FAQ's – L'Échappée Belle Pre-Fall Capsule

There are still a few precious moments of summer to savour - and the school bags can wait just a little longer. l'échappée Belle captures that magical in-between moment when we hold onto summer while looking forward to the start of a new sewing season. Discover our adorable matching pieces designed to make those carefree days last a little longer: matching Breton tops, cosy sweatshirts and pretty little blouses. This capsule celebrates those final moments of freedom before the back-to-school routine begins. A collection designed for Miss Fauve and women alike, with one simple wish: to keep playing, creating and sewing beautiful stories together.

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What will you find in this capsule?

This collection brings together lots of exciting new releases, along with some much-awaited favourites making their return:

• The Women’s Pirate Breton Top Box and Girls’ Pirate Breton Top Box, ready to sew.
• The Pirate paper patterns in women’s and children’s versions.
• A limited edition of the Miss Granite, Miss Palma and Miss Violette paper patterns.
• Two new 100% cotton striped jerseys: Blue/White and Beige/Ink.
• The new Amarre buttons, inspired by nautical ropes.
• The return of our French Terry sweatshirt fabric, slightly lighter but just as soft and comfortable, in Plum, Scarab Green, Tango Red and Ink.
• A brand-new colour of our French Terry sweatshirt fabric: Smoky Blue, with matching ribbing.
• A selection of haberdashery perfectly suited to all the projects in the capsule.
  

Do the Pirate and Miss Pirate Boxes contain everything you need?

Yes! The Pirate and Miss Pirate Breton Top Boxes have been designed to give you everything you need to sew your project with ease. Each box brings together all the essential supplies, carefully selected and coordinated with the pattern: fabric, buttons, thread, a set of needles and interfacing, as well as, of course, the paper pattern in its beautiful envelope.

We offer a women’s sewing kit and a girls’ sewing kit, each sold separately.

These products are also available to purchase individually on our website.

Can I buy the patterns separately?

Of course. The Pirate and Miss Pirate patterns are also available as paper patterns. You can use your own fabrics (be sure to check the fabric recommendations on each pattern’s product page) or complete your project with the striped jersey fabrics and haberdashery from the capsule.

Is it difficult to pattern match the stripes on the Breton jersey?

The front and back bodice pieces, as well as the sleeves, feature a specific guideline to help you match the stripes. Position your pattern pieces on the stripes and mirror them, following these guidelines, to achieve beautifully matched stripes on your Breton top.

You can also find more tips in our article on "How to Pattern Match Fabric When Sewing" on the Maison Fauve website.

Are the Pirate and Miss Pirate patterns unisex?

The patterns have a very slightly fitted cut and, as they are designed for stretch fabrics, they do not feature bust darts. The Miss Pirate pattern was also tested on boys whose measurements fell within the size chart, to ensure the full 4–14 years size range was thoroughly tested. The women’s version is drafted for a height of 5'5'' (1.65m) in size UK 8 (FR 36). Finished garment measurements will be provided on each product page. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference when it comes to the signature details of the pattern: the shoulder pleat, the small button at the back on the Miss Pirate version, the three decorative shoulder buttons on the adult version, and the square neckline at the front and back.

Can the Breton top be made as a dress?

The Pirate and Miss Pirate patterns have a relaxed, unfitted cut, so you can easily extend the side seams to create a dress version. However, this won’t be possible using our striped Breton jersey fabrics, as they are sold in panels and the panel length is not sufficient for this adaptation.

Can the Breton top easily be shortened or lengthened?

Both the adult and children’s patterns include lengthen/shorten lines, making it easy to adjust the length of both the bodice and sleeves to suit your height.

Are the Miss Granite, Miss Palma, Miss Zenith and Miss Violette patterns new designs?

No, this is a re-release of the four girls’ patterns in paper format. With the launch of the lovely Miss Pirate Breton top, we took the opportunity to release a selection of our children’s sewing patterns, which have been available on our website for several years, as PDF patterns. It’s the perfect opportunity to add them to your collection if you prefer paper patterns to PDF patterns.

The patterns themselves remain unchanged, but the instruction booklets and translations have been updated. These updates have also been automatically applied to the PDF files, so if you have already purchased one of the patterns, you’ll find the new booklet available with your files in your customer account.

Are the fabrics sold separately?

Yes. The striped Breton jersey is available in two colourways and is sold in panels. You’ll need one panel for a children’s Breton top and two panels for the adult version. The fabric is not available by the metre due to the specific placement of the stripes; each panel features the same stripe placement. Full details and fabric specifications can be found on the individual fabric product page.

The new French Terry fabrics, as well as the beautiful fabrics featured in the Miss pattern images, are all available from our online shop: Miss Violette is sewn in Mauve Ghost Flower viscose poplin, Miss Palma in Magenta viscose twill, Miss Zénith in Smoky Blue Tiger viscose jacquard, and Miss Granite in Smoky Blue French Terry with matching ribbing.

Are the fabrics only suitable for the patterns in the capsule?

Not at all! The striped jersey is perfect for all your Breton tops, T-shirts or jersey dresses where you’re looking for a fabric with a little structure, while the French Terry works beautifully for sweatshirts, joggers, comfortable dresses or jersey cardigans. They also pair perfectly with many Maison Fauve patterns, including the Ressac, Granite and Adèle sweatshirts, as well as the Sasha joggers.

Is the haberdashery matched to the fabrics?

Yes. We’ve selected haberdashery to coordinate with the fabrics in the capsule, including the new Amarre buttons, whose nautical feel adds the perfect finishing touch to your creations.

Are quantities limited?

Yes. Some products in this capsule are available as a limited edition, particularly the reissued children’s paper patterns. As always, some fabrics and colourways may also be available in limited quantities, including the striped Breton jerseys. These products may be restocked, but not for several months. So if you’ve fallen in love with a particular project, we recommend not waiting too long!

Who is this capsule for?

For all sewists who want to make those summer days last a little longer. The Breton tops are suitable for intermediate sewists, while the pretty blouses and girls’ sweatshirt (also available in adult sizes) are also suitable for beginners.

Whether you’re sewing for yourself, for a little Miss Fauve, or enjoying a creative moment together, L'Échappée Belle was designed to ease you gently from summer into the back-to-school season, with creativity and plenty of sewing inspiration.

Because before the busy schedules return, there’s always time for one last summer escape…