Just as I was rejoicing at having once again eluded a nasty bug that's been circulating in our family for the last week, it got me. And I was so wiped out that I'd already climbed into bed by 7pm. And there, fueled by a few cups of very sweet hot tea, I felt good enough to open a wonderful French pattern book I'd just received.
Astrid Le Provost's Intemporels pour enfants (available from Amazon.fr, or from Citronille, which is a goldmine of fantastic patterns and fabrics) is a pattern book I've been coveting for a long time, and since I've been in a springtime mood recently, and since Rebecca will be needing a new warm-weather wardrobe, I finally decided to invest in it.
It's the prettiest sewing book I've ever seen, and the photography and the intemporel (timeless) garments have an incredible attention to detail, as well as a hard to define but unmistakable French stylishness. Just look at the tanned, barefooted girl standing in front of an armoire, her top, buttoned at the back, color-coordinated with the ribbon drawstring and matching edging of her flared linen skirt!
And these simple white cotton PJs with a cute mandarin collar, hand-stitched with contrasting sky blue thread along the hem.
And the composition of this photo: in the foreground a chipped tea pot set on a log next to a plate of eye-catching felt patisseries, while in the background, beside the girl in the French window, sits a Louis Vuitton suitcase atop a vintage trunk ... how French is this?
The book contains 38 patterns for summer dresses, pants, tops (with sleeves and sleeveless), bibs (do French kids aged 3 to 8 really wear bibs?), leisure wear, and accessories including slippers, bags, and even a teddy bear. Truly a magnificent selection of clothes for little girls (a couple of things for boys as well). I already have 14 patterns marked. The only question now is, which one do I tackle first?
