EN APARTÉ

An intimate interview with sewing enthusiasts who share their Atelier Brunette experience and a little bit about themselves too.

A sincere dive into their creative world, their inspirations and a good dose of good humor.
Anais portant le Tissu Coton Indien Tissé 004 Atelier Brunette Anais portant le Tissu Coton Indien Tissé 004 Atelier Brunette Anais portant le Tissu Coton Indien Tissé 004 Atelier Brunette

THE DELICATE

ANAÏS

Anais portant le Tissu Coton Indien Tissé 004 Atelier Brunette

GUEST OF THE MONTH

From the Instagram account @dntanais

Anaïs is a self-taught seamstress and lives in Chateaurenard (between Avignon and St Remy de Provence).

Can you introduce yourself in three words?

Creative, dynamic, and empathetic

 

How did sewing come into your life?

My mother had a sewing machine; she used to sew clothes for us when we were little. Growing up, I always saw this object in our home, so it wasn't unfamiliar to me, and having always been very hands-on, my thirst for creativity made me want to try it!


How long have you been sewing?

I sewed a few accessories in high school or elasticated skirts for my friends and me, but I really started sewing in 2015 during my first pregnancy: a patchwork baby blanket was my first big project.

 

What does it bring you?

Today, sewing is a real break for me,

a moment of calm in my rather busy life as a mother!

It brings me relaxation and enlivens my daily life with the thousand projects I always have in mind... and the time to only do some of them. It feeds my thirst for creativity.

Series or music while you sew?

Mostly music, but in reality, I mostly sew in the evenings in my living room... so the background noise is usually my partner's movies or his snoring!

 

Your ideal color palette?

Meticulous with finishes, thoughtful in my choices, and organized in how I manage my projects.

 

Your best "sewing mistake," the one that turned out to be brilliant?

A hack of a wrap dress with a kind of cowl neck, attempted without making a toile beforehand, in a garish green fabric that didn't suit my complexion at all. Nothing worked, so at least there were no regrets about abandoning it halfway through...

 

We're finally heading into warm, sunny days... so tell us: are you more vanilla & caramel ice cream, lavender & honey, bubblegum granita, or violet sorbet?

I'm a devoted fan of "Yogurt" flavor, but I'd be willing to make an exception to try a violet sorbet.

Today, sewing is a real

break from time for me.

THE COUTURE EXPERIENCE

THE VANILLA ICE STRIPES

You sewed our Vanilla Ice Stripes fabric, what's your first impression? How would you describe it?

A leap into summer when I opened the package: I love the softness of the perfectly chosen shades, the light yellow that is just saturated enough to be bright but not garish, and the accompanying cream tone brings the necessary softness to form a beautiful balance.

 

How does the fabric feel to the touch? 

And how is the experience when sewing with it?

It's thin and has a tight weave which gives it a really pleasant softness. Under the machine, it holds up well, without deforming or being too fragile despite its fineness.

What perfect fabric combination would you make to go with it?

I love combining it with khaki so I'd say IVY GREEN! But I'm sure it also looks great with Pecan Pie ochre, Charcoal anthracite, or Oat Chocolate brown.

 

What did you like most about sewing with this fabric?

I sewed a shirt with a gathered back, I loved seeing the curve of the stripes form on the back!

 

What other Atelier Brunette fabric would you recommend without hesitation?

The Gabardines, of course, which no longer need proving, but I also really enjoyed sewing and wearing the "Flake" and "Little Tile" weaves. I hope they'll come back one day with other colors from the AB palette!

You're used to sewing stripes, which can be daunting for many of our Brunettes.

What advice would you give?

To go read the Journal article on the subject, which summarizes all the precautions to take, but the most important one: do not cut pieces on the fold!

SEWING STRIPED FABRICS

LE BERMUDA AND LE BLAZER

In Pastel Kiss Livaeco™ Viscose Linen Twill

You sewed LE Bermuda, what was your favorite part of sewing it?

Making the toile and realizing the pattern's potential! It was my first pair of pants from the brand; I was worried I'd have to make a lot of morphological adjustments, but it fit really well from the first try-on!

