Hello! I’ve got a small handful of new stuff to show off present … four things to be precise!
Firstly, two sage green/pale coffee, checked tweed skirts. I inherited this beautiful quality piece of wool tweed from my grandmother’s stash after she passed away. Although I earmarked it straight away as two skirts for Cassie and myself I just hadn’t got around to it and have sat on it all this time. It was one of those fabrics I couldn’t bring myself to cut into… you know, inherited from Granny, plus exceptionally good quality, equals inevitable thoughts of sewing tragedy followed by eternal self-damnation…. but I’m making myself get over that nonsense nowadays. Make it! Enjoy it! Live dangerously! So, finally… it helps too that I think Cassie has now grown into fabric of this calibre 😉 not that she didn’t deserve high quality fabrics before, but you know what I mean! it’s very much a grown-up fabric and makes a very smart little work skirt for her now that she has a serious and professional career. The fabric really is beautiful stuff… fine and evenly woven, and there are flecks of all sorts of colours in with the sage green/coffee check… blue, red and gold, caramel brown, forest green, and a hint of purple and black. It has no identifier on it but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a fully English tweed. My grandmother was very much into that sort of thing 🙂
Also, this is possibly the first time that my fabulously neutral garage wall has failed me in showing up a garment nicely!! it blends in way too much here! Maybe the gorgeous fabric shows up better in Cassie’s picture, below. Here, she is wearing her skirt with this caramel coloured merino tee that I made for her previously.
Both skirts are pretty much identical, apart from the size, of course!! Both made using Vogue 8363; the waistbands and pocket linings are cut from cotton calico, and the lining is a beige polyacetate. Ivory/beige invisible zips in both skirts, closure by a wide hook and eye, and I cut the linings big and eased the extra fullness into the waistband with big pleats, for some wearing ease. As always, I like to hand-stitch the waistband facings and lining down on the inside, much neater I think and the fabric deserved a really nice finish 🙂
Next up, a little top for Cassie! we bought this ivory/grey cotton French terry while we were in Japan recently… and can I just say… OmigawdthisfabricisthemostGORGEOUSstuff and I would sob with pitiful happiness if only I knew I could go back to Japan again… *sigh* When Cas
sie moved out of home she left this fabric behind and I almost started to factor it into my own plans mwahahahahaha… but of course she hadn’t forgotten it, o no! The reason she had deviously left it behind was so that I could make something for her with it! HA! She chose the wings top from Pattern Magic 3, modified so as to have the wings gone; I’ve made this for myself once previously too, and I like Cassie’s new one so much I’m now wondering why I threw mine away! I left the lower edge raw so it curls up nicely, and the sleeve edges and neckline I overlocked the raw edge, turned it under once and did a nice discreet little zig-zag to finish it. It looks quite nice, I think.
Item number four, and actually this is nothing to write home about really… I refashioned the fabric from an old woollen jumper of Craig’s into cosy new hand warmers for me. I have my nice sheen green knitted hand warmers, that I’ve been wearing all winter, but! It’s still cold, I’m bored to tears with all my winter clothes and I just really fancied a new colour. And the jumper was such a divinely rich tangerine-y colour and going begging because it had developed a large moth hole in the front. Also, it had felted and shrunk a little bit when some careless person had accidentally tossed it in with too hot of a wash, tut tut *whistles innocently* and I have NO IDEA who that could have been, hum de hum!!! Anyway!! I cut open the whole jumper, assessed for holes, and cut out two rectangles, carefully avoiding said holes and a few stains. I kept the ribbing intact for the bottom edge, and cut holes for my thumbs, overstitched those all nice and secure, and sewed the long side up. I put them so the seams are on the outside because I liked the bobbly look of them, then sewed a little casing in the top edge and inserted a ring of elastic so they stay up my arm. Bam! and bob’s your uncle. New hand warmers, and making use of an old thing that would have otherwise been tossed out. WIN!
Details:
Item 1)
Top; Burdastyle 04/2014-111, white bobbly stuff, details here
Skirt; Vogue 8363, sage green/coffee check wool tweed
Tights; my own pattern, black stretch stuff, details here and my tute for making your own custom-fit tights pattern is here
Boots; made by me, my own design, details here
item 2)
Top; drafted by me, caramel coloured merino wool, details here
Skirt; Vogue 8363, sage green/coffee check wool tweed
item 3)
Top; the wings top from Pattern Magic 3, ivory French terry cotton knit
item 4)
Handwarmers: made from an old jumper
Tshirt; self-drafted, dyed black cotton jersey, details here
Skirt; Vogue 1247, dyed purple denim, details and my review of this pattern here
Cardigan; Miette knitted by me, details here
Cowl; knitted by me to my own design, details and my original pattern is here
Tights; my own pattern, black stretch stuff, details here and my tute for making your own custom-fit tights pattern is here
Boots; made by me, my own design, details here
beautiful tweed – and such a gorgeous skirt. I adore tweed and wish there was more about as those subtle mini fleks of colour are magical. I know what you mean about being precious about fabric. last year I cut one precious fabric wrong and was so cross, but I had also delayed in making anything from it for so long, making somthing from it became such a ‘thing’ I got over ambitious and it went wrong – so now its a cushion (given away as it only mocked me). the drape on the pattern magic top is beautiful (which I am sure is in part that amazing fabric) will definitely check out that pattern -winter is coming here and I seem to always lust after a sit-by-the-fire-type outfit
That is gorgeous tweed. I love classic fabrics.
very good to see your page .really awesome .keep work
Congrats on making such beautiful and meaningful makes from your treasured tweed. The skirts look great on both of you. You are so good to your sister — I’m not sure I could have parted with that top!
