Celine, You Make My Heart Sing
Presenting the first pattern from Ellie Whittaker: Celine. The amazingly talented surface design wiz and fabric queen herself is starting 2020 off with a bang and I'm just here happy to be in the car for the ride!
Years ago, maybe 5 years now, I came across an amazing pattern on Spoonflower called Bubble O'Bill; I purchased it and it sat in my stash for a while. I was nowhere near as confident of a sewer as I am now so I wasn't sure what I would make with it, but from that moment I started following the insanely talented individual that created the pattern. Then I finally got an instagram account, and I started following her on there. We started chatting here and there and got to know each other. I was there when she launched Girtsquad, and I was there when Spotlight started stocking her fabrics, and I was there when she hit USA soil again for the Quilter's show. And when I say "there", I mean stalking her like a creep and sliding into her DM's congratulating her over and over and over again. Every time I thought she had leveled up she'd come up with something even more fabulous. Well this person is Ellie Whittaker and this blog post is about how she leveled up yet again and how she decided to bring me in this time. DREAM COME TRUE PEOPLE!
So Ellie messaged me a little while ago asking me if I'd like to help her out with something she'd been working on. Now when I read that message I just about wet my pants. Being, what I like to call, a super fan of Ellie's, I was beside myself. Someone I supported through the years was letting me into her magical world of creativity and I was not going to disappoint. When she told me she was working on a pattern I screamed. Ask my husband, I literally screamed. Is there anything Ellie could not do? Answer is nope, she's super human. Anyway, I'll spare you all the details of my love for Ellie and my complete excitement to be brought on board to help, but you get the gist, i'm a batshit crazy fan and she's insanely talented. Makes for a great combo right?
In comes Celine. She's a boat neck on one side, a button down v-neck on the other with the most glorious sleeves with an elastic hem. She's cropped so she can pair well with jeans or skirts, and, are you ready for the best part...SHE'S REVERSIBLE! Like talk about a killer pattern to begin your pattern empire with. Ellie holds nothing back. But, in all seriousness the best part is probably how easy this pattern is. Now please note, I'm in no way a professional and I'm self-taught but I've had my fair share of sewing nightmares. This top right here took me a night to sew up. That was from printing the pages, taping them together, cutting it out and sewing it up. Wait...I lie. It took two nights. I didn't have buttons on hand (thanks Harmony Provo for the vintage red buttons) and actually forgot to do the buttonholes because we we're going away that week, but one more night (30 mins actually) and I got it done pronto!
Now the pattern itself is pretty simple, but there's enough flair to keep anyone entertained. And who doesn't love a project that doesn't take long!? The hardest part would be putting in buttonholes, but if you haven't really made it to buttonholes in your sewing skill set, this is a perfect pattern to start. The neckline is finished with a facing so it's super clean and professional in finish; making you want to show all your friends that you're amazing and should totally move to Paris to become next in fashion. Haha. I'm kidding, but literally, that's kind of how I felt when sewing it up. I was like, how can it be this simple and straightforward but give me such a killer result? Well, it's because Ellie did all the hard yards and I just got to enjoy the product.
Well, I really need to take a moment and dedicate some space for those sleeves. You know this whole big sleeves look has me changing patterns left, right and centre. So it was really nice to just have a pattern I didn't need to do that. And best of all, it's an inset sleeve. Gather it between the notches, match it up in the armhole and bob's your uncle. As for the sleeve hem, it's just inserting the elastic in. Like how good is that? An incredible sleeve for minimal effort. Sign me up!
Oh my, with all my excitement, I forgot to mention that this gorgeous, unique plaid is none other than Ellie's fabric. Specifically called towel tapestry, linked here. How could I not make this gorgeous Celine pattern in an original Ellie design? And man am I glad I did! I took literally two of the best things and made the most awesome-sauce top in my wardrobe! Might I add, this is just the beginning and probably by the end of the year my wardrobe will be full of Celine's.
Lastly, I need to mention this mural that I got to shoot in front of with my hubby and kids. Up until then, I had not taken a pic outside of my backyard and my local park (one time at the park). But, I knew about this mural and we were down there for my hubby's uni and I knew it was just destined to happen (Mural Cred: @housethatlarsbuilt and @byu_design). Honestly, it feels so awkward taking pics in public, but I did it because I love Ellie. Another example of the great length's I'll go to for Ellie!
So, I hope that you've enjoyed this insight into this AMAZING project that Ellie so graciously let me be a part of. I'm still pinching myself that this is real and I got to work with someone I've looked up to for so long. Major fangirl over here (in case I didn't already mention it)! So my last request to you is to go and buy this pattern and try it for yourself! You won't be disappointed! Celine is everything that's on trend right now, without having to break the bank and be left time-poor. Get on it, and join me in the Celine club, you won't regret it! Buy here!
