Two (fairly) quick and satisfying makes.

I have lacked motivation to sew for myself lately and I think its because making clothes for myself is more time consuming and technical than making clothes for my children.  Children are fairly simple to sew clothes for, after all they are mostly straight tubes and there is very little fussing with the dart here or letting out a seam line there and I never make muslins for them.  So there are times when I just can't be bothered with starting a project for myself because I know it will require so much more from me.    

I don't know why the skirt appears to be glowing in this picture!

So here enters these two pieces.  The top is one of my favorite patterns, the Briar top by Megan Nielsen.  I've made it many times before and this one is made up in a stretchy knit I believe with some lycra content- purchased from Hancock fabrics..  Its the XS with 3/8" seam allowances on the side seams rather than the called for 5/8".  I've found with knits that depending on the stretchiness of the knit the pattern can greatly vary in fit.  For example I've made this top in a ponte and since ponte's have next to no stretch I have to go up a size in the pattern, see that version here.  This is a quick make as far as tops go.  The neckline finish sometimes isn't as clean as I wish for it to be- I have some trouble getting an even looking top stitch on the neckband- but its still good.  

The skirt is the Sewaholic Hollyburn from Pink Chalk Fabrics.  I made a size 8 letting the waistband out by 1/2" (my waist measures 29" for reference).  The fabric is a thrifted find that I believe is some sort of rayon and poly blend.  It drapes like challis but is a lot less fussy to work with than challis.  I really wish I knew what it was because I would only work with this type of fabric if I had my druthers.  I love rayon challis but it can have a mind of its own- puckering and fraying for what seems like no good reason and stretching out on the bias like crazy.  But this fabric behaved itself which was wonderful- minimal stretching on the bias!

As for the pattern It was very straightforward and I can't think of any difficult spots.  I did not sew the zipper according to the directions but basted the seam closed and then basted the zipper in place before sewing it down.  This is my "go-to" method.  I also hand stitched the hem since I didn't want to mess up the smoothness of the fabric and I hand stitched down the waistband on the inside for the same reason.

So, there we go, two (fairly) quick makes for me that required minimal fitting- I love that!
As for you, do you sew children's clothes to take a break from sewing/fitting garments for yourself as well?

Linking up to Frontier Dreams: Keep Calm and Craft On.

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?  

 

Briar + Tania Culottes = Signature Style

I think I have found my new "Signature Style" and I never knew I needed one!  For Project Sewn you are to choose your signature style this week.  I'm not sure I have one but I know when I love something I've made and this top plus these culottes are my new favorites.

The patterns are from the amazing independent pattern designer Megan Nielsen.  I have several of her patterns and they are all well worth owning.  I can't say how many of her Briar tees I've made but it is quite a few.  This one is made with a ponte knit.  The pattern on the fabric was pretty psychedelic so I used the underside as the right side.  If anyone hopes to use ponte on their pattern you may want to go up a size since it doesn't have much stretch.  

The Tania Culottes are ingenious.  It appears to be a skirt, but I tell you people it is NOT its hard to believe but there is a crotch (I know awful word) seam under there hidden by a pleat in the front and the back!!!  They are amazing I tell you!  They are super comfortable and I loved wearing them all day, even when carting the kiddos around.  These are made from thrifted rayon and a lapped zipper.  You can see the zipper here.  The pattern calls for an invisible zipper but I didn't have any and don't have an invisible zipper foot, hence the lapped zip.  

I really suggest, if you make these, that you will want to let the hem hang out for a few days before hemming.  The pieces are all cut on the bias (giving them amazing drape) but they get completely wonky after hanging and have to be evened out.  Not as big of a deal as it sounds, just requires some patience.  I had to trim quite a bit from the hem and I used the XL length hem with the Medium size pattern.  I read that others pinned the hem up while wearing the skirt, I couldn't get that method to work so I would eyeball it in the mirror and them pull it up and trim on my cutting table while still wearing them.  Just be patient with that part of the construction and you'll be fine.  I am sure to have a lot of these in my summer wardrobe as they are so comfortable and more flattering than a lot of shorts I own. 

Well there you have it.  If anything was close to my "Signature Style" I'd say this was it, comfortable, a step up from jeans and fun.