Trio of Purple

The Pattern Stash contest is inspiring me to sew all the time! Well, all the time for me, in between working full time and having other commitments that interfere with my sewing time...LOL. I am a fairly slow sewer as well, but I do enjoy the process. I'm having fun making sets of things this month, and this outfit was inspired by some beautiful purpley-magenta linen blend that I picked up in a sale at my fabric store a month or two ago. I actually have one more skirt cut out of this fabric but we'll see if I get to it this month or not...

In any case, I sewed up a Simplicity 2305 (Cynthia Rowley) skirt, a New Look 6148 top, and then tossed off a Butterick 5470 tank top in a toile de jouy that I have had for years which I realized matched perfectly!

First, here is the purely purple outfit:

Here's a better look at the skirt, in daylight so the colour is clearer -- I love the colour so much! Despite there being gathers front and back on this skirt, I like the way it fits; I was a little worried that it would add a lot of bulk to areas that don't exactly need adding to. But it falls nicely. I added a side seam pocket on the side without the side zip, which was just a lapped zip that turned out nicely. The waistband is under this belt but it is pretty basic too. 

The top. It is a lovely fit, very comfy. The neckband stands up slightly, I don't know what I did, but I think that with this fabric it gives a retro vibe of a kind. Anyhow, I like it. The only thing I wish I would have thought about was raising the pocket. Oh well! Otherwise I really like it. It was a breeze to sew up, and I remembered to pinch an inch out of centre front and back neckline before I cut -- it fits really well now.

Then I added Butterick 5470, which I have owned for so long I have no idea where I got it. I have always planned to make the jacket from this pattern but have never got as far as actually cutting out the pattern tissue and preparing it... at least now I've done that! I made the cute pleated tank, but should have added another inch to the length. It's okay as is but the extra length might have made it fall a little more nicely. The construction of this is pretty easy, even if my front facing wants to pop up (I might tack it down a bit more) It's cute and light, but that front pleat in a cotton means I probably shouldn't wear this out too often unless I'm trying to park in the special "pregnant woman" spot at the grocery store... I think it would work more effectively in a very light and drapy fabric.


In any case, I am amazed at myself for finishing these and having a matching outfit to wear! I think out of the three, I'd be most likely to make the New Look top again; I can imagine lots of variations on it.