SWAP Combos - Part 2

In my last post, I showed several of the combinations that could be made with my SWAP suiting separates. Today, I want to show you some more. However, I first want to say a big, fat thank-you to everyone that has stopped by and left such wonderful comments. Since I don't have any "real life" sewing compatriots, I really cherish all my cyber buddies (both old friends and new acquaintances).

Without further ado, here are all the possibilities with the multi-coloured tweed top:

Multi-coloured tweed top (S3108) + multi-coloured tweed skirt (V5521 -wardrobe pattern)



















Multi-coloured tweed top (S3108) + green herringbone skirt (B4105)



















Multi-coloured tweed top (S3108) + sand wool crepe skirt (V1050)



















Multi-coloured tweed top (S3108) + terracotta skirt (V5521 - wardrobe pattern)





















And here are all the possibilities with the terracotta wool top:

Terracotta wool top (V5521 - wardrobe pattern) + terracotta skirt (V5521 - wardrobe pattern)



















Terracotta wool top (V5521 - wardrobe pattern) + sand wool crepe skirt (V1050)



















Terracotta wool top (V5521 - wardrobe pattern) + green herringbone skirt (B4105)



















Terracotta wool top (V5521 - wardrobe pattern) + multi-coloured tweed skirt (V5521 -wardrobe pattern)




















Tomorrow: A few views of the dresses and the coat.

SWAP Combos - Part 1

Over the next few days, I want to finish up my SWAP 2008 posts with pictures of the combinations that are possible using the different garments.

Today, I will start with the all the combos based the sand wool crepe top:

Sand wool crepe top (V1050) + sand wool crepe skirt (V1050) + beige wool crepe coat (V5630)
This picture cracks me up. I guess I must be daydreaming about all the possible SWAP combos I can create with my new wardrobe!
















Sand wool crepe top (V1050) + green herringbone wool skirt (B4105)



















Sand wool crepe top (V1050) + multi-coloured tweed skirt (V5521 - wardrobe pattern)



















Sand wool crepe top (V1050) + terracotta wool skirt (V5521 - wardrobe pattern)




















Next up, all the combinations with the green herringbone top:

Green herringbone top (B4105) + green herringbone skirt (B4105)



















Green herringbone top (B4105) + sand wool crepe skirt (V1050)



















Green herringbone top (B4105) + multi-coloured tweed skirt (V5521 - wardrobe pattern)



















Green herringbone top (B4105) + terracotta skirt (V5521 - wardrobe pattern)




















Tomorrow: All the combos with the multi-coloured tweed top and the terracotta top.

The Universe Has Spoken

Melody, of Fashionista Fabrics, is having a sale on every fabric on her website - including all the ones I have been drooling over for weeks! So, I took it as a sign from the universe that I was supposed to partake of this sale. Really, who am I to question the universe?

Here are my picks, along with the pattern that will be used:

Silk Pique Panel Print - Butterick 4856














Silk Pique Poppies - Vogue 2960














Floral Silk Shantung - Vogue 1043














German Print - Simplicity 5036 - the full skirted dress
















PVC Coated Linen - Vogue 8480














Warm Toned Wool Challis - Vogue 2786

Ready, Set, SWAP - Part 5

The green/cream herringbone wool button front top is complete. Actually, it has been for a while now, I have just been too busy to write about it lately. Unfortunately, I don't have any more "during construction" pictures - I simply got too engrossed in the garment's construction to take photos.

However, here is the inside low-down:
* The garment was fully underlined with Textured Weft (front, back and sleeves).
* The hems were interfaced with a medium weight non-stretch fusible interfacing.
* Sleeve headers were made of bias cut tie interfacing.
* The front facing and undercollar was interfaced with hair canvas.
* The front sports three bound buttonholes and vintage buttons.
* The lining was completely sewn in by hand.

Now, on to the pictures:

The front of the jacket with the buttons done up.

I am quite pleased that I decided to go back and recut the fronts after doing a proper SBA - this reduced the size of both the bust and waist darts and the front fits beautifully now.

The back of the jacket is nicely shaped through the use of waist and neck darts. I absolutely adore patterns that have neck darts. I tend to find these patterns just fit me better. The neck dart fits the collar to my small shoulders but releases at the upper shoulder blade to fit my broader back. I find most patterns without the neck darts are horribly uncomfortable while I'm teaching, because I can't reach and write on the board easily - I definitely need the extra space across the shoulder blades.

