Yep, we’re looking for more help!

We are actively seeking a graphic designer to help with designing and creating print promotions… we’re talking posters, signage, lookbooks, press kits, and all that fun stuff. Experience with print design is necessary, as is creativity, a portfolio of strong work, and all around awesomeness. This is a short-term contract position in Portland.

If you’re interested or know someone who would be perfect, check out the full job description on the Colette Patterns jobs page, and send along your portfolio!

{image above: screenworksltd}

This month we’re going to be talking about things to do before you sew: planning, cutting, marking, treating your fabrics, and all the other little things that can make your projects go a little more smoothly. Stay tuned!

If you’ve been thinking of tackling the Lady Grey coat but need a little guidance, this might be perfect for you. Gertie is hosting a Lady Grey sew-along on her blog, complete with instructions for planning, fitting, construction, along with additional tailoring techniques for coat-making. Pretty awesome, huh?

I’m also offering 20% off on the pattern for participants of the sew-along… just use code GERTIE20 at checkout. The offer goes until the end of September, around when the sew-along begins.

Happy sewing all! And if you need some ideas to get the creative juices going, be sure to check out the gallery and see what some other ladies have made.

For the next several months, we’re going to cover some important sewing themes and concepts here on the blog. For the next few weeks, we’ll be talking about fabric, a subject I am particularly passionate about. We’ll be talking fiber, structure, and choosing the right fabric.

Feel like contributing a guest post or tutorial on the subject of fabric? Get in touch!

{image above: Silk fabric, Chatuchak Park Weekend Market, Bangkok by winklerw}

Just wanted to drop a note to tell you that I’m doing my first giveaway on the Colette Patterns Facebook page, if you’re interested! I’m giving away 4 yards (or up to $40) worth of a fabric of your choice from Sew Mama Sew. You only need to pick your favorite and let me know what it is in the comments section of the post on our Facebook page.

I’m hoping to do more future giveaways there, so become a fan on Facebook if you’re interested!

Carrie is our newest contributor to the Colette Patterns blog! She is going to be here every week with new posts on sewing basics and technique, as well as her own sewing experiences. Here’s a little about Carrie, in her own words:

“I grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin, went to college in California, and am currently living part of the year in southern New Mexico and part in Vancouver, Washington… but I’m planning to move to Canada within the year. My greatest desire is to be a professional dabbler — there isn’t much I like better than messing around with some new hobby, with no need and only a mild wish to become good at it. Barring that, I’d like to become a professional librarian.

I live with my dog, but the pupcake and I both love cats and hope to add one to our family soon.

I’m so excited to be blogging for Colette Patterns! Of all the things I dabble in, sewing is one of the most loved. I can’t wait to learn more over the coming year and to talk with all of you.”

Please welcome her, and look for her first post later today!

Are you interested in joining the blog? We’re also looking for someone to write about fashion and sewing history, so if you’re interested, get in touch!

For you Facebook users out there, check out our brand new facebook page for Colette Patterns! Now you can join and get all kinds of updates through Facebook, like the blog feed and photos, or participate and even add your own photos. I may even have some special polls or contests for the Facebook fans.

The photo above is the very first one to be added (by someone other than me, that is)… these lovely Madeleine bloomers Jennifer made for her 21-year-old daughter for lounging in the dorms. So cute! If you have photos, I hope you’ll consider adding them too.

Oh, and there’s also the very active Colette Patterns Flickr group, if that’s more your thing (it’s definitely my thing.)

Guys, I’m on vacation this week (currently soaking up the heat in Palm Springs for a couple days!), but wanted to point out this lovely interview with me over at the Sewbox blog.

For those of you in the UK, Sewbox already has the new patterns in stock, and even these nifty pattern packs. Check them out!

I wrote a guest post over at the wonderful Sew Mama Sew blog this week, all about the mighty dart! Darts are one of those seemingly simple things in sewing that actually provide the key to understanding patterns and getting the right fit.

Read my little primer on darts over at SMS so you can see how they work and how you can use them to your advantage!

I am really excited to tell you guys about our brand new studio space! It’s in a lovely brick industrial building in SE Portland, a corner space with an entire wall of windows. The place is so bright that it glows!

We’re still getting set up, of course. But here’s what we’ve got so far.

I’ll share more photos as we get the place set up and decorated!