Hello!
So! after hours (and hours… and hours…) of aeroplane and in-front-of-the-TV stitching, I have finished my first AC project(s).
This is the mid-length skirt and the fitted tank top, both from the book, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, by Natalie Chanin. The two are actually just one pattern, a full length dress pattern, which you cut off at the relevant places to make either a skirt or a top. Or a tunic or a dress.
Great idea, by the way. I love the economy of one all-inclusive pattern. Means you only have one thing to store, but about a zillion “making” opportunities in there. OK, to be accurate there are eight garment possibilities from the one pattern, but surely at least a zillion wearing and layering combinations to be had.
My skirt! I’m so pleased with it! It is totally hand-quilted and stitched in the reverse appliqué technique described in the book; using a top layer of lightweight deep olive bamboo/cotton knit, bought originally from Potters Textiles years ago, and the base layer is a thicker and more stable dirt-brown cotton jersey from KnitWit, also bought years ago. These are my colours, yo 🙂 I also used some of that same brown cotton to make part of Tim’s hoodie, here.
The stencil pattern is Anna’s Garden from the AC book, enlarged 306%. I applied the stencil to the olive fabric using a small foam roller and regular household paint, as described here. The thread used throughout is a brown/grey Gutermann’s upholstery thread, although Spotlight ran out of my colour (grrr!) so a small portion was done in the same colour of Gutermann’s topstitching thread. Top-stitching thread is kinda OK stuff but I really prefer the upholstery thread; much smoother and less prone to the strands separating from each other.
All the seams are hand stitched too, and felled by hand. I had initially toyed with machine stitching the seams; but of course after all that hand embroidery I knew I had to finish off properly…. This took a blink of an eye compared to the embroidery side of things, so I am so pleased I opted to “do it right”, so to speak. I like the way the felling shows upon the right side as a row of dimples; barely hinted-at stitches along the seams.
I finished the waistband with chocolate brown fold over elastic, bought from Tessuti’s in Melbourne. This stuff is extraordinarily expensive here and pretty hard to find in Perth. Believe it or not; this colour is the closest match that I’ve found… anywhere.
My top: I actually do have a matching deep-olive-and-dirt-brown fitted tank top printed, planned and ready to go, but as soon as I finished the skirt I had a Vision; only the plainest of plain white tanks would be the absolutely perfect-est accompaniment to this busy busy skirt. I had the immediate compulsion to make such a thing.
I bought the white cotton jersey from KnitWit, and made up a very simple fitted tank; no frills but still constructed in the Alabama Chanin way, so stylistically it matches the skirt really well. The seams are stitched and felled by hand, and the binding applied with herringbone stitch. Although there a visible knots aplenty on the inside of the skirt… unavoidable! I went out of my way to hide them on the inside of the tank top, concealing all the knots inside the layers of the felling and binding.
Neckline and armhole binding and seams: below left, right side view; at right, inner view with felled seams
Fitting-wise; I raised the back neckline of the tank and made the shoulder straps a little wider also. In my early experiments, I sliced a biggish sway-back wedge from the pattern which affected both the tank and the skirt pieces.
Time-wise; the tank top took, like, one day at the most? while the skirt has taken weeks! Although I would like to add more Alabama Chanin pieces to my wardrobe, there is no danger that I am going to get addicted to this technique. It is basically identical to hand-quilting and I have made enough quilts to know I can only take so much of that. My left pointer finger needs time to rest and recuperate. The tip of that finger has skin like a rhino now. Seriously.
Obviously I am thrilled to bits with my first Alabama Chanin project, and the second! however there will be one little hurdle; I’m going to have to force myself to wear the skirt and not treat it like a museum piece. I’m having visions of unwittingly sitting down on a patch of oil, or brushing against a spiky bush or someone carrying a glass of red wine tripping and falling in slow motion in my direction…. aaagh! The stuff of nightmares! 😉
Details:
Skirt; the mid-length skirt from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, hand-embroidered and stitched cotton jersey in two solid colours
Top; the fitted tank from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, hand-stitched, white cotton jersey
Sandals: Franco Burrone, from Marie Claire
I have the book, I have the fabric and I am going to Europe in 6 months time for a month sooooo maybe, just maybe I'll have a skirt at the end of it …. probably not, but we will see
Wow, just wow. I'm just amazed by your patience with the hand-stitching on this project. I made my husband look over my shoulder at your hand-stitching and even he's impressed.
