Fortunately I have managed to finish the matching embroidered tank top to go with my skirt. Hurrah! for plane trips and the resulting enforced hand-sewing time! I’m so happy with the full ensemble; I like how it looks like a full dress, and that if I choose I can break it up into the separate components. The pattern is the fitted top from the Alabama Studio Sewing + Style book (Natalie Chanin), and is made from the same fabrics as the skirt; a thickish, cafe au lait cotton jersey substratum (KnitWit) with a dark olive, lightweight jersey overlay (Potters Textiles), the latter stencilled with the Anna’s Garden stencil from the same book as outlined here, and top-stitched with Gutermanns topstitching thread.
I took a slight swayback wedge out of the tank pattern…. looking at the picture below I could possibly have gone further with that, oh well, next time. Otherwise it has the same width shoulder straps and the same low rise of the back neckline as the original pattern. The stitching throughout is in exactly the same style as the skirt; with all seams stitched and flat-felled by hand, and the neckline and armhole binding sewn on using herringbone stitch.
My Mum wanted to know if the jersey fabric loses its stretch though being embroidered; it does lose a little, but not all of its stretch. The fabric also shrinks ever so slightly through the process of quilting the two layers together. Not drastically, but if your muslin is skintight then I reckon this is definitely something to bear in mind.
OH BTW! a little tip I forgot to mention before… when the pattern pieces have been cut out and stencilled, stay-stitched and are awaiting embellishment; the very first thing I did was to tack a scrap of paper to each piece as above, marking the centre front or centre back of each piece, as applicable. The pattern pieces for both tank and skirt, are actually all so similar to each other that I think this is an essential precaution!
Well, was it was worth all the hours of hand-work? But of course. I’m not going say otherwise now, am I? 😉
Actually, seriously, I totally love my AC pieces and it was no biggie to make the tank top; each pattern piece is quite small and manageable and the embroidery can be knocked off in a couple movies or a short plane trip quite easily. A little tank top is not really the sewing marathon that the midi skirt is. I’m even feeling optimistic about taking on another Alabama Chanin project…! (gasp!) um, well… in a while. Maybe, hehe. Well, I should really, I bought a whole lot of beads while Mum, Cassie and I were in Melbourne, in a zealous fit of enthusiasm, so hmmm. (blush)
Details:
Top; the fitted top from the Alabama Studio Sewing + Style book, hand-embroidered and -stitched cotton jersey knit in two solid colours
Skirt; the midi skirt, same as above, all sewing details here
Sandals; Zomp, from Zomp shoes
Good job, it's a very nice fabric !
This is a beautiful outfit and very versatile being 2 pieces. Your finished pieces make me even more determined to try one of these myself, having received that same book for Christmas.
That is such a lot of work but it looks sensational. Love your shoes too.
LOVE your Alabama Chanin garments!!! Well, actually, I love everything you make – but have a special place in my heart for AC. I've done tops with the embroidery around neckline and sleeves, and am trying to get up the nerve to do a whole embroidered appliqued piece. Your handwork is stitched so evenly. Thanks for included your construction notes and tips you've found helpful along the way.
Um, should have said 'including' instead of 'included'….. fingers aren't working right this morning. 🙂
Such a perfect outfit! You always make me miss summer.
Lovely work again, Carolyn! Those colors are just right for the pattern, and I am putting AC on my project list–thanks for the motivation!
I came across the Alabama Chanin book a number of years ago and always admired the technique. Your work is incredible and beautiful. Inspiring!
Divine!
An amazing creation…beautiful. You can be so proud1
Beautiful work, ultraflattering fit–this is stunning!
wow, what a work of wearable art! i was impressed enough by the skirt, and to see you also did the tank… love it!
Gosh that's so inspirational! I love doing intricate projects so I might have to give this a go sometime. I hope everyone who sees it realises how impressive it is!
Lovely ❀
love it paired with skirt, looks like a stunning dress! and stunning pair of separates to mix with bunch of other gorgeous carolyn makes.. and i think that all the hard work that went into this project totally paid off
Love it! It really is a stunning combination and it looks gorgeous on you. I'm sure the tank top did seem quick compared to the skirt.
I just love everything about this. I've really got to get that book. Or all the books… Both pieces are really special!
Such an amazing outfit! ~Teri
Stunning! I love Alabama Chanin garments; your ensemble is so well executed.
Absolutely gorgeous, it's a piece of art! I really love how the ensemble looks like an elegant dress.
My goodness, that is exquisite!
