Butterick 6179 and Simplicity 2317: DIY Animal Print Satin Skirt and oversized white crew neck T shirt

Butterick 6179 animal print viscose crepe jacquard skirt worn with Simplicity 2317 bamboo lycra T shirt

Hi Everyone,

Today I am sharing an outfit that was super quick to whip up, but which I can already see both pieces being worn in so many ways within my wardrobe. The skirt was made using Butterick 6179 and the top was made using view B from Simplicity 2317. I have made other views from both of these patterns before, and have in fact made the skirt from Butterick 6179 as part of an Indian lengha outfit – see here for modifications I made previously.

Butterick 6179 animal print viscose crepe jacquard skirt worn with Simplicity 2317 bamboo lycra T shirt

I knew I didn’t want to break the pattern up on this animal print viscose crepe jacquard, so I simply overlapped the side front/ side back seams with the front and back pieces and cut the front on the fold to eliminate the seam lines. I love how it turned out, although if I made this again I might do a small full tummy adjustment. I did end up letting the seams out slightly at the high hip area.

Butterick 6179 animal print viscose crepe jacquard skirt worn with Simplicity 2317 bamboo lycra T shirt

I made sure to interface the back zipper area and I also managed to cut this skirt out of 1.8 metres of fabric, rather than the suggested 2.7 metres (due to overlapping the seams). I let the skirt hang for 24 hours and ended up shortening it by about 4 inches, and did a narrow hem finish. I love the end result.

Butterick 6179 animal print viscose crepe jacquard skirt worn with Simplicity 2317 bamboo lycra T shirt

The T-shirt was made using view B from Simplicity 2317. I wanted an oversized look so I cut a straight size XL and removed 2 inches from the length of the sleeves and 1.5 inches from the length of the body. I took 3/8ths inch for the side seam allowances. This is probably the happiest I have ever been to wear “just a T-shirt”. It’s not clingy at all, and in this bamboo lycra jersey just falls away from my body.

Butterick 6179 animal print viscose crepe jacquard skirt worn with Simplicity 2317 bamboo lycra T shirt

I can definitely see that my style has changed a lot over the last 12 months, and I am enjoying the transition. I think the on going impact of Covid 19 on our lives has also made my style choices change somewhat. You can expect to see more easy to wear pieces from me, but hopefully still focusing on fit, and made in quality fabrics.

See you all soon!

Butterick 6179 animal print viscose crepe jacquard skirt worn with Simplicity 2317 bamboo lycra T shirt

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OOP Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179: DIY Indian Lengha Gown

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

Hi Everyone,

Trying to play catch up on blogging stuff I haven’t shared yet. I still like to blog and have a proper record of things I have made, but like everyone else, it’s so easy to just go with the flow on Instagram and get behind on blogging. Anyway, here’s an outfit I made in August to attend my cousin’s wedding in New Jersey at the beginning of September. It was a meeting of cultures (you may remember I made Simplicity 8292 to wear to the church ceremony), with my cousin marrying a Canadian. The dress code for the evening was Indian attire.

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

So, the fabrics were all ordered online. The blue and gold viscose/ silk brocade and the plain navy blue dupioni silk were ordered from one particular ebay seller who shipped the silks to me from India using DHL. I couldn’t fault the seller on their shipping time, but actually, when I realised I needed more of the brocade (for pattern matching purposes), the seller didn’t respond. In fact, they now seem to have come off ebay, and appear to have set up a website, which you can see here. So, whilst I have no experience of buying through that website, certainly through ebay it was a smooth enough transaction.

