Kenyan Fabric Finally Realized

If you don't follow Project Sewn and you like to sew garments, you really should check it out.  It is such a great source of inspiration and for someone like me, who needs small goals each week, its great to follow along.  It makes me push to get projects that have been in my head forever finally DONE!  Which is so gratifying.  So on to the makes...the theme this week is "Going Global."

My husband went to Kenya in 2010 and brought back this gorgeous batik printed fabric.  He bought it from a group called Amani ya Juu which focuses on the development of peace and empowerment for women. They don't typically sell fabric but my husband inquired about it for me and ended up bringing home a lot of this print as well as a print with giraffes.  I really wanted to make a garment from the fabric but the weave is just too loose and I just know after sewing this bag that it would have been a real pill to sew into a garment.  I used the Noodle-head "Go Anywhere Bag" pattern and love the result.  The pattern is very straightforward  and simple.  I used a denim needle on my machine because of the thick layers and that helped.  The olive colored canvas is from Denver Fabrics and is very sturdy.

The top is, once again, my mash-up of the Grainline Scout and Megan Nielsen Crescent Top.  You can see my first one here.  I am loving this franken-pattern, I tell you it is sooo comfy and you can wear it tucked in, out, belted.  I am including pictures of it each way so you can get an idea.  

 
I'm always nosy like that about patterns, wondering how it would look styled differently, so I guess I'm assuming some of you are nosy like that too!  The fabric is from Hancock's and is a rayon challis.  The print reminds me of all the wildlife my husband saw while in Kenya.  He even fed a giraffe, see those warthogs in the back ground, always makes me think of Pumbaa.

The skirt is the Cascade skirt also from Megan Nielsen.  I chopped a good bit off of the back since it was a bit much for my frame.  The fabric was thrifted, I have no idea what it is, it breathes and is very drapey resulting in a comfy skirt for summer and a nice alternative to shorts.  I am so glad to have finally used some of my fabric from Kenya, after all its been in my stash for FOUR years...ack!  So I wonder do sew-alongs like Project Sewn give you that final push you need?  

 

Marrying Patterns

I've wanted to marry these two patterns for what seems like ages.  This is a mash-up of the Grainline Scout Tee and the Megan Nielsen Crescent blouse and I think I found my new bff for the summer.  The Scout is a definite tried and true pattern for me and I've even made one with great success for my Mom too...really need to blog about that!  I love this basic woven tee soooo much I've made several in rayon challis and they are incredibly functional, comfortable and dressier than a knit tee.  

I've also made the Megan Nielsen Crescent blouse in the past and really enjoy the feel of that top as well, in fact its on the list o' things to make for this summer again.  But this combination of the bottom panels from the Crescent and the Scout top turned out exactly like I hoped they would...so gratifying!

Basically all I did was slash the Scout around my waist area making sure to line up the front and back at the side seams and measure up from the bottom of the Scout (because it has a slightly lower in the back hemline) and added the panels with no other adjustments.  The fabric is a mystery, it was given to me and I thought it might be silk but a burn test just melted it.  Its lovely regardless of what it is, very drapey and light...my two favorite qualities for fabric.  

There will be so many more of these to come...so my question is what patterns have you married (or hope to marry) with great success?