Liberty Moneta Dress

The Colette Moneta dress is a sewing blogger / insta classic. I have only made one version before with a scant one metre of grey stretch knit here. For my second version, I bust out some good stuff that has been in my stash for over 18 months (purchased in the Liberty 50% off sale). The Liberty jersey print is very pretty with a navy background and soft coral, dark coral, white and blue abstract paint 'splats'.

There isn't much to say about the construction other than this time I decided to line the bodice (as instructed) and add sleeves. The feel of the Liberty jersey is so soft and it has a fabulous drape. The only niggle was I noticed that when stretching the Liberty jersey when attaching the elastic for the skirt there are some 'strain' marks where the colour of the print is a little faded. It is a fault that is very minor so I am not going to worry about it!

Another garment made from my stash fabric #makeyourstash. I am on a roll at the moment!

I wore my new dress to see the Picasso exhibition at the Tate Modern with my friend Charlotte. I would highly recommend a visit if you get a chance to go.

Modelling my Moneta with my new Monroe Turtleneck!

The artwork I am standing in front of is by the feminist artist Jenny Holzer, entitled the Inflammatory Essays, 1979 - 82. They are a series of political, social, moral, feminist, radical and powerful short essays each 100 words long.

Have you seen any thought provoking art / music / theatre / dance recently?

The One Metre Moneta

What can you do with one metre of knit fabric?
The obvious choice would be to make a t-shirt or long-sleeved tee.

I had one metre of lovely charcoal grey four-way stretch knit fabric in my stash - one of the lovely Girl Charlee UK knits I won in the raffle at Sew Brum in October 2015.

After completing the analysis of MMM2016 I realised I have a LOT of me-made tops which got me to thinking.... could I squeeze a Colette Moneta dress out of one metre of fabric?

The answer is yes!

Yes, if you don't line it or add pockets and forget the sleeves too!

It was a very satisfying quick make and I really wish I had made one last year when I bought the pattern. The softly gathered skirt looks really flattering and the bodice is a lovely fit.

I made a few amendments. I had to add a patchwork slither to the skirt side seams on the back due to fabric limitations. I cut a size small as my waist and hips fitted into this size but ended up adjusting the bodice to probably what is now a size x small. I also lengthened the skirt by about 4cm.

I used a Prym elastic rather than the suggested clear elastic (mostly because I had it in my stash) and sewed it together with a regular foot, a stretch needle, stitch length 2.5cm, width 1cm.

It is currently un-hemmed at the neckline, arms and skirt which I love. Part of me thinks I will totally wreck this when I try to twin-needle the hem or try to sew it with a small zig-zag so I am just going to rock the unfinished look in a fashionable de-constructed meant-to-be way.

I am definitely going to make more of these!

Here are some poor quality selfies of me wearing my new dress. I will get better photos when the weather improves.

Pattern: Colette Moneta = £13.50

Fabric: Girl Charlee UK Charcoal knit = free (won in the SewBrum raffle)

Gutterman Thread: Grey from stash

Elastic: Prym extra soft elastic from stash

Total = £13.50