White Long Cotton Skirt

 

A white, long, summer skirt was in my mind for some time now, and when I went to Lleida to buy some gingham for my next project, I found this gorgeous cotton English embroidery with 3D margaritas sewn into it. It is beautiful, and although it was expensive, at 32 €/M, I bought 1.5m to make a long skirt. 

The plan was a gathered, or pleated one... but then this fabric would not go well with added volume, specially in white... So after much thought, I decided to make it on the bias, using an old pattern of mine, which works like magic every time. 

The problem was that the usual add-on I have to make to pull an ankle long bias skirt with 1.5 m of fabric, and only one seam at the centre back, did not look good in the sheer fabric. I hid it with an embellishment cut from the fabric borders, which was destined for the bottom in the initial plan. I think the effect is nice, and makes the add-on inconspicuous. 

It was difficult to find a top to wear it with, but then I remembered the awesome denim vest I bought in my Toronto honeymoon last year. We found it in a 2nd hand shop in Kensington Market, one of the coolest neighbourhoods, if not the coolest, we've been to. 

I had to make a white jersey loose lining to give it weight and not see-through. 

All in all, it is perfect in any sense. Very proud of this special one. 

Red Cotton Twill Cropped Pants and Gingham Blouse

I've had this red cotton thick twill for two years in my stash. I bought in Porto, without a project in mind, because good cotton twill is difficult to find, and this had a nice red colour. 

I doubted about how to make the pants, and finally I had the idea of cutting them short, and that was the starting point.

Then, one day I was watching the last And Just Like That season and I saw Charlotte combining some red pants with a red and white gingham blouse. Very inspiring!

I found the cotton gingham in my Lleida and I started to pick up patterns. 

For the trousers, I went again to the wide version of my favourite pants pattern. I can make them slimmer, wider, in every length, including this pirate version. They are perfect in every sense, and I will continue using them again and again. 

As for the blouse, I found a good pattern in a Burda Style magazine (September 2024), with a yoke in the back and side breast seams. It has a big shirt collar and it is practically straight in the sides. 

The sleeves could have a better hang, I rushed the machine stitching and seam enclosing process, but all in all, the blouse is awesome, and I will wear it a lot. 

Animal Print Twill Ginger Pants

After making my 50's dress  with this gorgeous fabric, I had 1 m left. Then, I remembered the idea I had had long in my mind, of making a pair of camouflage pants. Finding the right fabric has been impossible til now, so I thought this fabric would be perfect to make a pair of tight-fitting Ginger Jeans.

As any other pattern of jeans, legs must be adjusted to get the right amount of ease, depending on the look we have in mind, the thickness of the fabric and most of all, the elasticity of it. Since this fabric is quite thin and it has a very good give and recovery, I thought I could make them in a tight version. 

In the 1st fitting I realized they were too tight, unwearable. One of these projects that goes to the waste unfinished, a shame. But then I gave it some thought and I decided to make serged seams instead of self-encasing them. Most commercial jeans have serged, and then topstiched seams. This meant I could give 1 cm off every seam. 

That proves to be the perfect solution. It is amazing that only 1 cm is such a game changer! They feel like a glove, they are comfortable to wear and the perfect tightness in both hips and legs. 

I have worn them to a metal festival all day, and they stayed in perfect shape after sitting, dancing and the lots. 

Last time I made a pair of Ginger jeans, I remember I had to take them in all around, so I must have cut 1 cm off around all pieces, although I cannot remember doing that. In this fabric, which is not that elastic, this was. I am making another pair nowadays, adding 1 cm in all exterior seams, we will see if that is right, or I might have to print and trace the pattern in my right size again. 

Black and Pink Chunky Cotton Stripped Sweater

I started this project to use the remnants of black and pale pink chunky cotton from previous projects. I had two skeins of each colour, so I thought that I would have enough to make a cropped tight jumper. 

I followed Ann Budd's book to make a seamless yoked jumper, knitted in the round without any seam. 

At the end, I needed to buy one more skein in each colour, but it was still worth it. 

The jumper could have been tighter, I think. I made it in size 40, the sleeves are quite tight, but the bodice has still some ease. The length is great, and it combines great with high-waisted pants or long dresses like the one in the picture. 

I finished at the beginning of summer, but I could pack it for my holidays in the Czech Republic, where it was cold in the evenings, and it felt great to wear. I love this chunky cotton, because it is cool, warm but not itchy, so I can wear it on my naked skin. 

Ravelry

Black Flowery Liberty Cotton Summer Dress

This spring and summer, we have been very busy with our house renovations and travels. I have been sewing in the mid of all the turmoil, sometimes among cardboard boxes and with little time to spare, but I never stopped sewing. Now I have several projects finished, to post, but I am not doing it in the right order, so I will state the date I finished them for my own record. I finished this dress at the end of  June, and I still wore it at my job, but only one day. I packed it for my trip to the beach and also for my trip to Portugal, because it is very comfortable and light, I love wearing it. 

I bought this gorgeous Liberty fabric last December at Guthrie and Ghani shop in Birmingham. I purchased 1,5 m not knowing what I'd make with it, because it was so beautiful, it was irresistible. 

I imagined something like this that I saw in the shop, but I will not pay 20 quid for a pattern, no way. So I found a blouse in Burdastyle magazine and I hacked to change the centre front opening to a closing with mini bows, a different neck opening and I added a ruffled mini skirt. 

The result is lovely. I've worn it a lot and I find it comfortable, beautiful and becoming to my figure. 

Green & Black Animal Print Cotton 50s Dress

 This is one of those projects that go WOW. I hAve to keep myself from wearing this every day, everywhere. 

I bought the fabric in our last visit to Birmingham, in Guthrie&Ghani shop. I saw it there and I knew it was a wonderful dress.

First, I thought in a simple shirt dress, but finally I was inspired by a 50s silhouette. This bodice is from an old pattern I bought 2nd hand when I discovered Gertie and was all influenced by her wonderful retro style, many years ago. 

I gave it another rendition, this time with the 3/4 sleeves and small cuffs under the elbow, which are lovely.

I changed the skirt, though, instead of pleats, I made half a circle skirt, adding up the pieces in the bottom of the back skirt. Nobody notices it if it is well done, and you save 1 m of fabric. 

I love the neck of this bodice, how it fits my C cup breast and my waist just perfectly.

 It is an awesome pattern and with this skirt, it is tempting to make again and again. 

Irish Wool Wrapped Jacket

 Last summer we visited Ireland in our summer holiday. During one week, we drove a car from Dublin and all around the south part of the island, to Dublin again. The west coast landscape is really impressive, and we also enjoyed the folk music and the great atmosphere in the pubs. We made a tour around the Ring of Kerry, and we stopped in the Kerry Woollen Mills to buy some local wool. I had spotted some wool + silk herringbone, but it was out of stock, so I bought this black and bone coloured pure wool tweed. 

I used an old pattern of mine, hacking it to have continuous lapels and a belt instead of buttons. 

It turned out really great, although with 1,5 m, it was really tight, and I couldn't make the belt as wide as I'd like. It is elegant and sporty at the same time, very comfortable, warm and easy to combine. Great.