Wow! I knew you'd do lovely things with an Alabama Chanin project. I'm not sure if this allays your fear of stains on your gorgeous skirt, but I read that Nathalie Chanin dyes over her precious handmade pieces if/when they get show signs of having been lived in.
Morgan; that's a great idea! I'm a big believer in the restorative and rejuvenating powers of dye 🙂
Wow! What a fab pattern! I couldn't wait to see the skirt from the fabric earlier. And the top is great, I love the seaming detail and the way it goes to a point front and back. The hand stitching is beautiful.
omygosh aMAYzing work! I have fabric, book, & Craftsy class – NO reason now not to put an AC project at the top of the list. I don't think I'll go as all out as you did though – that takes commitment! Well done 🙂
Stunning! I am in the USA at the moment and looked at this book in the shops the other day. I love the idea of doing something like that, but know I never will! Thanks for sharing such a special piece is us – wear it often, something so special should be enjoyed!
Wow! Those pieces are amazing – beautiful works of art! I really enjoy hand sewing, but that is a step beyond! The finished garments have a great silhouette . . . I am now going to have to look up the book etc!
Stunning! I am in the USA at the moment and looked at this book in the shops the other day. I love the idea of doing something like that, but know I never will! Thanks for sharing such a special piece is us – wear it often, something so special should be enjoyed!
Absolutely beautiful! I think after all that work I can understand why you might have to put it in a glass case!
Stunningly beautiful! After all that work I would be scared to wear them but then again I'd never have the patience to do all that hand sewing in the first place! You are such a talented lady,a real inspiration to me and I'm sure others as well.
thank you so much KayC 🙂
Wow so beautiful!
Such dedication. I admire your perseverance in completing this skirt. It's a work of art. I can totally understand your fear of damaging it through wear, but there is no point leaving it hanging in your wardrobe. Wear and enjoy all the compliments you are sure to receive.
Beautiful. I purchased the book some time ago, flicked through the pretty pictures and left it on the bookshelf. I am nowhere near completing such a big project but yours has made me take a deep breath in awe and look at the book again. Beautiful Carolyn. Great work
Stunning work again Carolyn. This is such an amazing project, I can only imagine the hours that went into the skirt.
Beautiful job Carolyn. I just got my copy of the book and I'm still drooling and trying to decide where to start.
Your eye to detail is an inspiration ~ this outfit is a 100% credit to you … J
Hi Carolyn! Both these pieces are beautiful! I also love the combination of the skirt and the top and how the match in a way but not too obvious. Great work again!!
Just breathtaking, Carolyn! And I agree, that white Alabama Chanin style tank is perfection with the gorgeous skirt!
It is stunning Carolyn, and so much work! Good luck wearing it out – I would be afraid as well of something bad happening- but you really must wear it out.
Oh, that is simply amazing! I've never seen that technique before; it's stunning. And your workmanship is exquisite!
Wow, tbis is gorgeous. I got this book for Christmas, if I can make anything even half as lovely, I'll be very happy.
Such beautiful work! It's absolutely stunning.
This is pretty impressive! Great handiwork. Wear it proudly!
Oh you really need to enjoy wearing these. Really lovely hand work. I really, really, really love the white tee! Such a great outfit.
You have taken your sewing to another new level again! Well done.
thank you, dl's wife 🙂
Stunning, such patience. Congratulations there is a lot of work in that. Your first project of 2014 and what a corker.
Beautiful work, enjoy wearing it!
Wow, what a great outfit! You've inspired me to try an AC style piece. I have nowhere near your dedication to this style (yet), mainly because I haven't yet managed to get my hands on the book, so will start with just something a little simpler, with hand stitched piece work on a pair of shorts. I'm not very far along at this stage, but seeing this might spur me on a bit faster.
Absolutely love the colour combo on your skirt by the way.
Gorgeous, an heirloom piece, but one that should be lived in! 🙂 I'm amazed you even did the seams by hand!
There truly are not enough superlatives for me to use here. Just WOW!
