Time to celebrate the brand new images of the Clementine dress and top! If you haven't got your Clementine dress and top pattern yet, you can buy it here. And YES, just like our Valerie photo launch, there is a sale! Get 15% off Clementine all week - just use code YAYCLEMENTINE at checkout to get your discount (offer ends on March 3rd).
Read on to see the new pics as well as the fabric details, and some tips!
When it comes to cool weather, Clementine definitely has you covered. Check out our lovely cowl neck version with full length sleeves, made in a beautifully soft fabric.
You'll notice this softer knit drapes quite differently to the berry-coloured Clementine. Softer fabrics have less body, so they don't hold the flared shape of the skirt as much. This knit fabric is an acrylic blend, which mimics the softness and warmth of wool.
Side note: Acrylic is a synthetic fibre; I much prefer wool and natural fibres in general, both for breathability and sustainability reasons. An ongoing aim of Forget-me-not Patterns is to improve our sourcing and sustainability credentials!
The princess seams on the Clementine give you so many areas to tweak the fit. Many knits simply have side seams, but Clementine has princess seams on the front and back, so you can elevate your knit garments to a much more refined feel.
In general, people have found that the stretch properties of a knit in combination with the shaped princess seams give a flattering fit to a wide variety of body types! However, we also have shared a tutorial for altering for a larger bust, so check that out if you need it.
Note: It is in our future plans to add a full bust supplement to our core Clementine pattern, so please let us know if that's something you would love to see!
- Make sure your fabric is soft and drapey enough to complement the cowl. The berry-coloured fabric (a ponte knit) would make a stiff, inelegant cowl. But this soft fabric looks gorgeous.
- Clementine features a small, delicate cowl neck, but what if you prefer yours a little deeper? We've got you covered! Check out our easy tutorial on how to deepen the cowl (and yes, you can use this patternmaking tutorial for other garments too)!
Be careful if your print is directional! Luckily this print can be flipped upside down with no issues. You will be able to get a more fabric-efficient layplan if you can flip your pieces upside-down. That is why you must allow more fabric for directional fabric.
Our next flavour of Clementine shows off the scoop neck, and the difference your fabric choice can make! This is a rayon (also known as viscose) ponte, which is a type of knit fabric that has quite a bit of body. It's perfect for a more structural approach.
For people who may be a little less confident or experienced with knits, a nice firm knit will be much easier to cut and sew with. Look for double knits, interlocks and pontes. These are all thicker fabrics that won't move around as much. They also skim the body a little more, instead of clinging, the way more lightweight fabrics can do.
I think one of my favourite things about this pattern is its versatility. Ever heard of the phrase "secret pyjamas"? It's a term that some sewers like to call garments that are super comfy but look dressy. Clementine is a perfect secret pyjamas pattern! The princess seams give it a tailored look but it is SO comfy!!
The ultimate for dresses! However, choose your pockets on a fabric-by-fabric basis. For thick fabrics like ponte, you do not want the extra bulk. It is also best to avoid pockets in super clingy, lightweight knits. But it's great to have the option!
I love how versatile this pattern is, so I hope it lends itself to multiple makes for you. We haven't even shared pictures of the top version yet, so look out for that soon!
I'm looking forward to seeing more lovely Clementines. Each one of them inspires me and makes my day! Check out our Instagram or Facebook for inspiration and updates. You can also search under #fmnClementine on Instagram. And remember, you can buy Clementine here (don't forget your sale code, YAYCLEMENTINE!).
I'm so happy to share these images with you all. Thank you for all the support you have given the Clementine pattern so far! Stay tuned for more news, and more designs coming your way soon.
The Clementine dress and top now has a full bust option, giving you more versatility with your fit, and giving a wider range of people the option to make Clementine!
Clementine was the first pattern we ever released (aww!). It's really nice to provide ongoing support and updates for our patterns.
Check out our in-depth video on sewing an invisible zip! This tutorial was created as part of the extra content for the Ella skirt, which you can buy here. But naturally, you can use this tutorial for any pattern which uses an invisible zip!
I have been developing my invisible zip technique for years, and have tried every way of sewing them! I have combined all the things I've learned along the way into my own ultimate method. I absolutely love this pinless way of sewing. And if it scares you to sew without pins, don't worry, I have some handling tips, and even some examples that show you what not to do. If you still prefer to use pins, of course that's okay too! Sewing is all about doing it the way that makes you happy.