The upper collar is an extension of the front facing - this gives the collar a nice roll around the neck when it is worn.

The sleeves are 3/4 length and have an elbow dart to conform nicely to the shape of the arm.

One of the bound buttonholes and the vintage button. The reverse side of the button was finished by hand stitching the facing in an oval around the buttonhole opening. This gives the back a clean, neat finish.




















The lining was inserted totally by hand. Although it is time consuming to do the lining this way, I feel it gives me greater control over the placement.

I was playing around with some of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine and decided to use one of them to "sexy-up" the lining pleat at the neck.

Alright, so this completes piece number two for SWAP 2008. I am in the process of working on pieces three, four and five. The muslins have been perfected and I have started work on the "real" fabric. I hope to have an update on my progress over the next few days.



Last, but not least - lookie what I got in the mail today. How much do I love this pattern?? Look at that assymmetric front!! Could it be any more Jackie Kennedy?? Look at that cool attachable scarf!! I am in L.O.V.E.

Ready, Set , SWAP - Part 3

I have been making some progress with the jacket/top that is the match to the skirt previously made. Here is what has been completed to date.

Interfacing
I debated back and forth on what sort of structure would be built into my jacket/top. I wanted to keep the unstructured feel, but I have learned in the past that the choice to only interface the areas suggested in the pattern can be a mistake. When looking through an old issues of Threads (July 1999, Number 83), there was an article that caught my eye, "Armani Jackets: The Inside Story." Marcy Tilton takes the reader thorough the process used to interface a softly tailored Armani jacket. After reading the article, I decided to adapt this approach to my garment. When completed, the following areas will be interfaced:

* Entire front and back - interfaced with Textured Weft (see photo to left).
* Lapel, button hole region and front facing - interfaced with straight cut hair canvas (in photo to left the hair canvas is pinned in, although it won't be sewn in until after creating the bound buttonholes).

The following interfacing will be added as I go along over the next few days:
* Front shoulder shield - bias cut hair canvas.
* Back shoulder - medium weight weft interfacing (purchased just recently from Fabric Mart).
* Sleeve header - at the sleeve cap (made of tie interfacing, purchased from Silhouette Patterns).
* Hems - interfaced with a medium weight weft interfacing.

Darts
* The darts were sewn as per the pattern, then slit down the middle and pressed open (photo to left). This reduces the bulk of the dart and allows it to lie flatter, creating a more pleasing looking line on the outside (photo to right).
* In retrospect I should have made a small bust adjustment (SBA) on this pattern, but all was not lost. Since my fabric is wool, which is so malleable, I was able to steam out much of the unnecessary bust shaping when pressing the front darts.

Bound Buttonholes
* I have started marking for the bound buttonholes and will tackle them tomorrow.

Ready, Set, SWAP - Part 2

I started construction of the skirt by resizing all the pertinent pattern pieces , as discussed in my last post. I added 0.5" to the centre front piece along the fold line and 1" to the side seam of the back piece and the side front piece - this adds up to an addition of 5" to the hip circumference. You can see the adjustments in the photo to the left (and yes, those are my toes in the picture - I had to stand on my kitchen counter to get a shot of all the pieces together!) Notice that I did my fitting adjustments to the actual pattern. Many seamstresses will trace off vintage patterns and make adjustments to the tracings and sometimes I do as well. However, unless the pattern is extremely old and/or brittle or it is very rare and/or valuable, I just have at it and save myself some time.

Although the pattern did not call for a lining, I decided to add one anyhow. Thank you to all those commenters that left their opinion on which lining to use. The majority of you chose the same lining I was leaning toward, so apparently it was meant to be! I cut out all the main body pieces of the skirt on the cross grain of the lining fabric to take advantage of the border print. This layout has the added bonus of requiring no hemming (thank you Ann Rowley, your tip on this thread at SG is great and I will be using this time saving idea often from now on). The skirt body and the lining were constructed separately and then treated as one when sewn to the waistband. I prefer this for a skirt that does not have a slit, as it allows the lining to hang free and move independently of the skirt (I find it more comfortable to wear this way). The lining was hand sewn around the invisible zipper tape to clean finish this area (see photo to the left).