Carolyn, this is stunning! I hope you enjoy wearing this truly beautiful skirt.
Love! The colours look great on you and I agree that the plain white top works perfect with it. Just wear the skirt, these clothes are so comfortable!
I didn't think I would like the AC project, but of course you pulled it off beautifully! Your worries about ruining the skirt are not without foundation. I wore my best grey cashmere sweater for Christmas Day dinner and it got splattered with duck grease. I didn't do it, Bill had an awkward time carving the thing and my sweater was the main casualty. I rushed up stairs, changed and hand washed it, but one small spot on the sleeve remains. So perhaps no good clothes at the dinner table? How sad.
Anyhow, what I was wondering was whether the AC book has patterns for long sleeved tops with set in sleeves. Picky, I know, but I live in a cold place and being petite with narrow shoulders, the set in sleeve is what I want. I agree that having a single pattern for two pieces is a brilliant idea. I'm far more comfortable with hand sewing than machine, so I might just warm up to this AC thing…
Shelley; thank you! and yes the book has several other patterns, including a regular Tshirt top and a bolero; both with variable sleeve lengths including long fluted sleeves. My mother is making a fully embroidered AC long-sleeved Tshirt top from the book, and is thrilled with the good fit. I will post her finished project here, if she permits me 🙂
omg omg omg! That is beautiful! Your craftsmanship on both the skirt and the top is A+, and I'm drooling over the end result! ((speechless!)) >_<
Such a beautiful skirt! I hope you wear it often and enjoy this piece of art very much.
Beautiful! It's your duty to wear it often and make the world a prettier place 😉 ! I like the idea of dyeing over it when it gets stained, though I keep my fingers crossed it won't.
So gorgeous, so you and so worth the effort. I quite understand the urge to only wear whilst standing up visiting art galleries/museums with immediate change on return home!!
This is stunning! Love the fabrics you chose for this outfit.
wow, that's lovely!
Amazing work! I applaud your patience!
What an incredible piece of art! You are so talented, focused and have such a great attention to detail and it really shows here.
Hi Carolyn, I went looking for this book and the techniques after your info here. It is so interesting and I have ordered the book I have spent the break clicking around the Internet looking all the different projects. I really love the clothes. Your skirt and top are lovely
Thanks Fifi, I hope you enjoy the book, and make yourself something lovely with it. There are so many really beautiful and inspiring Alabama Chanin projects out there 🙂
You are so talented, always pushing the envelope.
Oh wow. The simple and beautiful silhouette, the elaborate handwork, the colors on you . . . these two pieces are perfection.
This is just stunning! I'm amazed by your skill and patience! It must be so satisfying to have made something from start to finish with such loving hand-craft. I love how you're always challenging yourself and pushing into new directions – very exciting to watch!
Your skirt is stunning! Seriously, it's one of the prettiest I've seen and I've looked at a lot of Chanin garments. Your colors would suit me to a T also. I like it paired with the white top.
Wow — I am in awe! The incredible handwork in these pieces truly shows the loving devotion that defines Alabama Chanin garments.
Oh wow! It's amazing! I've done hand quilting so I know it's a slow process to make the skirt but what a result.
Wow.
Wow!! I'm speechless. This is just so superb. I hope you can enjoy it rather than great it as a museum piece – think of how much sewing this will enrich the life of everyone you pass! 🙂
*seeing
My predictive text knows me so well!!
Oh wow, it's just beautiful. I was really excited to see what you made from that book and I wasn't disappointed. I love that muddy olive. One of my favorite colors. Great work!
Beautiful! I knew you + AC would be amazing! The skirt is absolutely gorgeous, and I hope you wear it to death 🙂
I just love that! I'm an Alabama Chanin fan, too. Kuddos to you for all this work, it looks fantastic!
Absolutely gorgeous, Carolyn! What a triumph!
Oh my! You are so patient, I would have made a mini skirt if it was me! It is totally brilliant. Jo xx
Beautiful!!! Rich in color, design and stitches…beyond beautiful.
thank you so much Judi 🙂
These sorts of projects are lovely to do over time – it looks stunning – almost too good to wear (!), but I am sure you will be very careful with it – it's a masterpiece.
