Monday 26 March 2018

Wardrobe by Me Belle Skirt - Beautiful new pattern

Christina at Wardrobe by Me was asked if she could create a beautiful flowing tiered skirt by members of the Wardrobe By Me Pattern Support Group - and this is what she came up with - it definitely fits the bill!!


This is the Belle Skirt - it has three tiers and an elastic back waistband, with the option of a tie belt. For anyone who is above 5'6" (the height this pattern is designed for), or anyone who would like a longer version there is a longer length bottom ruffle.


For reference for anyone who is wondering - I am 5'6", and used the shorter length bottom tier.


This skirt is quite fabric hungry due to all the lovely flowy layers, but I bought four meters to be on the safe side and have a fair bit left over - and it is well worth it! I used a viscose, which was around £4 per meter from my local fabric shop - so the skirt really didn't work out very much cost-wise compared to what you would pay on the high street.

The pattern is simple to construct with nice easy to follow instructions, and you can alter the elastic length in the back of the skirt waistband to get the best fit for you. The only time consuming part really was hemming it - that is one long hem!! I used my narrow hemming foot, which made it much quicker and easier, as it folds and stitches the hem all in one step for you!


A great top to match this skirt is the WBM Summer Tulip Top, which Christina is also offering at a sale price for the duration of the release sale. One tester made up the tulip top in the same fabric as her skirt, which made her outfit look like a beautiful dress.

Check out the Belle Skirt listing page for more pictures of all the testers lovely skirts.


Look how wonderful and twirly the skirt is in the picture below!! Go and grab your copy of the pattern while it's still on sale ($9 instead of $11) HERE.


Monday 12 March 2018

New pattern - Mountain View Pull on Jeans by Itch to Stitch

Well these are officially my favourite Jeans ever!! And the best part about them - they hide a little secret that makes them much more comfortable and practical than 'real' jeans.... Keep reading to find out the secret!!


So on the face of it, they look like any other jeans - They're made of denim, there's lots of nice top stitching, and some funky stitching on the back pockets - you can chose your own design for the pockets - I went with this 'two-colour' look, and am really happy with the effect! You can also add rivets for a really authentic look, but I was so keen to wear mine, I didn't get round to doing this! LOL!


The pattern has pieces for a straight leg jean, but comes with instructions to make a skinny leg version - I made the skinny version, and they were really easy to do, following just a few simple steps.









So, here is the big secret....... The fly is faux and there is no button!!

The jeans have a nice wide 'pull on' waistband instead - this makes them soooo comfy, and also much quicker to sew - so for anyone who is a little unsure about sewing a traditional pair of jeans, this would be a great place to start! The other great thing about this waistband is it gives great 'tummy support'!!


It is really important with this pattern to make sure you use the suggested fabric with the right amount of stretch - you wouldn't want to go to all the effort of sewing them up only for them not to fit!

I love the extra detail of the seam down the back of the legs - it makes for both a beautiful shape and a lovely design feature.


If you fancy giving this pattern a try you can get your copy HERE

And check out the rest of the Itch to Stitch patterns HERE - there are so many great designs, and they are all beautifully drafted with detailed and easy to follow instructions.

BTW - the jacket I'm wearing in these pictures is also an Itch to Stitch design - I have worn this Hvar Jacket so much since making it!