The skirt is designed with two inseam pockets in the front. However, unlike regular inseam pockets that are on the sides of the garment, these pockets are in a vertical front section (almost like kangaroo pockets). The two pockets come together in the middle front and are stitched together for stability and to minimize show-through to the front. When worn, it is not immediately obvious that the pockets exist (top photo on left), until they are opened up (bottom photo on left). The pockets function as more of an interesting design feature then being practical due to their small size, but they will hold my school keys when the need arises.

Lastly, I debated back and forth on whether to interface the hem or not. Normally, I like an interfaced hem - it just looks crisper. However, since this skirt is meant to be soft and fairly unstructured, I decided to forgo the interfacing. I just turned up a 4" hem and finished the raw edge with coordinating seam binding. The excess fabric was removed with copious amounts of steam and the hem was handstitched into place.

As you can see in the photo to the right, all the raw edges of the wool were finished with pinking shears. I had thought about serging the edges, but I didn't want any seam show-through to the right side of the garment. Anyhow, this is a 60s garment, so I stuck with 60s finishing techniques and the lining covers up the inner seams.

All I have left to do is sew on two hooks and loops on the waistband above the zipper in back and my first SWAP piece is done. I really, really like this skirt and I will certainly make it again. When I tried it on for my husband, even he commented on how much he liked it too. As soon as I finish the coordintaing jacket/top, I will post final pictures of both garments.

Ready, Set, SWAP!

I have decided to start sewing on my Timmel SWAP 2008 with a jacket (which will be worn as a button front top) and skirt combo. The pattern is vintage, Butterick 4105. Although there is no date on it, it is obviously an offering from the 1960s. The description on the pattern envelope reads:

Semi-fitted jacket has three-quarter sleeves and rolled collar. Slightly A-line skirt has pockets and front seams.

The two garments will be made from a beautiful green and cream herringbone wool, purchased from Fabric Mart. The fabric is of medium weight and it should complement the style lines of the pattern nicely. The pattern calls for the jacket/top to be fully lined (using the provided lining pattern pieces - I love when the pattern provides separate lining pieces), while the skirt is not. I do, however, plan on lining the skirt, just to finish it off nicely inside and for ease of wearing. The linings I'm debating about using are shown below. All of them are silk charmeuse. I'm sure many of you recognize the Anna Sui silks from Fabric Mart. The others are from a local chain store. Right now I'm leaning toward the first one. Any opinions?



The jacket/top has several darts for shaping - shoulder, side to bust, waist to bust and elbow. This many darts is always welcome as it provides many fitting opportunities, although I tend to find that vintage patterns tend to fit me well in the shoulder through waist areas. So, I'm not envisioning many tweaks, especially since this jacket/top is not supposed to be close fitting.

The skirt on the other hand requires some work. Flat pattern measuring provides a waist and hip measurements of 24.5" and 36", which translate into an ease of 0.5" and 3" in those respective regions. My measurements are not quite the same. I will have to add 2" to the waist and 5" to the hip to ensure the skirt fits and to maintain the original design ease. Expanding the waist is not a problem as there is just a waistband to lengthen (see pattern piece #14 to the right) and the body of the skirt gathers onto this waistband. The hip, however, will require more work. The main body of the skirt is four pieces. Pattern piece #11 is the pocket, which can be left as is. Piece #13 is the back, which is cut twice to accommodate a back zipper. Piece #10 is the side front, which is cut twice and piece #12 is the front piece, which is cut once on the fold. Pieces #10, #12 and #13 will all require adjustment and I plan on distributing the 5" expansion fairly evenly throughout these pieces.

Now, I really need to get down to some sewing. I'll report back soon!

SWAP 2008

This year, the Timmel SWAP 2008, has had me betwixted and bewildered. Here it is, 20 days since the start date of the competition and only now have I finally settled on a plan of action. I have yet to put needle to fabric. Up 'til now, I just could not get my SWAPping mojo working - every time I thought I had an idea, it fell through. Either the fabrics didn't complement each other or my wardrobe pattern wasn't working. I think however, I have finally figured it all out.

I have been wanting to add some suits to my working wardrobe and creating a SWAP that revolved around interchangeable suiting pieces seemed like a workable idea for SWAP. I wanted each suit to stand on its own, as well as having the flexibility of treating each garment like a coordinating separate. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to use Jacqueline Kennedy (JK) as my inspiration for this wardrobe. Her style is the quintessence of elegance, sophistication and good taste. When I think of classic, timeless clothing, JK always comes to mind. So, I have working for over month trying to get all the pieces to come together on a storyboard. The fabrics had to work together interchangeably and the style and lines of each garment had to complement all the other garments. Last, but certainly not least, the wardrobe had to take inspiration from JK, but work on my body (which is nothing like JK's).

