Black Cotton Twill Concert Shorts

This project began in Birmingham, when in a bookshop, I saw this book and was immediately intrigued by a trousers pattern. They have small darts, big oblique pockets and several versions, slim or wider. I'd been looking for a pattern like this and it proved to be up to my expectations. 

I bought this twill in Guthrie and Ghani's shop in Birmingham too, so this is a Brummie project through and through!

I made a big mistake during the construction, I forgot to take the seam allowance off. Then, at the first fitting, I saw they were too big and I had to take some fabric from here and there... Also, the construction of the fly was problematic, because the mark was not in the right place... and it was only afterwards I realized my mistake. 

Later, I made them shorter and they were SO perfect, I know I will make them again and again. 

The short trousers are fantastic for concerts, because I can put numerous things in my big side pocket (which was an addition of mine). They look great with a t-shirt and Vans. 

I can't wait to make the narrower long version and I have the fabric for it. 

I made them almost one year ago, but I did not have the time to post them until now. 

Cotton Double Gauze Gingham Daphne Dress

 I bought this double gauze gingham in dust pink and white in Helsinki. I liked the typical Marimekko big flower fabric, but it was too expensive, at 50 € /m, so thank you, but no, thank you. 

Well, so I took this gauze gingham home, and I got inspired by the Daphne Dress in The Fold Line. I loved that neck cut, low and wide. I am watching The Great, and Catherine's wonderful silk dresses have this neck cut, and it is lovely. I read that the author, Masin, was inspired by The Bridgetons to design it, so there we are.

It is a stunning, clever pattern. It has an elastic panel in the back, which keeps the front bodice tight around the breasts in a comfy way. I made a C size in a D cup, but then I added 3 mm at the breasts and side seams, cause it looked pretty tight on my dress form. And thanks to that small alteration, the sizing is perfect. 

My fabric was tight, since I only got 1,5 m, but I am proud to have squeezed a midi dress, which looks lovely as well. 

I dream with a silk taffeta maxi version of this pattern, but I need a pretty posh excuse to wear that! 

In typical fashion, I started it in warm October and finished it in cold November, so it will have to wait for the summer to be worn, and published. 

Update: this was my wedding dress!!!! Autumn and winter passed and in the spring, May 16th, 2024, me and my beloved Karlos got married. It was the most minimalist wedding possible, only us two, the councillor and friend who married us and two relatives as witnesses. It was only a legal step in our long (25 years living together + 3 dating) wonderful love story. But it was meaningful for me at the end, and it was the start of a long honeymoon holiday that took us to Desert Fest in London and to Canada, a great, great trip. The dress was perfect and I felt gorgeous. 

I wore it again with a denim vest I bought in Kensington Market in Toronto (<3!) for my students' graduation, and it felt fantastic too.