Create 8 Accessories with Maison Fauve Fabrics
Clothes aren’t the only thing in life, there are hand-sewn accessories too!
When I talk to dressmakers at trade fairs, I understand that many of them devote themselves to accessories because making clothes seems a much more complex process. In my opinion, the challenge in sewing clothes is not the technical side, because many beginner patterns are less difficult to assemble than a zipped and lined bag. But it’s more to do with a kind of sacredness: a garment is perceived as being more complicated to make, and there’s also the fear that the garment won’t fit, which isn’t an issue when you’re sewing a clutch bag, for example.
On the contrary, seamstresses who have a fine hand-sewn wardrobe sometimes neglect sewing accessories because they don’t find the same creative impetus, the slightly ‘fashionable’ side that they look for when sewing their own garments. But there are ways of having fun with accessories, like the beautiful Rosa, who has sewn an adorable little bag to match her Dandelion jacket in Botanica jacquard.
The Dandelion Maison Fauve jacket and the Cool Stitches bag in Botanica Jacquard (out of stock in this color but available in off white)
But sewing accessories is the perfect way to combine the pleasure of sewing with the learning new techniques and using small pieces of fabric. And I thought it would be a shame not to tell you more about these sewing projects, that we use a lot in our everyday lives, which are quick to make, and which are also totally compatible with a fabric category that’s close to my heart and one that we offer every season at Maison Fauve: jacquards!
What’s more, during the Fauve sales, we’re offering a selection of jacquard fabrics at low prices that are perfect for a beautiful weekend bag or a bum bag, for example.
Expert advice for pretty hand-sewn accessories
I asked Sarah, aka @todotoutdoux, to work with me on these ideas. On her website, she offers some very pretty bag patterns: the Hasta la Vista travel bag for weekends away and the ultra-pretty Adios Amigos vanity case to match, as well as the El Muchacho tote bag, and a heart-shaped Mi Corazon backpack that’s just so cute.
Sewing a bag is a great way to learn all sorts of sewing techniques: transferring a pattern to fabric, pinning pieces correctly, sewing rounded areas, sewing corners, using certain bag patterns to make inlays, lining a piece of work, fitting a zip, embellishing a piece of work with piping... All techniques that will also come in handy when you’re sewing clothes.
Sarah has real expertise in this area, and she’s perfectly suited to the problems faced by seamstresses who like to sew accessories but are new to garment sewing. I love her pop, colourful world and her superbly well-designed, upbeat content.
On her Youtube channel, she offers lots of step-by-step videos, and even devotes a whole section to “getting started with garment sewing” with a selection of very easy and accessible patterns that we offer at Maison Fauve, such as the Marisa top, the Transat dress and the Palma top, for example.
Free accessories patterns from Maison Fauve
Maison Fauve is first and foremost a brand of clothing sewing patterns, because that’s what drives me when I design the collections. But I’m also delighted to offer you among our selection of free PDF patterns such as the Pompon waistcoat and the Cédrat camisole, 2 accessory patterns to complete your look: the Fauve bob and the Nomad belt. These 2 patterns are designed for seamstresses of all levels.
Coudre une ceinture (patron spécial débutant en couture)
The Nomad belt is a pretty wide belt, reminiscent of the wide fabric tied around the waist by gauchos. It was offered free of charge in the issue of l’Oeil fauve magazine released at the time of the Sew Me Pampa collection. Reversible, very very easy to sew, it lets you play with fabrics because it’s constructed with yokes, and you can wear it on either side, with very clean finishes on both sides of the belt. To fasten it, simply tie it in the back and then tuck the strands into the waistband to hide them.
Un patron de bob gratuit pour l'été
The Fauve Bob is a pattern I gifted as part of a sewing competition 5 years ago. At the time, we hadn’t yet launched our YouTube channel, so it only had a step-by-step photos, which are still available on our website.
Now that video accompaniment is ‘the norm’ for almost all our designs, we are delighted to offer you a new video tutorial dedicated to the Fauve bob, with a little ‘extra’: the assembly range shown in the video allows you to sew a lined AND reversible bob!
I entrusted this task to Tessa, our young sewing trainee (and future apprentice). Tessa’s sewing level is between beginner and intermediate, and she had no trouble sewing the Fauve bob in our unbleached Botanica jacquard. For the lining, we think cotton voile is perfect for summer: it’s breathable and comfortable, and the colour ink echoes the little blue flowers in the jacquard.
