Miette Skirt

Quite some time since my last blog post. I was in a bit of a hole and didn't feel like sewing, but now I am back with my version of the Miette Skirt. Tilly from Tilly and the Buttons designed the cute and easy to make Miette Skirt. After I saw quite a few beautiful versions of this pattern I had to get my hands on it. 

The fabric is some kind of poly chiffon, but I really have no idea. Because it was sheer I interlined it with poly silk or something. Again, no clue. I just know it is very lightweight and flowy. The Blouse is from Burda Magazine 04/2013. More on that further down.

The Miette Skirt is a very easy and quick pattern, as long as one doesn't want to make it in chiffon that is!

 I used French Seams throughout. The little white patch on the waistband is fusible interfacing. I cut into the fabric while trimming the seam allowance of the waistband. Stupid me! Luckily it is on the inside.

 The blouse is from Burda Magazine 04/2013. Here the picture from the issue and the technical drawing.

I really love most of the patterns in the Burda magazines, but it is a pain in the butt to trace them. Especially because they don't add the seam allowances. Really, how hard would it be to include them in the patterns? And the other thing is the stupid instructions. Those Burda instructions are really not meant for beginners. One should have at least basic knowledge about garment constructions. The have a whole long paragraph about how to understitch the seam allowance of the facing, but I couldn't for the life of me not figure out how to pleat those sleeves. I ended up just ease them in there with some gathering stitches. 

I bought the fabric at Hancock. It is some lightweight cotton. This picture shows how sheer the fabric is. Not too sheer though.

I wish instead of photographing their models in some weird poses they could rather show more details of the garments to help for the construction. It took me a while to understand how the tie thing was meant. The ties are a little bit too low. The left front should hit the corner to prevent the front from gaping. Which mine does because I placed it too low. This was my first Burda pattern for a top, and I think I can go down a size. This is a 38, but it is quite big on me.

Meringue Skirt by Colette Patterns

Tada! The Meringue Skirt by Colette Patterns. I finally made it. Now that I have the book and fabric laying around for nearly a year. The Fabric is a linen blend by Valori Wells. I thought it would go nicely with the scalloped edge. Oh, and Hugo again walking through the picture. 

The skirt was really easy and quick to make. I made a straight size 2. The only change I made was with the hem. I used fusible hem tape instead of stitching the hem facing with a catch stitch to the skirt. I am not a big fan of sewing by hand. Hence the sewing machine ;)

Skirt Collection

So I finally got a picture of me wearing the Lisette Continental skirt and blouse. I really like the colors, they are quite unusual for me. I am always more drawn to reddish colors, and this was a nice change for me. The light blue also goes very well with my white legs ;)




 This is such an easy and quick skirt pattern. And the cut is exactly my style. Two fabrics in my stash seemed to be perfect for a fall/winter skirt. The seam on the front and back is a nice touch to play around with prints, but for my two fabrics I needed a skirt pattern with a one-piece front and back. I am new to changing, not to mention drafting patterns, so the way I got rid of the seam on the front/back is probably way too complicated. I cut both panels from a leftover muslin, sewed them together, then laid it on freezer paper (I never cut the tissue paper, but trace all patterns on freezer paper) and traced around it. Voila!

This wool blend is leftover from my sew-along Thurlow Trousers (pics to follow). I lined it with blue Bemberg.

 I don't really know what kind of fabric this is. It has a tiny bit of stretch. The border print was meant to be a skirt, don't you think? I should've gotten a close up of the embroidery. The skirt is lined with some rather cheap polyester lining. It looks grey in the picture, but is actually more denim.

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisette Continental Blouse and Skirt

A couple of months back I bought this pattern at JoAnn's for $0.99. Great deal!

 I have six Lisette patterns, and I love the pictures on the front of all of them, but it seems that somehow they don't really work for me. It could of course be that I don't have the fitting right. Usually I can make a straight size 12 with all Simplicity patterns and they fit. But not these ones. It's just that they somehow turn out to look boxy on me. The blouses/tops that is. The two Lisette skirts I made so far are great.

The skirt is perfect and I like the seams on the front and back side. This time around I used a very simple cotton twill, but as you can see on the envelope front, the seams at the front and back side give a nice opportunity to play with prints. Next time I will take advantage of that. And there will be a next time for sure! It is such an easy and quick skirt project and the fit is perfect. I wish I could say the same about the top. The fabric is a cotton lawn from the Lisette collection at JoAnn's. It is so boxy, and even thou I used this very light cotton lawn, it sticks out at the back a lot. Maybe I just have to make it a size smaller.

 

Back view (obviously) 

Here is a close up of the gathers at the lower back.

My first Sew-Along

Lauren from Lladybird is hosting a Thurlow Trousers sew-along and I will participate! I am very excited and  looking forward to my first sew-along. I already made two pairs of Thurlows. The first one was too small. The second one turned out pretty nice, only needs some little adjustment with the back crotch length. My skills of a cleaner finished inside of the pants still needs some fine tuning, which I am looking forward of improving with the help of Lauren and her sew-along.

I will post pictures of my two pairs of Thurlows soon. Instead two pictures of a skirt I made two weeks ago. It's really nothing special. I bought the fabric at a small local sewing supply store. A huge pile of all kinds of nice fabric for $3/pound. This seems to me to be some kind of moleskin fabric, but I am not sure. It is very soft with a nice drape. The idea for this skirt is from the book "Improv Sewing", which I absolutely love!!! The hem is three wavy lines of stitching, and fold over elastic around the waist. And some improv free motion drawing.

 Here a close up of the lines. It is a nice skirt for casual wear. It was really fun and quick to make . I am looking forward to more projects from the book.

I like Corduroy!

I am starting to sew more for the cold time of year. Here is my first fall ensemble. The Renfrew Top Version A in Navy Cotton Jersey. First time that I've sewn it with long sleeves. I absolutely love this pattern and have at least three more fabrics in stash for more. The skirt is Barcelona Layered Skirt by Amy Butler in grey corduroy.

After I finished the Lisette Passport Jacket I knew I wanted a fitting skirt to go with it. So I went to JoAnn's and bought more of the corduroy for the skirt. It was unintentionally that the top fits in color as well. 

 

Lisette Market Skirt and Blouse

I finally finished the Lisette Market Skirt.

This project was jinxed from the beginning. I only start to figure out how to use the serger, and I have to say this skirt isn't the best project to make if one doesn't really know how to finish seams with it. In the end it turned out to be very cute, and luckily people will see only the outside. I finished the blouse a while ago, but unfortunately the sleeves are too snug for my arms (too many muscles, haha). I will make the blouse again but a couple inches longer and with wider sleeves.

I really like the Lisette patterns. So far the ones I tried out were really easy to make with clear straightforward instructions. The designs are simple with enough cute details. I made the blouse without the row of buttons down the upper front and I like it better this way. It's so easy with these patterns to change little things like this, at least for beginners like myself. I am looking forward to the next Lisette project. But for now I am occupied with the Prairie Girl dress, and my first try with knits.