The Lindy Skirt, The Sorrel Top: matchy matchy!

I have a few items I made over the past few months that I've neglected to share here thus far.

But they were interesting and useful projects, so I am getting around to writing them up and also getting some pictures of them now that I can go outside without a parka hiding everything.

First off is this set of coordinating makes for which I used a black polkadot knit I found at the Goodwill -- the Lindy Petal Skirt from Itch to Stitch (a free pattern) and the Sorrel Top from Seamster Patterns (and most unfortunately it looks like Seamster is no longer in business).

I started with the Lindy Petal skirt, and tried to adapt it to have some cut on pockets, discovering as I was putting together the overlapping layers that you have to put the pockets into the outer layer ON BOTH SIDES if you want to get your hands in to them....  But, since I had tons of the polkadot knit, I recut the underlayer and now have two useable pockets. I do like having them, but there is a bit of bumpiness in this kind of slinky knit which doesn't 100% work with the silhouette. Since I always wear something covering the top of my skirt it doesn't bother me terribly, and I have worn this skirt a lot since it was finished. The tiny beige dots on the black read as a solid from a distance, and both that flexibility in matching with things and the comfort of this pattern mean I wear this a ton.

The pattern is well laid out, with clear instructions, and is fairly easy to make. I'd prefer another waistband elastic method, as my waistband ended up pretty puckered and uneven on first try -- I redid it using the technique from the Jalie Eleonore waistband and it seemed to stabilize it a bit more. That could be entirely due to my slippery fabric though, and no walking foot.

The only change I made, other than trying to add pockets, was to cut the bottom petal edge at a less acute angle to give myself a little more knee coverage. This is a great easy knit pattern and has such a nice finished effect. I recommend it for beginners as it's a little bit different and unique, and yet still easy to make. I also used this pattern to mash up with the Moneta bodice during a sewalong with the Monthly Stitch last summer, in a more stable knit, and it worked a dream.

Next up is the Sorrel Top. I love the look of the faux collar; it is actually set in, quite cleverly. It did take some head scratching and a bit of patience to get the collar curve to fit and meet at the points correctly but practice makes perfect. Also, I clearly had no idea how to get a hem right on this kind of knit when I made this - yikes! Good thing it was a working muslin and I haven't actually worn it anywhere ;)

I used a bit of black stretchy knit from my scraps stash for the body of the shirt, and the polkadot knit for the collar. Unfortunately, because the small dots read as a solid from a distance, the effect is rather lost on this version. But it was a trial attempt, and I will be altering a few things about it in future anyhow.

You can see that there is quite a bit of fabric pooling across the back, so I'll be taking some of that out on the next go. Also, I will be using a knit that is a little less shiny and slippery to make things easier on myself! Even with all that, I quite like this one. The style is cute and the fit is nice, even with the adjustments I'll have to make. This outfit is fun and seems just perfect for my new thrifted vintage sandals too.

These are both interesting designs, and I recommend trying out the Lindy yourself -- it's free, what have you got to lose? I am really sad that Seamster is no longer up and running, as I really liked this top and am a huge fan of her Rose Hip Tights. If you have one of the original patterns, I recommend trying it out.

Seamster's Rose Hip Tights

This is a new pattern I purchased from Seamster (previously known as Disparate Disciplines) since a) I love tights and b) you can make your own tights?!?

ROSE HIP TIGHTS
photo from Seamster Patterns

I love this pattern. L.O.V.E. It is so well explained, so well drafted, quick to make, and so much fun. The PDF is designed so that you only need to use the pieces for the view you want to make, and the instructions are clear, with good illustrations. This is important because attaching the foot to the leg can be a bit confusing at first go. I adore the fact that there's a gusset in this design, it makes the tights really comfortable to wear all day long. There is also an extremely helpful chart to help you measure stretch (I printed out just this page to take to the fabric store with me) so that you get the right kind of stretchiness to ensure success.

I made my first pair from a swath of leftover knit in my stash, just trying it out to get the construction process down. This fabric was from a dress I made last year, and the crossgrain stretch was right but the lengthwise stretch wasn't as much as it should have been according to the pattern. Fortunately for me, I have very short legs so that wasn't a dealbreaker, they still fit -- but Mari suggests lengthening the legs (there are two marked lengthen/shorten lines to choose from)  if your amount of stretch isn't high enough, so that they will go all the way up, and I would suggest you definitely do so if you make some -- mine were just long enough with the low level of stretch in them.

Here's the trial go, in a crazy fabric that makes me feel like Dorothy is about to drop a house on me:

But look how nicely the pattern lines up!
Can you see the seam that is on TOP of the foot
so that you aren't walking on a seam all day?

These are so much fun

 And then here is the second pair I made, in a much more realistic choice of fabric that I will actually wear often. I found this fabric serendipitously, and it is simply perfect. Just the right weight and stretch -- these actually feel like RTW tights, but better.

You can't even see where the foot joins with this fabric

I have another pair cut out, in a lace fabric, and am eyeing a mustard yellow print for the next pair (my favourite colour right now). I'd like to make some leggings, too. Mari gives some ideas on make the shift to leggings with a nice edging, and one of the options is also a 'thigh high', but I'm not sure about that...

Anyway, I highly recommend this pattern if you love tights like I do. It will add endless scope for the imagination to your wardrobe!

Sewing Up some Indie Love

Along with Me Made May, I also enjoyed Sewing Indie Month all through May. Organized by Mari at Seamster Patterns, it highlighted a handful of indie companies, some of whom were new to me (including Mari herself).

I had a lot of fun scrolling through all their websites and enjoying all the inspiration. I bought Seamster's Rose Hip Tights pattern and love it. I've already made 2 pairs and have cut out another -- and will review it properly soon. I downloaded By Hand London's free Polly Top (fully reviewed earlier), and realized that I could enter the Sewing Indie Month's "Indie Love Affair" contest by putting these together with a skirt. I pondered a few different patterns, but ended up going with Sew Caroline's tutorial on making a paper bag skirt. I wasn't sure how this would look on me, but I thought it was cute, and just right for the navy linen which I had left from making the Polly Top.

I must say, I really enjoyed the great instructions for all three of these garments, and how much fun it was to put them together into one outfit. Without further ado, here is my complete outfit made from three different Indie companies.

Polly Top tucked into Paper Bag skirt with
Rose Hip Tights. I like to call this my Linen Blend.

Back view. I really like that ruffle!

What's that over there?

Closeup of the wonderful fabric I found for my
Rose Hip Tights. A perfect stretch.

Pondering the next Indie project...