Well, you can’t say I didn’t give this whole print thing an honest go! I used to think that it’s because I just hadn’t found the right print but when I did, I’ll fall in love.
So what better way to find that perfect print than a print on demand service, right? You might already be familiar with Spoonflower, as many people in the sewing community use them. I never tried them, but recently I was contacted by a company called Cotton Bee to give their print on demand service a go.
This little number was the result of this collaboration.
So, did it make me fall in love with prints?
Before I tell you the answer, shall we talk a bit more about CottonBee?
CottonBee is a Polish company that has recently launched in the UK. I was convinced to give their prints a try because all CottonBee fabrics are certified according to OEKO-TEX, which means they have been tested for harmful chemicals and are found to be safe.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I was offered a credit to spend on CottonBee to try out the service. This fabric was purchased with that credit and therefore was sent to me at no cost to myself. All opinions are my own.
How it works: you choose your fabric in wovens (voile, cretonne, satin, line, gabardine) and knits (sweatshirt jersey, single jersey, interlock), then choose your print from over 14,000 designs. I ordered a swatch book to see what the fabric feels like and I would recommend doing that, just to make sure the fabric and print will end up working for your intended project. You can also tweak the size of the print so that you can get different looks with the same design. I found the system to be really straightforward and choosing your pattern is actually the hardest thing to do. They print and deliver from Poland, so expect a few days for your order to arrive. They send all parcels with DPD, so you will get notifications on when to expect your order.
I ordered this cretonne that I used to make today’s project, plus a voile for a surprise project and a gabardine for a bag to be made later in the year.
I washed all fabric in the washing machine on a regular cycle and line dried, and I did not notice any fading. However, the cretonne unravelled a bit. I recommend overlocking the edges before washing. All 3 fabrics iron well, but I would press when wet, as they got quite crinkled in the washing machine. Or hand wash.
I have not used other print on demand services, so I can’t say how they compare in process, quality or price, but overall, I was very happy with the fabric I received. The cretonne turned up a bit bigger than I expected, which was totally my fault, but both the gabardine and the voile were perfect. I already have two great projects earmarked for them, which I will share soon.
But for now, let’s talk about this little dress here…
Pattern details Burda Style 04-2016 #115
I made a version of this pattern before, as a top and it got loads of wear. I could not wait to make it as a dress. It was the perfect simple shape to highlight the pattern and without too many details to distract from the bold print.
What I like the most about the pattern is the back detail, obviously, and the pockets. Everything is improved by pockets.
And what’s even better, I got it out of 1m of fabric (1.5m/ 60” wide). I had to do some creative pattern cutting for the pocket lining and I omitted the facings (not just because there wasn’t enough fabric, I just really dislike them!).
Sewing Burda Style 04-2016 #115
I had altered the sleeves to make them a bit wider and I also moved the bust dart, as it was hitting a bit high on my bust. The pattern fiddling took a bit, but now it’s all sorted, it would be much quicker next time.
Otherwise, this dress is a super easy make, it took me less than an hour to sew it together. Insides are all overlocked and the neckline was finished with bias binding. Sleeve edges and hem were overlocked and topstitched down.
Geometric Shift Dress: Details Recap
Pattern: Burda Style 04-2016 #115 size 38, sized to 40 in the hips area
Fabric: Cretonne printed on demand from CottonBee
Disclaimer: I was offered a credit to spend on CottonBee to try out the service. This fabric was purchased with that credit and therefore was sent to me at no cost to myself. All opinions are my own. This is not a sponsored post or ad.
Alterations: omitted facings and finished neckline with bias binding instead
Next time: I think this pattern needs a fabric that has a bit more drape. Maybe try it out in jersey. I am definitely not giving up on this one yet, I would love
Verdict
I’m afraid that in spite of loving the pattern and fabric on their own, this is waaay too much print for my wardrobe. I know I will not wear it, so I decided to give it a new loving home. As soon as I saw this print, I thought it would be just perfect for my colleague Sarah. I will need to adjust it a bit, but she really really loved it. So, all’s well that ends well.
HAVE YOU TRIED PRINT ON DEMAND? HOW DID YOU FIND IT? ANY COMPANIES YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS OR TWEET ME @SEWRENDIPITY!
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