Whenever I go to Japan, I can't resist visiting fabric shops, haberdasheries, craft stores... It must be said that the quality of Japanese supplies is always top-notch, to my absolute delight!
It inspires me a lot and allows me to select products to offer you in our shop and online shop 😊, but also to draw inspiration from the displays and highly effective product presentation methods in Japan.
And let's be honest, I also buy fabrics for my personal stash—which is already quite extensive, but when you love it... However (to ease my impulse buying guilt a little 😂), there are two other reasons behind my store purchases.
The first is that certain Japanese fabrics are reserved exclusively for the Japanese market. This means it isn't possible to import them to Belgium because the licence hasn't been paid for the Belgian and/or European market (think of licences like Pokémon, Liberty, Hello Kitty, Snoopy...). So it's only natural that I treat myself to some from time to time 😂 when I'm there in person.
The final reason is that I also like to make our suppliers happy by sewing a garment using their Japanese fabrics to wear when visiting them the following year. Since we visit several suppliers a day, I rotate year after year, and I really love 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, let me take you on a journey to discover the George dress by Atelier Bernie, and a trip to Japan too!
The pattern
You know how much I love the work of Morgane from Atelier Bernie. Morgane designs patterns inspired by vintage and cottagecore aesthetics... with lovely finishes and top-notch instructions. I've already sewn several of her designs, and the George dress had been on my list for a long time... I've guided several students through making it, and my mum practically lives in hers during the summer. So for me, it's a fantastic wardrobe staple.
As usual, Morgane honours a "historical" woman when naming her creations.
The George dress pays tribute to George Sand, the passionate novelist and 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 adorned with a retro-style turn-down collar. It features princess seams to highlight your bust. The waist is cinched with a set of ties tied at the back or sides of the dress. It closes with a row of buttons down the front, and pretty flutter sleeves grace your arms.
Two dress lengths are available: short (mid-thigh) or midi. It is lined up to the waist, but you can also line it completely by cutting the outer pattern pieces in the lining fabric as well.
Information for sewing this pattern
The George dress is available on our website as a printable PDF in A4 or A0 format.
It covers sizes 32 to 50.
Here, your waist and bust measurements will be key when choosing your size. I recommend sizing up compared to your ready-to-wear size.
For my part, I am a ready-to-wear size 36, but I sew in size 40 for the Atelier Bernie brand. So be sure to refer carefully to the size chart below.
In the sewist'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, cotton lawn, or why not even broderie anglaise...
To complete your supplies, you will need:
- matching thread(about 200 m)
- fusible interfacing suited to your fabric
- fusible grainline stay tape
- buttons
and for those who like to finish raw edges on an overlocker, you can naturally grab some matching overlocker thread cones.
My supplies
As I mentioned earlier, I used a 110 cm wide Japanese fabric for this project.
I had bought the remnant of a roll of cotton poplin featuring exclusive prints for the Japanese market, paying tribute to the city of Osaka and its icons.
What's more, this retro, slightly 70s print paired perfectly with the George dress design.
I completed it with orange popeline for the lining and to contrast the collar, and orange thread for sewing on the machine and for my overlocker.
Finally, I selected a few small buttons from my personal stash.
I recommend adding some interfacing to your supplies to give a bit of structure to the collar and button placket, which will make sewing the buttonholes much easier.
In fact, I used my buttonhole gauge and my buttonhole cutter to finish my dress, and I can't recommend these tools enough—they are a true asset in my sewing kit.
Technical steps
The recommended skill level to sew the George dress is intermediate. I find this quite accurate as there are some interesting technical steps involved.
The technical steps include:
- sewing princess seams
- attaching the lining
- sewing the collar (pay attention to the curved neckline)
- creating buttonholes and sewing buttons
- making and inserting waist ties
- setting in sleeves
- hemming
Nothing too daunting, but it does require precision nevertheless 😊
To help us out, Morgane made a video tutorial for those who prefer visual guides!
My sewing experience
I really enjoyed sewing my George dress in this lovely Japanese fabric. I must admit I was truly excited to see my supplier's reaction to seeing me dressed in this limited-edition fabric.
He couldn't believe his eyes seeing me in this fabric, and I couldn't believe I was posing next to the Billiken statue and a child's shirt made in the exact same fabric and colourway right in their office! We had a great laugh!
For your information: "The Billiken is a famous charm statue representing the 'god of things as they ought to be'. Created in 1908 by American illustrator Florence Pretz, this smiling little character with closed eyes has become an iconic symbol of luck and optimism worldwide. Although American in origin, the Billiken became the unofficial mascot of the city of Osaka. A famous wooden statue sits at the top of the Tsūtenkaku Tower in the Shinsekai district. Custom dictates that rubbing the soles of its feet brings good fortune."
Furthermore, the dress itself was a total joy to sew.
I have to say that Morgane's Patterns at Atelier Bernie are always well explained and easy to follow.
Just make sure to double-check your body measurements. I tend to find that Atelier Bernie runs "small". I sewn (as I usually do for this brand) a size 40, whereas I typically sew a size 36 in other brands.
So do check carefully before cutting into your treasured fabrics!
Would I make another George dress?
Yes, absolutely!
In Japanese fabric?Â
Definitely!Â
Find all the wonderful patterns by Morgane from Atelier Bernie here
Come on, let's get sewing!Â
