Guest Post: Adapting the Macaron to Your Lifestyle

Source: farben-freude.blogspot.ca via Sarah on Pinterest

I'm super excited to have my friend Alessa of Farbenfreude visiting here today.  Alessa is the Queen of Macarons and I love every single one of her versions!   Check our her gorgeous polka dot Crepe that was featured on the  Coletterie.

Alessa has a terrific sense of style and a singular talent for adapting garment patterns to suit her lifestyle, for any season, casual or dressy.  In addition to being a fantastic seamstress, Alessa is also a crackerjack knitter  AND is studying to be a DOCTOR!  Amazing, no?   It's always a pleasure to welcome Alessa to my blog and I know you'll really enjoy her post. 

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Hi everyone! I'm Alessa from Farbenfreude and Sarah has asked me to write a blog post about the different adaptions you can make, to suit your Macaron to your very own lifestyle. I think it's a great topic, especially since Macaron is one of my favorite patterns, and I have made three very different ones myself (and wouldn't mind another one or two, or five...). :D So, thanks for letting me guest blog, Sarah!

Ok, first let's think about the facts that influence what kind of Macaron you'd like to make. Is it going to be a dress for summer or for winter, or something in between? Do you want something casual, or elegant, or cute, or fun? Does it need to be easily layered?  

Fabric
The first thing you need to think about is your choice of fabric. For summer, something breathable like a nice cotton, linen or rayon fabric would be a good choice. Maybe even some eyelet or broderie anglaise? Quilting cotton also works well, and gives a lovely choice of prints! If you're going for a winter dress, how about a heavier wool fabric or some denim? You may want to keep a slightly lighter, drapier fabric for the yoke, though. (Call it the voice of experience...)

Cute denim Macaron by Lisa, perfect for fall - breezy, summery cotton Macaron by Patty

Apart from the summer or winter question, there's also the choice of sewing something everyday casual, something office-appropriate, a party frock or a Sunday Picnic dress! There are both fabric and print to think of. A yoke made of satin (like this one by Stella) or lace would look great on a party dress that's otherwise made of solid cotton, sateen or, dare I say it, silk.

Anna's Macaron featuring a sheer yoke and keyhole back detail - Lace yoke Macaron by Amy

Prints like geometrics, polka-dots or flowers usually look more casual, but when used in the yoke, they can liven up an office-appropriate dress.

Hanna Irina's Macaron, using the polkadot fabric as contrast yoke - print combination Macaron by Kylie

And for total comfort, why not use a knit fabric, either for the yoke or for the whole dress?

knit yoke and bias bodice Macaron by me - all-knit Macaron by Sarah

And those are only some of the fabric choices available!  

Pattern alterations
As with fabric, there are quite a few alterations that are easy to make that can tailor your Macaron to your choice! We've already seen some examples above. The original Macaron features very cute, slightly puffy tulip sleeves. If you want a more elegant, sleeveless look, or like to layer your dresses with cardigans, you can just skip adding the sleeves and finish the armholes with bias tape.

Sleeveless Macaron featuring lace overlay by Liz - sleeveless knit yoke Macaron by me

Or maybe you'd like to lengthen the sleeves, and even add cuffs?

Alana's Macaron, featuring elbow-length sleeves with a tulip cuff - long-sleeved Macaron with cuffs by Andrea

Or you could change the skirt to more of an a-line, or maybe a dirndl or even a circle skirt.

Sara's bubble skirt Macaron - Tetris Macaron with a dirndl skirt by Julia

Other Adaptions
There are a few more adaptions that don't quite fall unter the heading of either fabric or pattern. Again, there are already some examples above. For example, using a border print, or decorating your sleeves with cuffs.

border print Macaron by Su

Or adding buttons. Or piping.

All-knit Macaron featuring buttons by Lauren - piped Macaron by Antoinette

Or both.

Buttoned and piped Macaron-with-a-Peony-skirt, by Mary

So, how are you going to adapt your Macaron?! My versions so far are pretty everyday-casual, so I'd love a lacy party version, possibly featuring a half-circle skirt for added flounciness. And I'm seriously contemplating a winter version in a wool plaid, lined for ease of layering, and with my ubiquituous knit yoke, because I need comfiness. ;) I'm totally looking forward to all your different versions! xx Alessa