nice and early and wanted to do something ME related before it’s all about someone else, so decided it would be good to get back to basics and get back into good sewing habits, as I’m self taught and tend to feel I have to create a garment over a weekend, regardless of fit or quality. I’ve paid heavily for this attitude making maternity wear. One hideous dress, one great one, one hideous suit, one great skirt, etc.
I took my book to read on the bus to work yesterday and just drank it all up. As others have said, the tone is right, the book knows what it’s aiming to do and not do and sticks to it, and the whole principle of learning while you make is right up my street. I’ve never made a toile before or really understood how to adjust patterns, and so I’m determined to make this my goal, rather than churning out more clothes. At the moment, of course, I’m the wrong shape and size, so I’m going to practise the techniques until I ping back in shape overnight (I can dream) and can get going!
By the way, I’ve picked up some really good tips as well. I was going to sadly part with my tailor’s dummy in favour of a bigger one, and now much prefer your idea of padding it up with wadding to represent my size and shape better, especially as I might change over the next few months anyway. I’m such a mess of different sizes normally that no pattern is ever going to be right, so I’m feeling confident that you’ve given me the tools to take control over getting the patterns I like and making them fit.
I can’t wait!
Rachel Alcock
March 18, 2012 #
i will be getting mine for mothers day on order i have been informed :) just waiting for new stock cannot wait hopefully wont be to long :) xx
Kim
March 30, 2012 #
Do you have a rough idea of when the 2nd print run might be available? I got a gift certificate to Amazon that I was planning to spend on your book, but it’s sold out!
claudia marcone
June 15, 2012 #
Hi,
I love your book and your design unfortunate your book is been sale in amazon without the patterns in the back. This is sad when you are waiting so long to receive it, more than 3 weeks delays.
But I love your designs. The merengue skirt turn to be kite difficult at the end.. but i like it.
Asa
February 4, 2014 #
I loved the patterns in your book especially the classy dress. I made mine in African prints. See pictures
http://joysew.wordpress.com/tips/