Hello friends!
This knit newbie made another knit dress!
This one is the new Colette Myrtle. I pre-ordered the pattern and was able to whip it up in a jiffy! I made version 1 in a size 2x.
[source: Colette Patterns]
I just love the classic Grecian look of the cowl neckline and how comfy it is to wear this dress! It’s like wearing pajamas when you certainly don’t look like you are!
This dress was certainly a quick make. I had it done in a few hours. The longest part of the construction process for me was the waistband. I’ve never made an elasticized waistband like this one, so it took me a bit of time to wrap my head around it, even with Colette’s excellent instructions. The next time I make the Myrtle, it will be even faster though as I’ve got it all down now!
What do I love about the Myrtle? I love the cowl neck! It’s super fabulous! I also love the pockets! What don’t I love? The back seam. Not sure if you can make it without it, but I’m not into it. It actually is not all bunched up on the bottom like it looks in the following photo, but I wouldn’t say that it’s as spot-on as if I made this in a woven. I think I’ll use stay tape the next time I make this dress.
The fabric I used is this delicious teal organic cotton jersey from Hart’s Fabrics. I’m never disappointed with any fabrics that I’ve ordered from Harts. The knits are fabulous and not poor quality like other knits that I’ve ordered online.
And no…. I don’t look as thrilled in these photos as I generally do. It has absolutely nothing to do with my dress. Mr. H took these photos and he hates taking pictures…. so it’s all rush, rush, rush. Bah….. men…..
I wore this dress all day yesterday when we were in the Bay Area and walked around quite a bit in it. It’s so comfy and cool. It’s the perfect vacation dress, which is exactly what I made it for! I can’t wait to make another Myrtle! It’ll be awesome to try one in a woven fabric as well.
This dress can also be dressed up! If I was rocking some gold heels with this, it would be perfect for a night out. Don’t ya think?
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: Colette Myrtle in teal organic cotton jersey, made by me
- Shoes: Yellow Box
- Jewelry: Bauble Bar
You have been so busy in the last few months! You are amazing! I really like your version of the Myrtle! It is simple but yet very special. I am considering ordering it to tweak it as maternity dress. Which would mean raising the waistline. After making it yourself, do you think that that adjustment would work?
Laurence – this will definitely work as a maternity dress! The cowl on the bodice and the elastic on the waist make it pretty adjustable for maternity. You will need to make the skirt longer though as it’s kinda short even in the longer version, and with a baby bump it will be even shorter.
Tanya, I stumbled in to your blog when looking for pictures of Myrtle . What a lovely dress! You look fabulous and teal is YOUR color. You’ve inspired me to purchase this pattern and make Myrtle for my trip to Myrtle Beach in September.
Thank you, Janelle! Let me tell you– this is the perfect vacation dress!
Teal, such a beautiful color!! It looks great on you!
I know all about men! My hubs hates taking pictures as well so I have to do it on my own most the time.
Cute doggie!
It’s a good thing we have tripods!!!
Oh my goodness, I love this! I told myself that I didn’t need this pattern, but now I am rethinking…
You know you need it! It’s gonna look awesome on you!!
Looks great!! i got the pattern and can’t wait to sew it up!
Thanks, Meg!! You’re going love sewing this!!
This looks great, Tanya! Absolutely could be dressed up or down, and agree it would be great in a fluid rayon, too. Might have to add this to my collection… or Franken-pattern something as I think there’s a similar pattern in stash…
Hope you’re having a lovely vacation!
xx del
Thank you, Del! You could add a cowl neck pattern top to a skirt pattern and get something similar I’m sure!
Lovely dress and the colour is SMASHING on you. Hey, I can totally see this dress in full lenght with a cream bamboo knit. Add some gladiators or gold sandals for total goddess look!
I just wish I had a good selection of knits where I live so I could try my hand at the lovely knit dress by Colette. I could buy knits online, but as you said the quality is uneven, plus, shipping to Canada is always really expensive (try paying more for shipping than for fabric!).
Thank you, Rox! Yes, that sounds like an awesome look! Would definitely have to line that dress!
Yes, shipping sucks! Even being in the US I don’t really find a wide range of quality knits. Gotta keep looking, I guess! If I see some that ship cheaply to Canada, I will let you know!
This looks so great on you! I’m actually liking this pattern much more now that I see your version. That drapiness at the neckline is so nice. And I totally agree with you about Hart’s. I love ordering from them!
