Why do I sew with striped fabrics?!

rhetorical question, don’t mind me.  I actually love stripes, even though when I do sew with them I feel inextricably compelled to pin each and every stripe. It’s ok. A small amount of suffering is acceptable when it leads to nice things.

Anyway,  I made a new outfit for myself, in anticipation of the slightly cooler weather that heralds the onset of autumn, hurrah.  The fabric is a really nice, crisp, slightly crinkly, and reassuringly sturdy ticking striped cotton, ivory with steel blue stripes, and a silver thread running through.  I bought it years ago from Fabulous Fabrics, and it’s been one of those lengths of fabric that I’ve “saved” for really a nice project, one far off day. It’s always a lovely thing when that far off day finally dawns.

For the top, I used the new Fibremood Kristy pattern, a smart top with big patch pockets with arrowhead flaps, and a nice shaped collar, with the most rudimentary of collar stands.

I lengthened the sleeves by several inches so I could turn up a cuff, and I love how this looks.  There’s double topstitching just about everywhere although it doesn’t stand out since I used matching ivory thread, but you do pick it up subconsciously.

My skirt is, of course, our own Meelup skirt pattern.  I do feel a bit bad about my possible overuse of this pattern and have decided I really need to branch out a bit with regard to skirt patterns, well, ALL patterns really, but it really does tick all my boxes so well.  Maybe I’ll limit myself to just one of a pattern per year?  worth a thought!

I lined the skirt with ivory poly acetate lining fabric, also from stash.  This adds a bit of necessary body to the skirt too, making it nicer to wear.  In fact, the whole outfit is very comfy, and happily has a certain subtle chic afforded by the details on the Kristy top; I really love it a lot.

I also ran up an adorable little pair of shorts for my littlest grandchild G, using the very last of the leftover “public pool” cotton drill fabric designed by his mother, which I bought from her Spoonflower shop, here.

 The pattern I used is Butterick 5510, size M.  This is the biggest size in the envelope, so I’ve realised I need to use it a few more times, and quickly too, before G grows out of it!  I’d almost forgotten how much fun children’s clothes are to make, so quick and easy compared to adult clothes.  I traced out the pattern and finished the shorts in about an hour, tops!