Burda Style For people who sew
Description
Good evening Burdastyle! How I have neglected you over the past months.. and how good it feels to be back! Since our last rendezvous, I’ve been keeping myself very busy with a plethora of sewing projects. This little ensemble is one of the most recent. So, here goes…
I found the brown tartan fabric and the green fabric over a couple of consective days of op shopping, and knew straight away that they would be best friends. The colour pairing here wouldn’t be an obvious choice for me under normal circumstances, but somehow it made sense this time. The idea just clicked in my mind… Anyway, I made the skirt first – it’s a fairly tried-n-true pencil skirt pattern with the usual loveable features – high waist, wide waistband, soft pleats at the front, kick pleat at the back; with the usual alterations – shortening the overall length and tapering the bottom slightly to get the ‘pencil’ shape. BUT there’s one additional feature that I fell in love with here, and that’s the wide belt loops at the front, with nice big shiny buttons. Delicious!
As for the jacket, I’ve been meaning to use a 1930’s jacket pattern that I had had lying around now for some time, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I wanted to make something that would work as a functional jacket (i.e. keep me warm – which, was tested out in Melbs weather and passed the test with flying colours!) but also reveal the new skirt’s waistband. Since the pattern was already a ‘cropped’ style, the latter criterion was easily fulfilled. To address the warmth aspect, I lengthened the sleeves slightly and lined the jacket with a comfortable layer of black t-shirt fabric. Success!
I liked the idea of using the same buttons for the jacket as I did for the skirt, and wanted them to be seen on the sleeves as well, so I added some simple pointed cuff details, which I couldn’t be happier with!
The jacket is double breasted, with inner unseen press studs to keep the layers even and the outer buttons, one row of which are falsies. I’ve made so many bound buttonholes now that this component no longer really bothers me; however, I think the trickiest part of the project was probably correctly aligning the inner press studs so that the front of the jacket stayed together neatly. I had to stitch and unpick, and then restitch to get that bit sitting right.
When all had been made, I realised that the forest green turban I crocheted a while back (http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/40s-era-turban) was almost identical to the green on the jacket! Woohoo, ready-made hat!
I think overall the ensemble has a very 50’s/60’s feel to it. Regardless, I feel so good wearing this little outfit!! Hooray for sewing :)
Material Notes
second hand cottony blend (tartan), second hand green stretch polyester, vintage buttons
Difficulty
Intermediate
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Feb 15, 2012, 06.51 PMby integerclub
Sexayy, Dooly!
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2012, 11.45 PMby olystyrene
Fanks, darlin’!!!
Feb 13, 2012, 07.46 AMby Itsbeensewlong
Gorgeous outfit! Love every part about it! I also love that green…. I have a fabric piece here that color and was going to put it with navy too…. saw your post re the navy trousers:) I think it looks fab! Lou
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2012, 11.45 PMby olystyrene
YES! I’m not the only one who loves the navy and green combo! Lou, I hope you make something delightful with your green and navy!
Feb 13, 2012, 12.51 AMby nessys
Hello my Sweet! Lovely to see you again!
This outfit is so very, very cute! You did a incredible job of the skirt and it is great cut and fit. That little green jacket is turning my little blue eyes green with envy! Such a gorgeous thing! You have done a fab job and they look just great together!
later….
Just spotted your drink…. Darl – if only we lived in the same state – I would have you over for wine, cheese and vintage pattern gawking session in a FLASH! xxxx
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2012, 11.44 PMby olystyrene
Hi Nessy! Great to hear from you as well!!!
Thank you as always for your kind comments and feel free to pop over to Syd for vino and vintage pattern gawking any day!!!!
Feb 12, 2012, 09.43 AMby nookie
love the whole ensemble, particularly the tartan skirt
1 Reply
Feb 12, 2012, 11.03 PMby olystyrene
Thank you! That skirt is getting ALOT of wear at the moment. :D
Feb 12, 2012, 12.30 AMby aluckmann
I love the tartan farbic – and it is for good reason that your skirt comes from a tried and true pattern. I love it, what pattern is it? The green coat is such a great versatile piece. It goes great with the skirt, but could easily be paired with pants as well. Love it!
1 Reply
Feb 12, 2012, 12.44 AMby olystyrene
Thank you! That green jacket is definitely versatile, I agree! I even tried it with those navy trousers (I know, I know “blue and green should never be seen unless there’s something in between” but it really worked, I swear!) ;-P I’ll go through my patterns and find that particularly pattern number for you!
Feb 11, 2012, 09.01 PMby messel
Oh my! I love this whole get-up but I’m really digging that pencil skirt! Is it a self-drafted pattern or one you purchased? The carriers in the front really make it!
1 Reply
Feb 12, 2012, 12.41 AMby olystyrene
Thank you, Messel :) The skirt pattern I used was a vintage late 1950’s pattern. However, I altered the shape and length of the skirt significntly to get just the right pencilly affect.