What a start for the New Year !
What adjective can I use that has not been written above ? Ok, I'm going to cheat and use French one : Parfait !
And I do understand your concern about wearing it among careless people and potential dangers ! Maybe such a beautiful garment has a kind of magic power and is stain repellent !
What a gorgeous outfit! I cannot believe you hand quilted that skirt!!! It is so perfect, and I love that style of cut out fabric.
OMG, that is gorgeous! Well-done!
that skirt is certainly a labour of love, but wow beautiful – love the whole outfit.
Reading your blog and feeling incredibly lazy. What a epic garment! thanks for sharing it. ~Teri
Can you imagine doing that technique with beads and sequins sewn on too?!!! Agh! Anyway – the skirt – really pretty on you and made with just the perfect colors. I asked for and received this book for Christmas per your recommendation, BTW. I'll definitely be coming back to this post whenever I get around to making something from it.
I'm sure beads and sequins would almost double the time it takes to make something like this! I've read that the fully hand-embroidered and beaded AC garments range in the thousands to buy? is that right?…. y'know, imo that is a bargain!
That's such an impressive outfit – your skirt really is a work of out and I can understand your nightmares, but I think that if anything did happen to the skirt you'd find a really creative way to re-work it into another great garment.
Your skirt is stunning , lovely neat stitching ! I must get motivated and make something similar. Thank you for all the tips.
I love the skirt, but the top just slays me. I love how the facing on the bodice center front stands up and away, I love the center seam ridge…I love it for what could be faults not wonders that they are. They look perfect together!
I have a couple of things I don't wear much because I think of them as too precious. One of them is a dress I just gave away to a teenage girl from my son't theater group, who is DYING to wear it tomorrow, weather be damned. And I am so very happy about that. Let us all wear our precious stuff tomorrow! And the day after that!
What a labour of love…..and a reflection of your tenacious spirit! Beautiful and yes, you almost want to keep a bill board in front of you reading "Caution…if you mess anything on me, you die!"
What an amazing skirt – I'm in awe. Definitely a very special skirt.
as always, i admire your creativity and your patience too.. and the final result is just stunning!
So wonderful! I love your skirt!!
i can't even fathom the patience this took! it turned out so beautifully!
Wow!!!
I am sooooooo impressed! I've looked at those books a dozen times, being so inspired and in love with the techniques before putting the book down again, feeling completely unequipped to tackle it. Way to go Carolyn! I saw a few of their pieces in Barneys New York about 8 years ago (this was when they were a hot label and had been nominated for the CFDA awards) and they were MAGICAL. Fashion forward and modern with the hand touch. Such a lovely combo. I hope you wear this a lot and don't feel scared to pull it out of the closet. Much loved items we make are meant to be worn (and maybe stained a little, too!)
Amazing!
Stunning skirt. Although I enjoy seeing everyone else's makes of this style, I can't get past all the handwork to make my own. Too lazy I guess.
Gorgeous! I have the Alabama Stitch book, and have been wanting to make something for it for ages now. I even have two t-shirts partially deconstructed to make a tank top. Just haven't gotten to it yet–one of these days!
Really amazing ! I wish you a happy new year.
Oh my this is such a stunning outfit of hand stitching, love the colours you have used and the stencil, however I will leave this to you, my French inspired jacket is enough hand stitching for me.
Love love love, even if it is dirt colored. 🙂 It cracks me up that you describe your colors that way.
You better wear this!! It's to fabulous to sit at home alone and neglected.
Wow, you have such amazing patience! Such a lovely product at the end of it too. Gorgeous work 🙂
Carolyn, your work is just lovely! What excellent hand-stitching you have! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pieces–they complement each other perfectly. Now you've given me something to aspire to!
Thank you so much to everyone for your lovely compliments!
Absolutely gorgeous!!!!! Love your color choices and beautiful hand stitching.
thank you so much Sherry 🙂
Beautiful outcome! Your patience is astonishing, though I can see why you won't be in a hurry to make a whole wardrobe in this technique. It is absolutely wonderful. Congratulations!xxx
The skirt is absolutely stunning!
My admiration knows no end when I see what you have accomplished! I am very impressed by the dedication you took for making these pieces!