Please note that all garment inspiration photos were taken from the book, Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years. If you like JK and/or 1960s fashion, this book is phenomenal. I first learned of its existence from Carolyn and boy, am I glad I did! Although the book is a bit pricey, it is well worth it in my opinion. The garment photos are exquisite and the accompanying historical info (date and location where garment was worn, designer and fabric) is interesting and useful for the seamstress looking to knock off JK's wardrobe. I have other books on JK, but this one is by far my favourite. The book is broken into several chapters, the most interesting of which are the ones focusing on her influence on 60s fashion. My favourite chapters are "Campaign", "Inauguration", "White House Style" and "Travel". Each of these chapters features several outfits worn by JK during the whirlwind of supporting her husband in his bid for the presidency and the ensuing time in the White House. It is amazing how fresh and timeless most of her choices still appear today. That is the mark of true style.

My storyboard includes a fabric swatch (accompanied by fabric type and vendor), the pattern and the JK inspiration garment(s).


I think I will be sticking with this plan, but if any amazing fabric or pattern jumps into my lap, I may pull a switcheroo - I guess we'll just have to see how it goes! I'm not exactly sure which piece I'll start with first. I am leaning toward the coat, but I want to do the sable collar, like in the original. However, I'm having a heck of a time tracking down good looking faux fur (I don't want real fur - it gives me the heebie-jeebies). If any one has any good sources for faux fur, do tell please.

Butterick 4347

Pattern: Butterick 4347 - view C












Size: B4347 comes in sizes XSM to XLG - I choose SM.

Fabric: Teal Matte Jersey Knit from Fabricland & Leopard Print Cotton Ribknit from Lucy's Fabrics.








Project Photo:
Comments: The teal top is item number twelve in my fall/winter wardrobe. The leopard print top is an item in my brown/black/cream wardrobe.

Let me begin by saying that this pattern is probably going to become one of my favourites and at this point I have only made view C. I love view C so much that I want to make all the views! With the two tops that I made, I learned quickly that view C looks better in a drapey knit. The neckline on the teal version drapes in such an elegant manner - this fabric is a matte jersey and it hangs well. It is comfortable and flattering and it looks good on its own or under a jacket.

I cut out a size SM and it fits great through the hip. However, the shoulder and waist is a bit large, so next time I will be using the XSM for the shoulder to waist region and a SM for the hip. I think this will give the top a sleeker look.

Although I really like the teal top, I am not quite as enamored with the leopard print version - the fabric is a cotton ribknit and it is a bit stiff, so it doesn't hang as well. I still like the top, but it is not quite as flattering when worn. The overlapping neckline is also a bit bulky in a heavier knit, so from now on I will be sticking to drapey and/or lighter knits for this particular pattern.

The skirt I'm wearing is from the black/brown/cream SWAP. It is Kwik Sew 2771 and I can't recommend this pattern highly enough. The long vertical lines in this skirt are slimming and with all the seams, adjusting this one to fit is so easy. I have made this skirt several times and I really love it. It looks fabulous in both the long and short version. This is my go-to skirt when I need something quick, but flattering.

Conclusion: B4347 is a great pattern. I will certainly be making more of view C, as well as the other views.

Butterick 4865

I have begun work on my fall/winter SWAP wardrobe. But, before I show you the first completed piece. I wanted to answer a few questions from the comments to the SWAP storyboard post.

How long do you think this will take you? If I really buckle down and stay focused, I figure I could get all three phases done by Christmas. Now, I'm not saying I will be done in three months, as I may be side tracked by other flights of sewing fancy. :)

...what does LH stand for? Sorry, for being confusing. I short form all my pattern companies: LH - Loes Hinse, J - Jalie, B - Butterick, S - Simplicity, NL - New Look, V - Vogue, M - McCall's, KS - Kwik Sew, BWOF - Burda World of Fashion magazine. I think that covers all the ones I use on a regular basis.

...your closet must be the size of a small country! Well...ahem...I do have a few hundred pieces of clothing. Okay, I will be the first one to admit that I don't need any more clothing, but I don't need a lot of things. I like making clothes, I like wearing clothes, I'm not ruining the family finances by buying fabric/notions and sewing is my stress relief and hobby. So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Now, if you really want to talk scary, you should see my shoe closet!