OMG, that is so gorgeous.
Absolutely exquisite, the ensemble is so stylish and you still have so many options to wear this!
Wow, they are absolutely gorgeous appearing together. You look so beautiful and also elegant in the outfit. Well done!!!
Just gorgeous!!!!
Bella!!! Me encanto!
Stunning, Carolyn, just stunning!
Wow! This is one of the loveliest versions of AC I've seen.
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous! I would say that the result was worth every minute of the hand stitching.
Pretty cool outfit! Glad you answered the question about how much stretch the fabric still had after quilting.
Such a gorgeous outfit and still very Australian too.
Perfect!
Yes it was worth the work!!! It's "all that and more"!!!
Great outfit! it's nice to have something that looks like a dress but is made of two different pieces 🙂 I've just sewn my muslin from the AC t-shirt pattern and I also need a substantial swayback adjustment. Which technique did you use?
thank you Sophie! I don't know if it could be called a "technique" but I simply pinched out excess fabric from the small of my back on my test top, and ended up taking out both a vertical wedge from the centre back seam, and a horizontal wedge at the waist level on the back. Looking at these pictures, I would trial taking out a slightly wider horizontal wedge next time. The vertical wedge can just be cut straight off the pattern piece since there is a handy CB seam; for the horizontal wedge, I cut the folded excess out of my pattern piece, lay it flat, close up the gap and redraw the pattern piece smoothing out the line for the CB seam at waist level. This is now my new back pattern piece.
I hope this is explained clearly? if not I can draw a diagram to help make it clearer? 🙂
Truly a work of art! It looks gorgeous on you!
Wow, what a great outfit!! I haven't seen the Alabama Chanin designs before and I really like this one. I love that it's a two piece dress. It makes the pieces so versatile.
I love the way you make light of all that labour intensive hand-stitching! I would say these truly are heirloom pieces that you could pretty much wear anywhere depending on what you paired with them. To say you did a great job doesn't really cover it, so I hope you will understand the sentiment behind that phrase!
Stunning! I agree with Philippa that these are heirloom quality pieces. Your pictures are so enchanting!
That outfit looks absolutely fabulous. Well worth the effort – I hope you really enjoy lots of compliments when you wear it!
Wow, you are so ambitious… this is a lot of hand embroidery, and it's a stunning result – from afar, it looks like a beautiful print, and from up close the stitches are even more beautiful. I think the fact that they're timeless, classic styles is awesome, because it means you'll be able to enjoy your precious hand work for years to come 🙂
Wow! What a great job! Looks great anyway you look at it 🙂
Stunning. I love this and you've done a beautiful job (as always!). I really like the two pieces worn together. Just lovely and very expensive-looking!
It is beautiful. Your handiwork is second to none.
This is a work of art! Your hand stitches are outstanding!! Carolyn ,you are always outdoing yourself!!
You know how in cartoons when a character is totally shocked and their eyes go popping out of their head as their mouth drops? That is pretty much my reaction to this outfit. Beyond awesome.
Stunning outfit. I love the look but don't have the time or patience for Alabama chanin work.
The outfit is a work of art, Carolyn! Just beautiful.
A true work of art.
Beautiful!
Just perfect! And so Inspiring! I can´t tell you more…
Love that you can separate these two pieces or wear them together!
Definitely a work of art!
This is just lovely!!!
I am thrilled to have found your blog, having spent hours and hours trying to find ways to connect and learn from sewers of interesting and sophisticated clothing. How serendipitous that you in Australia should introduce me to Alabama Chanin when I live in Tennessee, perhaps a half day drive from her shop. If you know how to introduce me to couture sewers in Tennessee or anywhere in the Southern United States, I would love your help. The embroidered fabric is beautiful and inspiring.
thank you so much Sandra!
Beautiful!
This is SO beautiful! Very inspiring.
Good lord this is lovely. Your handiwork is fabulous and I'm so excited that you dedicated yourself to complete both pieces. What an amazing feat. Do they make you happy when you pick them out to wear?
you look ah-MAZ-ing. I've just ordered the book and am eating up any blog posts i can find about the work. beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
One of the best Alabama Chanin dresses I have seen in a while. Don't you just love her designs? Fun and one of a kind. Your work is impeccable. Well done.
One of the best Alabama Chanin dresses I have seen in a while. Don't you just love her designs? Fun and one of a kind. Your work is impeccable. Well done.
I love Alabama Chanin style and your outfit is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, congrats!
lovely work Carolyn. I feel very nostalgic for that landscape!