Start your sewing adventure with us.    Join Seamwork

Articles on this site were all published prior to 2017 and this site is no longer updated. Please visit our current Articles, Patterns, and Classes for the most up-to-date content and products.

2011: The Year in Tutorials

Phew! 2011 has been a busy year for us at Colette Patterns! Just take a look at all these tutorials we’ve concocted for you lovely readers. I know I’ve learned a lot of sewing techniques this year and I hope you have too. We’d also like to thank the wonderfully creative Rachel who wrote many tutorials and projects for us in the first half of this year.

This is a comprehensive guide to the tutorials from the year. If we’ve missed something, please let us know in the comments. Remember, you can always access all our tutorials through the link on the sidebar.

Do you guys have any favorites from this past year, or maybe favorite things you’ve done with them?

Clover Sewalong

Adjustments:
Pants Fitting Cheatsheet
Large or Thin Leg Adjustments
Large Calve Adjustment
Swayback Adjustment
Full or Flat Butt Adjustment
Wide or Narrow Hip Adjustments
Lengthen or Shorten the Torso
Full or Flat Belly Adjustments

Sewing
Choosing the Right Fabric
Making Your Muslin
Seam Finishes
Lining and Underlining
Pockets and Darts
Assembling the Legs
Waistband and Pocket

Rooibos Sewalong

Adjustments
Full Bust Adjustment
Small Bust Adjustment
Grading for Larger Hips

Sewing
Fabric and Interfacing
Curved Seams and Finishes
Sewing the Pockets
Finishing and Hemming

Techniques

Stitches
How to Gather Stitches
Staystitching
Topstitching
Understitching

Basics
Build Your Sewing Vocabulary
Fabric Series Roundup
Understanding Grainline
Cutting Fabric
How to Make Thread Loops
How to Make Piping
How to Sew Darts
How to Install an Invisible Zipper
Invisible Zipper with a Facing
How to Match Plaids and Stripes
Point Turner Tutorial
Continuous Bias Tape

Seam Finishes
Bias Binding: Facing or Detail
Bias Bound Seams Part 1
Bias Bound Seams Part 2
Mock Flat Fell Seams
Flat Felled Seams with a Specialty Foot
Flat Felled Seams without a Specialty Foot

Changing the Pattern
How to Sew a Waistband
How to Add a Waistband
How to Draft a Facing
Removing a Pleat

Details

Button Loops Tutorial
Lace Collar Tutorial
Adding Tucks
Rouleau Pocket Tutorial
Make a Scalloped Hem
How to add piping to a garment
Ginger Waistband with Flat Piping
Arrowhead Tack Tutorial
Lace Yoke Tutorial
Knickers with Lace Applique and Trim
Surface Cording Tutorial
Corded Pintuck Tutorial

Projects

Free Download: Sorbetto Top
Pretty Felt Flowers
Fabric Flower Accessory
Clara Bow Pin
Winter Warmer Cowl

Caitlin Clark

Caitlin is the Colette Patterns design assistant. You can follow Caitlin at her blog, the story girl.

Comments

Tors

December 27, 2011 #

Wow, I knew you guys had been busy but when you see all the tutorials laid out like that … just wow! And thank you!! I’ve bookmarked many and will be referring to them as my go-to tutorials over the coming year as I try to up my sewing game. You guys have done fantastic work this year, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2012!

Pauline

December 27, 2011 #

Hi, I have just received my copy of the Colette Sewing handbook (signed by the author, please!) and my first two colette patterns and I am so happy. The book is beautiful, I can’t wait to read it cover to cover, to make the lovely patterns and I guess I will need some of the many tutorials you wrote this year. Anyway, congratulations for a year full of beauty and for sharing it with us. Happy New Year 2012 …

Sarai

December 27, 2011 #

Thanks Pauline! I’m glad you love the book!

Maria

December 27, 2011 #

Each one is so precise and easy to follow! Since I know that you have them on the sidebar, I just visit whenever I have a question…Thank you so much for sharing this and putting it together for all of us :)

Maria

cowroad

December 27, 2011 #

I just received your wonderful book for Christmas and now, together with all these tutorials in a row, I can finally re-start and extend my sewing skills: thank you! :-)

Debi

December 27, 2011 #

What a fabulous round-up and wow, you have sure done a lot!!! Thanks so much!!!

Rebecca

December 27, 2011 #

Thank you so much for all of this hard work! My sewing has improved so much! The only reason it has improved is because of your book and blog. Thank you

Kerry

December 27, 2011 #

I’ve found your invisible zipper tutorial invaluable and was very pleased to see it in the Colette Handbook too, so now I can look there instead of turning on the computer to double check. I really want to try the lace yoke tutorial too, that’s one I’ve had at the back of my mind since it appeared.

Lizz

December 27, 2011 #

I’m with Tors – I knew you were busy but when you see all those tutorials laid out – whew! Amazing! My favorites are always the detail tutorials but I’ll be coming back for the fitting techniques as I try to fit more patterns in 2012.

Sarai

December 27, 2011 #

Thanks for all the sweet comments, guys. Caitlin and I were amazed ourselves after putting together this massive list.

And if there’s anything you want to see covered in 2012, don’t hesitate to ask. We like having new ideas in the queue, even if we can’t promise to cover everything.

Anna | Mormor hade stil

December 27, 2011 #

Amazing list!

One thing that would be high up on my wishlist is a tutorial or something showing how to adjust a pattern (skirt/trousers) to accomodate the belly when being pregnant. The best thing of all would be a new maternity colette pattern … ;-)

Jennifer

December 27, 2011 #

What a list! I am hoping for a copy of the book for Christmas (we have a late Christmas this year). I am definitely going to be checking out the tutorials after the first of the year! Thanks for writing such wonderful instructions.

Francesca

December 28, 2011 #

Wow. I’ve recommended your blog to many friends, knowing there were many amazing tutorials, but now am flabberghasted by this neverending list! You guys rock.

On another note – just completed my first meringue – a “wearable muslin” ;) in teal wool – fits perfectly, and looks fab! Next is a black brocade one:).

What I’d love to see next year is a pattern for a jacket – something 50s-ish, cropped to the waist – I have bought a few vintage ones but would love the Colette touch!

Miss Crayola Creepy

December 28, 2011 #

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Maren

December 28, 2011 #

It probably seems silly, but I loved the thread loops tutorial. I’ve always wanted to add them to my dresses and who knew they were so simple?

liacioula

July 6, 2012 #

Mms

May 25, 2014 #

Thank you, thank you, thank you!