Cover Designs! #30: Well Matched

Cover Designs is a feature in which I try to match up the outfit on a book cover with a dress pattern and sometimes even potential fabric matches as well. Today's pick is a rom-com title that's part of a series all set in the world of Renaissance Fairs; it's Well Matched by Jen DeLuca.

Summary from the publisher: 

Single mother April Parker has lived in Willow Creek for twelve years with a wall around her heart. On the verge of being an empty nester, she’s decided to move on from her quaint little town, and asks her friend Mitch for his help with some home improvement projects to get her house ready to sell.

Mitch Malone is known for being the life of every party, but mostly for the attire he wears to the local Renaissance Faire—a kilt (and not much else) that shows off his muscled form to perfection. While he agrees to help April, he needs a favor too: she'll pretend to be his girlfriend at an upcoming family dinner, so that he can avoid the lectures about settling down and having a more “serious” career than high school coach and gym teacher. April reluctantly agrees, but when dinner turns into a weekend trip, it becomes hard to tell what's real and what's been just for show. But when the weekend ends, so must their fake relationship.

As summer begins, Faire returns to Willow Creek, and April volunteers for the first time. When Mitch's family shows up unexpectedly, April pretends to be Mitch's girlfriend again...something that doesn't feel so fake anymore. Despite their obvious connection, April insists they’ve just been putting on an act. But when there’s the chance for something real, she has to decide whether to change her plans--and open her heart--for the kilt-wearing hunk who might just be the love of her life.

This fun summer read has lots of potential! And you get two outfits in one: modern women's wear, and Ren Fair-ish men's wear ;) 

For April's outfit, you could probably whip up this pair quickly, using any free t-shirt pattern, something like the Toronto Tee by Rebecca page, or the Anything But Basic Tee by DIBY.

And it's hard to tell in the drawing if April is wearing jeans or close fitting trousers. Either way, you could whip up this whole outfit from Closet Core patterns, using the Ginger Jeans or Sasha Trousers, plus their new free Core Tee. 

As for Mitch, well, this outfit takes a little more finagling to put together. The top could probably be made using a nice linen or cotton blend, using this Butterick 4486 historical pattern - View B would be the closet match. 

The kilt is more of a tutorial kind of make, rather than a paper pattern. You can find instructions on kilt making on the Scottish Dance website. But if you'd prefer more of a pattern with some historical info included, you can also go to the Folkwear Scottish Kilt pattern. This includes instructions on the measurments and construction of men's and women's kilts, as well as actual patterns for the men's vest and jacket. 

Or if you want to go full traditional, check out the online class that Paula Duncan offers via her Kilt Making Academy -- she's a bespoke kilt maker who also teaches the basics. It looks very cool! 

Enjoy your summer sewing and reading! I hope that if this Cover Designs entertained you, you'll look up the whole Jen DeLuca series for some fun summer reading.