Easy Style with a Cobalt Linen skirt

My Spring Sudoku Wardrobe plans are mainly based around cobalts and pinks, with black neutrals. I was feeling these brights for the year ahead & so was pleased to see them pop up in a few runway shows. I was particularly surprised by Roberto Cavalli, not a house where I usually find things I like -- but he had lots of blacks, with some striking pinks and purples. And the small house MSGM had some interesting colours too, and prints (my fave at 5:20), while LaDoubleJ was full of colour and whimsy.  I've been finding so many of the current huge fashion names are producing dull black, grey, beige and brown clothing. So it's a joy to find some of these more colourful pieces. 

Anyhow, longwinded way to say that I'm loving some bright pinks, blues and whites for my spring wardrobe! My latest piece is a simple pull on skirt, from a 1980s pattern, Style 4727. I had some blue linen in the stash to use for this.

I decided to line it, since it's a bit see through on its own as a summer skirt. I had some blue-ish lining in my stash so just used that. It does make it a little heavier than usual for a summery linen skirt but I prefer that to having sunshine go right through it ;) 

This is a simple elastic waist pull-on design, with side seam pockets. I had to lengthen it a bit, since it's a short skirt by design, but a little too short for me. I made it just at the knee to suit my preferences a little more, and I am short so this would definitely be a lot shorter as per the pattern for someone of average or taller height. 

This is a fun addition to my Sudoku wardrobe, and it matches the top I made from Vogue 8617, also from the 80s. I used the same fabric for a matching set, kind of a faux dress, and this has used up the entire piece that I thrifted quite a while ago. It does wrinkle pretty quickly, here just from sitting down for a minute. But I do love this colour!  

Weekend Review: Skirt A Day Sewing

Skirt-a-Day Sewing / Nicole Smith 

This is a bit of an older book but I found it in the library! It's an interesting concept and would be a fun one to work through bit by bit. 

The author sets it up with some basic sewing info, then spends time showing you how to draft a custom pattern for yourself, so that you can start altering your skirt block into the 28 designs she's created for this book. 

After that beginning (including the nearly 40 page chapter on drafting, which includes many illustrations to help you out), the book has four further chapters, each taking on one style of skirt, then expanding it into a full week of patterns that you can adapt from the basic design, using your own block. 

The four chapters focus on Wrap Skirts, Straight Skirts, Flared Skirts, and High-Waisted Skirts. The cover image shows off a few of the variety of options included. I like the idea of this book, and think that by creating your block and then taking on some drafting challenges to make some of the variations shared, you could really learn a lot. She is good at explaining things and makes it sound quite achieveable. There are photos of each skirt, and lots of diagrams and clear instructions for every variation, too. 

The skirts show variety and how to change up a plain pattern to incorporate a range of features. Of course you're probably not going to like all of them -- many just aren't my style, but I still read about how they were made from the original pattern. That info was fascinating. And it gives you some knowledge about tweaks you can make to patterns you already own, to add in or adjust features (like pockets, pleats, gores, waistbands, ruffles, etc) that you'd like to have in your garments. If you like skirts, this would be a great book to check out! 

 

Literary Sewing Circle: Inspiration Post!

It's time for more inspiration for our sewing projects drawn from Snap! This week I'll be looking at some of the outfits and imagery mentioned in the book to spark some ideas for our own sewing. 

Let's start with some of the clothing described in the book. working our way through some of the characters. 

There is of course Frances, who we meet first. There are her infamous blue cat-printed pyjamas from the beginning of the book -- you could repeat that with a set of pjs like the Havana Pajamas by Liesl & Co, in a print like this one designed by Kirsten Sevig, on Spoonflower.

Or make a functional swimsuit that you could swim lanes in, while avoiding slowpokes, like the classic Racerback by Jalie 

But there are other mentions of her clothing choices that might be the thing to inspire you. When she first looks outside after the day of the debacle, she hides herself with a striped scarf wrapped around her head babushka-style. If you feel the need to be incognito, you could copy her with a quick make of this free Burda pattern for a hooded scarf. 

Or when she's trying to dress up to get lighter alternative sentencing, she wears a blouse described as a "silk creamy number"; you could try one like this Vogue 1902 in a beautiful drapey fabric. 

On Keanu's birthday party day, Frances dresses in classic style, in a pink cashmere sweater with simple black skirt. This would be fairly easy to replicate with these patterns, if you could find just the right fabrics. Mix the Tabor Sweater by SewHouseSeven with the free Libby A-line skirt by Tessuti, and you'd get a nice outfit! 