Pattern: Butterick 4865















Size: B4865 comes in sizes XS (4-6) to XL (20 - 22). I used size XS and it is plenty roomy.

Fabric: Embroidered brown velveteen from Fabricland was used for the entire coat, except the under collar, which was made of a brown tropical weight herringbone wool from Textile Studio.












Project Photo:
Comments: One day when browsing in my local fabric store, I spotted this fabric and it positively screamed at me to be taken home. Never one to question the motives of talking fabric, I snatched up 2 metres and went about my business. At home, I rifled through my pattern stash looking for a jacket pattern - the jacket pattern. I wanted something with very little seaming as I didn't want to cut up this lovely fabric and minimize the beauty of the embroidery. That is how I settled on Butterick 4865. I had used this pattern before (albeit, a different view) and I liked the results. I am always a sucker for a raglan sleeved pattern, as I love the lines.

This pattern is well drafted and went together quickly and easily. Originally, I had made view D and found it too cropped - view B, the version I made this time, is the perfect length. The only "alteration" I made to the pattern was to not alter the sleeves. Let me explain. Normally, I have to shorten sleeves by approximately 2 inches. This time I choose to leave the sleeves long and turn under an extra long hem - now, I am able to wear the sleeves bracelet length or turn up a cuff to shorten the sleeve to 3/4 length. I like a longer sleeve on a jacket, when wearing it outside, for warmth. However, inside I prefer a shorter length so the sleeve stays out of my way (I hate dragging my sleeves through the chalk when writing on the board).

The only tweak I made to this pattern was to cut the under collar out of an amazing tropical weight herringbone wool that I bought at Textile Studios. I had made a pair of pants from this fabric and I loved the fabric so much I couldn't bear to throw away the few small scraps I had left over. Good thing as the scraps made the perfect under collar. The velveteen is quite heavy and an upper and lower collar cut from this fabric would have been too stiff. Cutting the under collar from the thin wool, not only adds a design element, but it also reduces bulk.

I have to admit I was surprised by the size of the collar - it is quite large. Although, these large, dramatic collars seem to be all the rage right now. I think, because I am a small person, I am keenly aware of the collar's size, so I will have to wear the jacket a bit to "desensitize" myself.

I chose some shiny brass buttons as the finishing touch.

Conclusion: I really like this jacket, although the size of the collar will take a bit of getting used to before I am completely comfortable with it. I think this jacket is a great start to my wardrobe plan. Now, I just need to decide between a top or a skirt as my next project.

Butterick 4812

Pattern: Butterick 4812













Size: B4812 comes in sizes 6 to 20 - I used size 8 for the bodice, size 6 for the waist and size 10 for the hip.

Fabric: Medium weight white linen from Fabricland.

Project Photo:
Comments: I have been wanting to make this dress for the longest time now. I bought the pattern when it was first released and then it just languished in my stash. However, recently I saw Sharon's version. Her dress was so cute and flattering on her that it inspired me to get up off my lazy butt and make one of my own. Thanks for the inspiration, Sharon!

I wanted something decidedly summery, so I went with the white linen. I really like it because now I can dress it up or down with accessories in any colour under the sun. Also, since the linen is fairly heavy weight, I will be able to wear this dress into the fall, just by adding a jacket or sweater.

Conclusion: I already have a few other versions of this dress percolating in my head, so it will definitely get made again. This was certainly a quick project that produces major results. Sharon said it best, "It is a hidden gem."

All Aboard!

I'm about to embark on a sewing adventure and I'd like to invite you all along for the ride. I have two major projects on the go and I will be documenting the progress on these projects here.

Project One - Go With the Flow Dress
I will be using a rayon chiffon purchased from Timmel Fabrics to create view A of Vogue 2962, a re-release of a vintage pattern. Below you can see a long shot and a close up of the fabric, as well as the pattern. The rayon fabric is sheer so it will be lined with a deep raisin fabric. I have already cut out the fashion fabric and the lining and let me tell you, the rayon chiffon is a bear to work with. Can you say slippy, squiggly, flowy...ugh! But it's all cut out and assembly has begun. I'll update as I go along.