Thank you, Lauren! I’d love to see you in this!! 🙂 I love Harts! Never had a bad experience!
I got the Myrtle in spite of being on a buying freeze for patterns. Bad Andie! I’m so jazzed for it, though. I’m planning on making it in a woven. I think after seeing your gorgeous version I’ve bumped it up in my sewing list. 🙂 You look gorgeous as always!
Thanks, Andie! I think it’s a must have pattern for us curvy gals!!!
It’s the perfect summer vacation dress – I love the colour. I wonder what it would look like in a lovely floaty rayon?
A rayon would be lovely! I was also thinking a silk charmeuse and a georgette would be wonderful, too.
You look so fabulous in teal! I have been looking forward to seeing this pattern made up as I’m not usually keen on cowl necks and wasn’t sure how it would look on different people. It looks so great on you. I love it! XXXX
My darling photographer is still in training – he doesn’t yet understand that we need lots of photos to achieve something we want to look at. Our photoshoots are serious business!
Thank you, Poppy! I am not generally in to cowl necks, either, but as I have a RTW shirt similar to the bodice and love that, I figured I’d love the dress and I do!
I have a tripod so I don’t have to depend on my husband. Those gals who have photographer husbands and friends are pretty damn lucky!
I was actually on the fence with this pattern. But it was your version that convinced I to make it. I love your version! I picked up some solid black knit to turn it into a LBD for a getaway in August. Thank you for sharing your dress…it looks wonderful on you!
Thanks, Kristin! The Myrtle would be fabulous in black! So chic!
Thanks for sharing! It’s a lovely dress, and it looks great on you! If there’s no shaping in the back skirt seam, then you can eliminate it and cut it on a fold (minus the seam allowance). If there’s shaping, then you’re probably best off keeping the seam, from a fit perspective.
Thank you, Michelle! It’s just a straight seam back there which made me wonder about it. Honestly, I don’t really read the pattern layout or the instructions until it gets to the construction part, so maybe it explained that? Or maybe that’s how you cut it for a woven? Unsure! It worked the same though…. and no fold-line on the pattern piece.
You’d only need to have a center back seam in a woven if there was shaping or a zip there, though – so you’d be way better to eliminate it altogether I would think. Maybe it allows you to use less fabric, but if you make two folds on the yardage (or cut the whole thing on the flat) it would be fine!
Looks awesome though Tanya 😀
I think when I make it again, Sophie-Lee, I’m going to omit that seam! Unless of course I make it in a woven.
A hugely awesome make. Just gorgeous. Well done again Ms H …. Now I’m going to have to be a big copier! 😉
Thanks, T!! Copy away! You’re going definitely gonna rock this dress!!
You look gorgeous – the cut and color are amazing on you. Glad to hear Hart’s offers good knits, too… I’m disappointed by a lot of knits online.
Thanks, Meredith! Hart is wonderful! Plus quick shipping which was my main reason for ordering from there. Since I started purchasing knits I’ve noticed a huge wide range of differences. There definitely isn’t the same quality in all of them and you basically seem to get what you pay for!
Such a lovely dress! It definitely doesn’t look like pajamas 🙂 I love this pattern, it’s kind of exactly what I’ve been searching for lately!
Thanks, Kelly! The Myrtle will look awesome on you! I can’t wait to see yours!
I love the soft and drapey look of this dress. I definitely can feel the Grecian Goddess in the lines of this one. Nice!
Thanks, Jan! That’s definitely what drew me to this pattern!
LOVE! Great color and fit. Knits are the worst at photographing well, wrinkles always magically show up in the photos that aren’t really there. Is this pattern lined? I didn’t think I saw that mentioned on the description on her web site. Anyhow, this dress is perfect.
Thanks, Kathy! I can definitely see that about knits! I had even ironed this before the photos! The front of the bodice is self lined, but the rest of it is not lined. You could easily line the skirt, the back of the bodice would be a little trickier.
Tanya! I was wondering if you had a toothache! Now I know, Mr. Impatient, it looks fine , cane we go in now photographer. Had one of those. But he has evolved into a patient and creative photographer-most of the time-
I purchased the PDF version, and it is next up on my sewing schedule. I have some yellow and white burnout knit. I want it to be swirly and comfy like yours.
Nice job!
No toothache, just impatient husband! When I take some photos on our trip, I’m going to take the tripod! You are going to look so gorgeous in your Myrtle! I can’t wait to see it!!