PS. Carolyn do you wash most of your garments by hand especially this type which would probably be categorized as delicate?
Rianna; my washing machine has a delicates/woollens cycle which works beautifully so there are veeeery few things that I wash by hand (blush) But I think I might make an exception for this skirt, at least for its first year 🙂
I loved so much your AC garments that I spent hours on her books and site. I got the material for the same skirt as your mum's and I'm currently cutting out all the flowers. But I wonder what it will look like after several washings ? How does the cut knit fabric behaves ? Does it curl on the few millimiters left around the shapes ?
Dominique; it curls up maybe just a little but looks absolutely fine in my opinion. I've washed all my pieces several times using the delicates cycle on my machine and the embroidery holds up perfectly well 🙂
also, my skirt here is actually identical to my Mum's skirt too! just the colours are different 🙂
Thanks for your quick reply. Very reassuring !
My skirt is nealy finished and already looks lovely – even though I cut through all the layers twice 🙁
Amazing! I have only recently heard of Alabama Chaning and am thinking of buying the Craftsy course. Mind you I have lots of other things on the to do list but this does sound interesting . Your skirt and top are fabulous.
Gorgeous. In choices of color, style, design, stitches, etc., etc. And, of course, gorgeous on you. If anyone could bring an Alabama Chanin design to fruition, it would be you. I do hope you wear it all the time. Received the book for Christmas (so very inspirational, like you) and started small, making the fingerless gloves. However, I soon deviated into my own way about it. Still love it and am onto my third pair.
It's a beautiful outfit, Carolyn. I love the colours in your skirt – yes, they are "your" colours – and mine, too! What a wonderful piece of handwork this outfit is. I hope you enjoy it every time you reach to put it on. Gorgeous!
Beautiful outfit! Those are wonderful colors on you.
Being a quilter myself I understand the time and effort that went into making your skirt and it was sooo… worth it. Everything about it is fabulous!!!
Apparently these projects are successful, judging from the number of comments 🙂 I need to add my own, as I'm amazed at your work, the white simple top is a brilliant idea!
Stunning.
I can certainly see why you wouldn't want all if your clothes made in this style of sewing. The time and patience required to complete even one project would be quite enough. The results are worth it though. Your handiwork is lovely. I do hope you get lots if wear out of it despite the associated risks!
Oh Carolyn, this is a vision of loveliness! And such a unique piece. I bet you will wear it and wear it ….
You're right – it's almost too beautiful to wear, but I hope you do wear it! The simple (yet interesting) tank is the perfect complement.
Fabulous work…it's really a remarkable piece. i admire your patience and your precision! those stitches are perfect. I like that you combined a simple white top with the olive skirt. Somehow I feel an olive top would have been too much. Great vision!
OMG – you made the skirt! Fantastic job! Kudos to you for sticking with it. I can't imaging how many hours you put into it.
I fell in love with this book and began making the wrap with some "Alabama fur." Holy cow – embroidering those spirals was pretty time-consuming. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. I ended up not covering the entire piece with spirals – made it more of a random thing. Here's an interim post, if you're interested: http://csews.com/clothes/the-embroidered-wrap I haven't done a follow-up post.
I've made three other things using the patterns from the book but I did very little embellishing (pleated ruffle around the neckline of a tunic) on those. I would like to make something else ffrom the book using a combination of stenciling and embroidering. But as you know, it's a major time commitment.
Congrats on a beautiful skirt, which you must wear often! It's gorgeous and must be seen in public.
Your Chanin outfit is gorgeous. I love your skirt colour combination.
Amazing! At first, I thought that this is how you've bought the fabric, already sewn this way. Your stitches are so nice and equal, perfect! And I was like, this is very expensive fabric 🙂 🙂
Than I read, that you've handstitched all of it by yourself! Congrats for the nice work!
that skirt gives me a headache just thinking about it. It's absolutely beautiful, but tedious. I'd chuck it at the wall after the first day of stitching.
I just bought the book and I am so excited to get started! You have encouraged me to give it a go.
Your garments are beautiful ! It's long but I love the meditative gesture, and the amazing results.
Congratulations. I've made a dress, and each time I wear it I'm in heaven, I guess it's the same for you 🙂
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