For Geraint's court date, Frances is noted as wearing "a burgundy blouse that looked gorgeous with her salt-and-pepper hair", along with a black pencil skirt. Maybe burgundy is your colour too, and you want to try something like this outfit. You could use the Magic Pencil Skirt by Pamela's Patterns, and a more streamlined blouse pattern that feels like Frances, such as the Pleated Blouse by The Avid Seamstress. 

When she goes on her first date with a man she met online, Jules takes her shopping and they find a "teal blue wool dress that was just the right amount of sexy". You might be inspired by this to make something teal, or something that is the right amount of sexy for you! Maybe both, with Vogue 8280, the classic knockoff of the Roland Mouret Galaxy Dress.

And near the end, when Frances slips out to the corner store for birthday candles, she is wearing her favourite blue sundress, which "billowed in the wind". Maybe something that summery will be your project - I can see Frances wearing something light but not too voluminous, like the Raman Dress by Tammy Handmade. 

Geraint is usually found in tracksuits, whether blue, red, green, or black. There are many slightly more elevated matching sets you could make in a nod to this, say the Miss Trail Joggers and the Miss Clover sweatshirt by Sofiona Patterns, for example. 

But he does appear in a few other things - on his court date he wears a checkered button-up and dress pants (salvaged from the trash -- upcycling like Parker?) And during Keanu's birthday party, he wears jeans with a green sweater that's been slightly shrunken in the wash. You could use the Fairfield Button Up by Thread Theory in a nod to his outfits outside the tracksuit norm. 

Meanwhile, Parker gives us enough inspo to run with for a plethora of projects. When Frances first sees Parker at their anger management class, she describes her as an "odd-looking duck with a mass of fiery red hair, oodles of freckles, and a multicoloured tent-dress that appeared to be made out of multiple swatches of fabric". To really go to town with a multicoloured patchwork dress with a full silhouette (though not quite 100% tent-like) you could take on a big project and try the Drafter's Grid Dress by Roberts Wood. 

When Parker is first introduced to the reader, she reminisces a bit about her first sewing project, made on her mother's ancient Singer, an "upcycled skirt that was half plaid, half polka dot." You could try making something like this with a simple & youthful skirt pattern like McCalls 8409, which has multiple fabrics built into the design. 

Parker does like polka dots! At Keanu's party, she appears in a red and white polka dot dress with colourful striped tights. You could make a similar dress, or even tights! I imagine this dress in a full skirted vintage style, like the free Sonora by Tiana's Closet (maybe lengthened a touch). For tights you might choose the Footed Tights by Peek-a-Boo Patterns.

At another party at Frances' house, Parker wears a self-made sundress covered with red and yellow flowers. For some reason I picture an old tablecloth or 70s curtains as her fabric source for this one! But you could make one using a modern floral in red and yellow. She might wear something like the Malorie Dress by Sew Over It, with lots of floatiness. 

During trash picking, Parker pulls out a set of hot pink headphones from an iridescent gold backpack. If you're more into bag making than garment making right now, you could copy this by trying out the Lark Mini Backpack by CraftOwl Handmade on Etsy. It's so cute, and you could just find a shiny gold fabric to make it up, to really copy Parker. 

At their night class, she appears once wearing a 'hand-sewn shirt, which looked more like a painting smock' which had pockets big enough to store Twizzlers. Vogue 2030 might fit the bill for this inspiration, it's quite painter's smock like!

And of course there is Parker's infamous tea towel dress! She joins Frances and Geraint for his court case, "wearing a dress made entirely of tea towels. Frances wasn't sure what to make of it, but Geraint exclaimed, "Parker, you look magnificent." " You could freehand something like this, inspired by this trend which is apparently super hot in Australia right now. Or you could try one of the many panelled patterns created by Matchy Matchy Sewing Club, which would lend themselves to smaller chunks of fabric, ie: tea towels! 

The free Colourblock Set is just one of many options!

Or you might just be inspired by Parker's design ethos in general and decide to upcycle something yourself. After all, as she says when Daisy complements her style, "Thanks. I do a lot of upcycling, making my own creations with used clothes and fabric remnants."