 

The Twill Linen Viscose Livaeco™ Pastel Kiss, what's your first impression of this fabric, how would you describe it?

Very pleasant to handle, the irregular weave of the linen gives it a beautiful texture and character, and the twill weave allows for a very pleasant fluidity on this type of fabric.


How does the fabric feel to the touch? And how is the experience when sewing it?

It holds very well and doesn't deform; I was worried it would crease quickly, but in fact, the fiber uncreases quite rapidly after handling.

 

How do you find the combination of the LE Bermuda pattern and the Twill Linen Viscose Livaeco™ Pastel Kiss?

Perfect for a fluid version of the Bermuda...but now I really want a structured version in Chino Cotton or Light Gabardine!

What length did you sew for LE Bermuda ?

Knee-length version.

 

How did you find sewing the pockets? What are your thoughts now that they're done?

I had no difficulty with the pockets; the instructions are clear. I chose to make both pocket bag pieces out of cotton voile to avoid unnecessary bulk.

 

How do you find the fabric drape with this pattern?

Very elegant; it's quite heavy and drapes beautifully.

 

Would you recommend it to a friend or to Les Brunettes?

Without hesitation, yes!

 

You also sewed LE Blazer to create a complete outfit. What do you think of this pattern combination?

I love the relaxed suit look of these two pieces together. I made a sleeveless version of LE Blazer, and I find that the combination of these two pieces is truly superb for a casual look with a t-shirt or more dressed-up with a camisole and heels.

What do you think of the combination of Twill Pastel Kiss and the LE Blazer pattern? In terms of sewing experience, fabric drape, wear, etc.?

The fabric's fluidity gives the Blazer a more relaxed look, perfect for a light summer jacket. However, the patch pockets are large and add a bit of weight; I think it would be necessary to interface the fabric on the wrong side to prevent it from distorting the jacket over time. For the finishing touches, I added facings to the armholes and secured them, as well as the jacket's bottom hem, with an invisible hand stitch. The fabric lends itself very well to this due to its thickness and weave, and nothing shows through on the right side.

 

Do you have any particular feedback to share about this sewing experience?

Two very pleasant patterns to sew, which allow you to progress on technical points such as the notched collar or zipper installation, and which offer a superb result when worn!

ATELIER BRUNETTE PATTERNS

You've sewn several Atelier Brunette patterns, which one was your favorite? The one you would sew indefinitely?

I loved the look of LA Chemise Boyish and the precision required for the gauntlet plackets.

 

Which AB pattern that you haven't sewn would you like to try? Why?

I haven't sewn LA Chemise, and yet every version I see makes me fall in love with it. The armhole design is perfect!

If you had to sew yourself a 100% Atelier Brunette outfit for a summer evening or a ceremony, what would you choose?

My LE Bermuda and LE Blazer set would be very suitable for a ceremony with the right accessories, but perhaps LA Veste Spencer would be more dressy and just as stylish!

 

And now an outfit to face the summer heat?

LA Combishort in Cotton Bamboo or LA Robe Zippée in Flake Deep Charcoal fabric.

SHARED MOMENTS

When did you start sewing?

I started in 2015 with baby sewing, then quickly moved on to making clothes for myself.

 

Do you enjoy sharing sewing moments with your loved ones?

I think I prefer my solo sewing moments, but I love discussing sewing with my friends who share this passion, and I would love to teach sewing classes one day to pass on this valuable skill.

 

If you had to sew a piece for someone, what would you choose and why?

I love sewing for my daughter, even if she's growing up too fast. I carefully keep these little treasures, thinking she might pass them on one day. I also enjoy giving clothes to my mother, who wears them with great pride.

ASSOCIATION BY STYLE

Your favorite Atelier Brunette pattern and fabric combination?

LA Chemise Boyish and Oxford fabric.

 

Which other Atelier Brunette pieces would you pair it with to create a total look?

LE Jean Wide Leg in Gabardine.

AND FINALLY?

Title

Find Anaïs on her Instagram account @dntanais

And you, rather Stripes or Twill Linen Viscose?

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