Sooo… Sewing an Autumn/Winter wardrobe. Sort of going ok, but a little sidetracked! A wedding invitation has scuppered my sewing plans a little. Admittedly, we did receive the invitation some time ago, definitely way before I made my sewing plans, but like all things I dread, I’d pushed it to the back of my mind.
Initially I thought of chanelling a bit of a 70’s vibe, maybe some flared trousers, a crossover top with bishop sleeves, that sort of thing. But then I reconsidered, I didn’t want to be looking like I was supposed to be attending a themed Christmas party and got lost. The wedding is on the 19th December and we’re invited to the whole shebang, not just the dancing and snacks afterwards, so I wanted something that would look good from 1pm to 1am!
Now I’m a daywear sort of person, sure I like the idea of dressing up, but we just don’t go out much – blame Mr (not) Compulsive, he works too much. So I have nothing I could just whip out and wear, not that I’d do that anyway, who needs an excuse to make another outfit??
After much deliberation, head scratching and hair pulling I had a brainwave. Plain simple black trousers (there was a nice pattern in a BurdaStyle magazine last year) with a silvery coloured top, drapey (cue the timely launch of Colette Patterns Wren crossover dress) and something to keep me warm, I liked the Longley Cardigan by Wendy Ward.
So I bought said Wren PDF pattern with bonus sleeve pack (why don’t they just sell it with one longsleeve, marked for short, elbow and 3/4 length??), thinking I’d chop it at hip length and make a peplum sort of thing, I already had coming in the post a silvery-grey slubby jersey from Clothspot. I’d been eyeing it for a while and when I discovered it has suddenly moved into the remnants section I realised I could put off buying it no longer! It seemed perfect, crossover top with peplum in silver-grey slubby jersey, the black trouser fabric was on its way from Croft Mill Fabrics and all I needed to find was the perfect colour boiled wool for the cardi.
But I didn’t like the Wren-as-top. I’d made some pre-toile alterations, widening the ridiculously narrow sleeve, making it 3/4 length instead of elbow, doing a FBA and lengthening the bodice slightly. Turns out I needed to lengthen dramatically and choose a different size to FBA. I decided I couldn’t be bothered right now. I wanted to make all the other fabric taking up room on the cutting table too!!
I reverted to a favourite shape, a drape cowl. Using my tee-shirt block developed earlier in the year I had a little play with cowl depth and drape and made 3 versions, the last was the happy choice.
So quick to make up and the silver-grey jersey is perfect in it! I didn’t go straight to the silver stuff though. To make sure I was perfectly happy with it all I used a sort of denim blue-grey jersey from Fancy Silk Store and made the pattern up. I’ve worn that tee soo much! (Really needs its own post)
The wedding version was cut & made in a couple of hours using the overlocker and twin needle on my sewing machine. One down, two to go! You’ll see good, proper pictures when the whole outfit is done..
I hae toiled the Burdastyle trousers I thought I wanted. Turns out they weren’t quite what was in my mind, so I’ve drafted a pair from my own block, toiled and fiddled and am ready to cut the main fabric – today!! Fingers crossed…
ps. I still haven’t given any thought the the “fancy headgear” referred to in the invitation. Help…?
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 