You could pick another pattern just inspired by her name that we missed in the last roundup -- the brand-new Parker Pants from our sponsor Blackbird Fabrics! (and don't forget that if you are sewing along, you can use the discount they are offering by using code LSC25 at checkout for any BF Patterns or fabrics, until April 24). 

Maybe it's all three of our main characters together who will inspire you. When they trail Ron to see what he's up to, everybody wears all-black outfits, with black ballcaps. You could also make an all black outfit to blend into the background. The Rosie Utility Suit by MaidenMary Designs on Etsy would be quite functional for a spot of spying. 

Or you may be inspired by the three of them walking through the park with their "wind breakers unzipped and sun hats on". There are tons of fabulous sunhat patterns out there, and they are quite seasonal, too! Try the free Bucket Hat by Heather Handmade, the free Sun Hat by Spruce Crafts, or the free Sun Hat by Closet Core! 

 

Spruce Crafts Sun Hat

There are also a few mentions of the outfits worn by other characters. Frances meets up with Jules for some legal advice early on, and finds Jules wearing "a striking yellow power suit that managed to be stylish, sexy, and intimidating all at once." This makes me think of Vogue 1870 right away. 

Frances walks in on her mother at Shady Pines, getting ready for a hot date with her new beau. Cordelia is just slipping one of her "nicest dresses over her head, black, knee-length, with a zipper up the back." You could go classic with this, using something like the Sofi Dress by The Patterns Room.

Or make it a bit edgier with a bit of bling by using an exposed zipper on something like the Carnaby Dress by Nina Lee. 

Aside from the many, many descriptions of clothing in the book, there are places that might inspire you in a more conceptual way. Trout Lake Park, where they spend the trio spends their time garbage picking, might make you think of something like the relaxed vibe of the Lake Woven Tee and Pant set by Thread Faction Studio. 

Or Cordelia's residence, Shady Pines, might bring the Pine Dress by Mood to mind. 

But then, perhaps you'll just think of the Shade Pants by Wissew instead! 

Even Frances' kitchen, which Daisy describes as a 90s IKEA due to its yellow walls and blue & white tiles, might twig something for you. Try making something pretty in a fabric like this one from gaiamarfurt on Spoonflower. 

And Frances' resplendent garden in the final pages is described as "an explosion of colour. Her guests mingled among blue and pink hydrangeas, gladioli, day lilies, brown-eyed Susans, and foxgloves." Imagine the potential for a floral print with some of these colours, or just an abundance of flowers. Or simply a pattern using any of these flower names. Or maybe use one of those floral prints for the easy Garden Breeze Summer Dress by Stik en Dinge 

Or get more into the details with the multiple pintucks on this slightly more challenging Garden Dress by FruxStudio!

Any of these ideas would work, remember, you only need to tie your project to something you've found in the book, whether an image, a name or a description. I hope you are having fun with this part of it and you will be able to share your projects in the comments on next week's post, with the competition part open for two more weeks after that if you want to be in for the prize draw. Otherwise just keep sewing!  

80s Style Cobalt Linen Top

A vintage pattern in cobalt today! I have a wardrobe pattern from the 80s, Vogue 8617, that has a lot of nice pieces in it. I decided to finally make the top, which I've been thinking about for a long time -- it has many interesting elements. From shape to button opening to sleeve, there is a lot here that I like. 

I cut this in 14/16 and it worked out perfectly. When I looked at the pattern, I thought this would be a quick and easy project. It was a bit more complicated than I first thought - there were a couple of tricky bits getting the facings on correctly but it all worked out. After some initial confusion and having to recut the button stand as I'd put it together backwards (yes, it did have a specific orientation it needed) everything else went together nicely. 

This is a linen blend from my stash; I've had it a long time and think that it worked out really nicely for this top. I love the fit of the cut on sleeve, I really like the shape of the neckline, and the side slits make it the perfect fit and a comfortable one to wear. I might use a lighter weight interfacing on the front piece next time but that's really the only thing I'd change with this one. I love it! 

One funny thing about it, I had it cut out and ready to go but could not find buttons to match, even in my extensive button collection. I looked at the fabric store but couldn't find anything there either. I was considering using silver or clear buttons but didn't love the way they looked. Then I was at the thrift store, looked down and saw two cards of the perfect blue buttons just waiting for me. The exact tone of blue and size I needed. Such a great find! A week after I bought them, they are already in use. 

This is one of the pieces of my Sudoku Wardrobe, but I think it will also go with many of the things in my wardrobe already. I love this one!