Project Two: CONTROL Suit
I am using a brown/green tweed for the jacket and a luscious dark sage green wool for the skirt. Both fabrics are from Timmel Fabrics. The pattern for this suit is 100% authentic vintage, Butterick 4557. Below are the two fabrics, as well as the pattern cover picture. The jacket will be the real challenge here, as I am going to tailor it as much as possible. There will be bound buttonholes, functional flapped pockets, pad-stitching, sew-in interfacings, lining, etc...the whole nine yards. I love this pattern - it reminds of something Agent 99 would have worn on Get Smart (hence the name of this project). I have cut out the fashion fabric and the lining. I have also put in tailor tacks for the important matching points on the jacket. As I construct the suit, I will post about it.

Butterick 4745 & Simplicity 3837

Pattern: Butterick 4745 & Simplicity 3837.



























Size: B4745 comes in sizes 6 to 20 - I made size 8. S3837 comes in sizes 6 to 22 - I made size 6.

Fabric: Brown/teal floral cotton voile from Fabricland & marine blue cotton interlock from Wazoodle.











Project Photo:














Comments: I have made this skirt before and I love it as much this time as the last.

This top, however, is a new pattern for me and I made view B. I'm not sure I'm completely sold on this top. There is a criss-cross front with a criss-cross overlay on top. This makes for a lot of fabric in the bodice. When attaching the upper bodice to the midriff, there are places where 7 layers of fabric are being sewn together - it is a bulky! In the photo, the top looks a bit wonky. This is due to the fix I often use on V-necks that I feel are too low. I have strung elastic thread through the entire V-neckline to help tighten it up and hold it closer to the body. On the hanger, the elastic gathers up oddly, but on the body, it relaxes and pulls the fabric to the chest, eliminating any embarrassing gaping. If I was to remake this top, I would alter the front pattern piece so the elastic is not required.

Conclusion: Although I am a bit disappointed in the top, I am still overall happy with this outfit. I love the skirt fabric and pattern so much that it makes up for the so-so top.

Butterick 4745 & BWOF 119 (11/05)

Pattern: Butterick 4745 & BWOF119 (11/05)



























Size: B4745 comes in sizes 6 to 20 - I made size 8. BWOF119 comes in sizes 36 to 42 - I made size 36.

Fabric: Orange/brown/yellow cotton & orange wicking fabric, both from Wazoodle.













Project Photo:



















Comments: I love this skirt. It is very simple to make and it is flattering. It is just two pieces - front and back. Rather than a waistband, the waist is finished with bias tape, so it is smooth and comfortable to wear. I can whip up one of these skirts (from pattern layout to hemming) in about an hour, so it makes for a quick, easy summer skirt. I have plans for some winter skirts with this pattern as well - I see them in faux suede and lightweight tweed.

This is another T-shirt from my TNT pattern. I have at least 8 shirts made from this pattern now and I'm positive I will make at least 8 more in the future.

Conclusion: Another fast addition to my summer wardrobe. What I like best about this outfit is that it is cool for the summer months, but because of the warm colours, it will work throughout autumn as well.

Simplicity 4076 & Vogue 8134

Pattern: Simplicity 4076 (view D) & Vogue 8134 (skirt)

Size: S4076 comes in sizes 8 to 24 - I made size 8. V8134 comes in sizes 6 to 20 - I made size 6.

Fabric: Chocolate brown bamboo knit from Wazoodle & Michael Miller Funky Flowers from WalMart (left over from this dress).













Project Photo:



















Comments: This was another fast and easy summer outfit. My summer wardrobe is sadly lacking and I am in the process of trying to beef it up.

The skirt has four panels (two wide for front and back; two thinner for the sides) and an elastic waist. This skirt sews up, from laying out to hem, in about an hour and a half. It looks quite cute on, considering the simple design.

The top is also quick. I like the cap sleeves and the gathering at the neckline. However, in making this top before, I found the scoop a bit low, so I raised it by 1/2". Next time I will raise it a further 1/2" because my favourite bra shows above the neckline. It can still be worn, just with other undergarments. This is my first time working with the bamboo knit. I'm not sure if I love it. It is really soft and drapey, which at first seems wonderful. However, that soft, drapiness tends to cling to and emphasize every little lump and bump. I may double the fabric next time I use it, to minimize this.

Conclusion: I love the skirt pattern and have plans to use it several more times - it has that 60s A-line flair that I love. I am still trying to perfect the fit of the T-shirt. All in all, another cute summer outfit.

Butterick 5046

Pattern: Butterick 5046

















Size: This pattern contains sizes 8 to 22 - I made size 8.

Fabric: Teak interlock and teak/black floral paisley interlock both from Wazoodle.

Project Photo: