My George dress from Atelier Bernie is going to Japan to visit our sup

When I go to Japan, I can't resist visiting fabric stores, haberdashery, and craft shops... I must say that the quality of Japanese materials is always top-notch, much to my delight!

It inspires me a lot and also allows me to select products to offer you in the shop and on the webshop 😊 but also to get inspired by the displays and very effective ways of presenting products in Japan.

And let's be honest, I also buy fabrics for my already well-stocked personal collection but when you love something... However (to ease my guilt over impulse buying 😂), there are two other reasons for my in-store purchases.

The first reason is that some Japanese fabrics are reserved for the Japanese market. This means they cannot be imported into Belgium because the license has not been paid for the Belgian and/or European market (think of licenses like Pokémon, Liberty, Hello Kitty, and Snoopy...) so it's normal that I treat myself to some from time to time 😂 when I'm there.

The last reason is that I also like to please our suppliers by sewing a piece in their Japanese fabrics to visit them the following year. Since we visit several suppliers per day, I alternate from year to year and really enjoy giving them a little nod this way!

So, this year, I decided to sew the George dress from Atelier Bernie in an exclusive fabric paying tribute to the city of Osaka to visit our favorite suppliers! Come on, I'll take you to discover the George dress from Atelier Bernie but also to Japan!

The pattern

You know I really love the work of Morgane from Atelier Bernie. Morgane is a creator of vintage-inspired, cottage core patterns... with beautiful finishes and top-notch instructions. I've already sewn several models from this designer, and the George dress has been on my list for a long time... I've helped several students make it, and my mom never takes it off in the summer. So for me, it's an excellent wardrobe basic.

As usual, Morgane honors a "historical" woman by naming her creations after her.

The George dress honors George Sand, a passionate novelist and a leading figure in the fight for women's independence. So, if you are looking for a feminine dress to wear every day, the George dress is made for you!

It is inspired by vintage dresses with a touch of romance. Its V-neckline can be sewn as is or enhanced with a retro-style turned collar. It features princess seams to highlight your bust. The waist is cinched with a set of knots at the back or on the sides of the dress. It closes with a row of buttons down the front, and pretty butterfly sleeves dress your arms.

Two dress lengths are offered: short (mid-thigh) or midi. It is lined up to the waist but you can also fully line it by cutting the outer pieces from the lining as well.

Information to sew this pattern

The George dress is offered on our site in PDF printable in A4 or A0.

It comes in sizes 32 to 50.

Here, the waist and bust measurements will be decisive for choosing the size. I recommend sizing up compared to your commercial size.

For my part, I am a size 36 in commercial sizing but I sew a 40 for the Atelier Bernie brand. So be sure to refer to the size chart below.

In the seamstress's basket

To sew the George dress, you will need a woven fabric such as linen, cotton poplin, viscose, or tencel, a cotton/linen or linen/viscose blend, a cotton lawn, or even an eyelet embroidery...

To complete your supplies, you will need:
- about 200m of matching thread
- fusible interfacing suitable for your fabric
- fusible stay tape
- some buttons
and for those who want to serge raw edges, you can of course get matching serger cones.

My supplies

As I mentioned earlier, I used Japanese fabric with a width of 110cm to sew my project.

I had bought the last piece from a roll of cotton poplin with exclusive patterns for the Japanese market, paying tribute to the city of Osaka and its symbols.

Also, this retro pattern, a bit 70s style, matched perfectly with the George dress model.

I added an orange poplin for the lining to contrast the collar, and orange thread for machine sewing and my serger.

Finally, I selected a few small buttons from my personal stash.

I recommend supplementing your supplies with interfacing to stiffen the collar and button placket a bit; this will make sewing the buttonholes easier.

By the way, I used my buttonhole ruler and my buttonhole opener to finish my dress, and I can only recommend these tools—they’re a real plus in my sewing kit.

Technical points

To sew the George dress, the recommended sewing level is intermediate. I find that quite accurate because there are some interesting technical points.

The technical points are:
- sewing the princess seams
- attaching the lining
- collar (watch the neckline curve)
- making buttonholes and sewing on buttons
- making and inserting a drawstring
- setting in sleeves
- hems

Nothing too difficult, but it does require precision 😊

To help us, Morgane made a video tutorial for those who like that!

My sewing experience

I enjoyed sewing my George dress in this beautiful Japanese fabric. I must say I was really curious to see my supplier’s reaction to seeing me dressed in this limited edition fabric.

He couldn’t believe seeing me in this fabric, and I couldn’t believe posing with the Billiken statue and the child’s shirt made from the same fabric and color as mine in their office! We had a good laugh!

For your information "The Billiken is a famous lucky charm statue representing the 'god of things as they should be.' Created in 1908 by American illustrator Florence Pretz, this little smiling figure with closed eyes has become an iconic symbol of luck and optimism worldwide. Although American, the Billiken has become the unofficial mascot of the city of Osaka. A famous wooden statue sits atop the Tsūtenkaku tower in the Shinsekai district. Tradition says you should rub the soles of its feet to attract good luck."

Besides, the dress itself was a real pleasure to sew.

I must say that Morgane’s patterns from Atelier Bernie are always well explained and easy to follow.

Be sure to check your measurements carefully. I tend to say that Atelier Bernie sizes run "small." As usual for this brand, I sewed a size 40 when I usually sew a 36 in other brands.

So make sure to check carefully before cutting into your treasures!