Thank you Helene! Cassie is my daughter! I always love to sew things for her! though sometimes I want her fabrics and sometimes she wants mine but really there’s always enough to keep us both happy 🙂
What a fantastic way to use heirloom fabric from a beloved Grandmother, but as two beautiful, matching skirts for both you and your daughter! Sweet connection all ’round! Am totally in love with V8363 and was disappointed to find it is OOP. Darn! Anyway, always interesting to learn through your construction thoughts and think the skirt is finished so beautifully inside too. Cassie’s top is beautiful and looks so chic and professional all at the same time. And those handwarmers…… Love!!! What a great color! *Heart* back to you!! 🙂
You used that treasured wool fabric to perfection. And that wings top on Cassie is so cool.
All glorious makes, as usual! All of your garments have a pleasant history, how cool is that? Carolyn, I really want to be you when I grow up. It is so hot here in the states, that I am actually looking forward to cooler weather. We are never satisfied………….
Thank you so much Becky! 🙂
I always love to see what you’ve made Caroline! That grannie fabric is so lovely and I agree you’ve used it to perfection for skirts for both of you. I was intrigued that you always hand sew your waist bands – I’ll keep that in mind for the future although I usually use elastic at the waist for comfort 🙂 That fabric for Cassie’s top from Japan does look amazing!
thanks Kathleen! I should just specify: I only handstitch the waistband facing down on the inside, I do always use my machine to sew the waistband itself to the skirt 🙂
I love all those warm, rich colours together!
thank you Mayrav! 🙂
Beautiful to see the heirloom fabric used to make such functional clothing. Those skirts will take on alive of their own for many years. The flecks of so many colors is beautiful. The hand warmers are so nice and bright. You were quick to think of a very nice use for an otherwise worn out sweater!
Always enjoy the inspiration from your creations and process. Hand sewing the waistband does make it quite nice.
thank you very much Judy! I should just specify: I do use my machine to sew the waistband itself on, and only hand stitch the facing down inside. I just think it looks neater with no topstitching visible on the outside 🙂
The skirts are beautiful! What a perfect use for the fabric.
Ohhh, so nice! I love the shape of the skirts and the fabric is gorgeous.
More beautiful garments. Your grandmother would be very happy to see what you made with her tweed – both yourself and Cassie look great in those skirts. Because of all the colours in tweed it makes them ‘go’ with so much. Enjoy your new garments
Beautiful skirts. Such a great use of heirloom fabric!
I love it all, but that skirt, and that fabric! How wonderful to be able to wear something that belonged to your grandmother – she would love it.
The elegant simplicity of the skirt – impeccably cut and finished, of course – was just the thing to showcase this special tweed. Great idea and execution.
Speaking of that: This is a high waisted skirt. How do you keep the waistband from crinkling and folding over? Interfacing, light boning, anything? I’d love to know your secret for finishing a smooth high waistline. Can you tell I’m itching to make something similar right now?
thank you Sankati! I don’t think there’s any way you can guarantee the waistband is not going to fold over at all! however I think if you make sure the waistband is not too snug or tight and allow plenty of room to breathe then you’re less likely to get much folding over or creasing, and it will wear a lot better overall. I use quite a stiff interfacing, but never boning for a waistband like this one.
What sweet, special makes. How cool that a piece of fabric can tie three generations of women together.
I love your styling of your own skirt with the bobble blouse – very much classic meets alternative and walks away both elegant and dynamic. And the paprika-orange warmers – who could resist adding a dash of those to every outfit?
Thank you, as always, for sharing.
thank you very much Sixer! 🙂
Great projects. You know how to give classic designs an original but absolutely wearable twist. I love the skirts especially — I really need to make a similar skirt for myself.
I love that you and Cassie both have skirts from the same inherited cloth. Cassie’s top is right out of my style box. Love it!
That fabric is gorgeous! I totally understand why you didn’t want to cut into it and I totally agree that that is stupid thinking 😉 But well, I have those thoughts too and need to remind myself of that sometimes 🙂 The skirts turned out beautiful they fit you both so well and are perfect for work I think 🙂 Great that you could ‘save’ the jumper I really like your layering looks 🙂 And last but not least the shape of that top is great, I want one too!
Oh the tweed sounds divine and such a treasure to sew and wear.
Pingback: Alaska USA and BC Canada; a travel wardrobe - Handmade by Carolyn