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

Details on other materials used:

• The sheer fabric at the top of the bodice is silk chiffon
• The whole gown is lined using a navy cotton lawn purchased from Minerva crafts
• The silk dupioni bodice is underlined using silk organza (from my stash)
• I used Hemline Featherlite cotton covering boning for the bodice. It was very easy to cut, sew and work with
• I cut all of the (8?) brocade panels in a single layer in order to preserve the pattern flow and get some pattern matching (at the centre fronts and backs). It turned out I didn’t have enough to cut all the panels that way, full length. So I ended up ordering some gold lame and created a 11 inch deep border at the bottom of the skirt. The lame came from Midland Textiles on ebay
• The dupatta (the long scarf thing) that I have draped over my arms was part of a set I already had. I didn’t really want to have a dupatta, but it’s pretty much a standard part of most Indian outfits. In the end the colour was a good match with the border fabric

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

To create this gown I used a combination of (OOP) Vogue 8849 for the bodice and Butterick 6179 for the skirt. I recommend both patterns. Really, I did minimal alterations to achieve my look, and I have never felt so comfortable in an Indian outfit. There was no pulling or yanking or tugging all night long 🙂 The Vogue pattern in particular is great because it is a multi-cup size pattern, so no FBA required.

Pattern notes:

• I used Vogue 8849 for the bodice (view E), and cut a size 18 through the bust and shoulders, C cup, grading out one size at the waist.
• I lowered the bust fullness by 1 inch (Tip: remember to do any fitting with the bra you intend to wear with the outfit. For me, that was a strapless bra).
• I ended up removing 0.25 inch from each of the front princess seams at the top of the bust, and taking a corresponding tuck out of the upper front pattern piece.
• The pattern instructions don’t seem to mention adding boning to view E, but I chose to add some for extra support.
• I did a 6/8ths inch sway back adjustment on the bodice.
• I used french seams to sew the sheer silk chiffon upper bodice, and did narrow baby hems 0.5 inches from the cut edge.
• I did a 1 inch full arm adjustment.
• I used Butterick 6179 for the skirt (view B).
• I added an 11 inch deep border to the bottom of the skirt, cut on the cross grain, from lame.
• I did a 1 inch full bottom adjustment and adjusted the skirt seams to ensure they matched with the bodice seams where necessary.
• I added a 5 inch deep interfaced hem.

All in all, yes, this gown was a fair bit of work. Using well drafted solid patterns really helped me to achieve my vision. I loved how this gown fitted me, and the fact it was constructed from all natural fabrics (with the exception of the border). It felt light, but supportive, and fits me better than any RTW Indian outfit I have bought in the past. The day of the wedding I noticed there was a small tear where the sheer bodice had joined the silk dupioni bodice,  in the front. I ended up patching it together, and it held fast. I will have to go back and check it some time. The dress, and the wedding, were a grand success. Here’s wishing the married couple enjoy many years of happy married life ahead.

Vogue 8849 and Butterick 6179 Indian Lengha Gown

 

 

Butterick 6182: DIY Sandwashed Silk Boxy Top

Butterick 6182 sandwashed silk boxy top (worn with skirt from same pattern)

Hi Friends,

This here is my second version of Butterick 6182. My first version can be seen here. I have worn the first version quite a bit and I had this smallish length of sandwashed silk in my stash (a rare eBay find!) and I thought it would be nice to make a dressier version to wear out. Incidentally, the skirt I am wearing with the top comes from the same pattern. I don’t love the skirt for some reason but whatevs, I put it on for these photos! (On sewing list: make new denim skirt that I love).

Butterick 6182 sandwashed silk boxy top (worn with skirt from same pattern)

Not much else to say about this top – I did a review with the first version. The only alterations I made were to add 0.5 inch to either end of the sleeve bands to give myself 1 inch extra around the arms and to drop the armhole opening by 0.5 inch. I french seamed the centre front/ back seams and shoulder seams and serged the side seams/ armhole bands. Here are some inside pictures:

Butterick 6182 sandwashed silk boxy top – inside – you can just see the french seamed shoulder and centre front seam.

Butterick 6182 sandwashed silk boxy top – inside – french seamed centre front and should seams and overlocked side seams and armhole bands.

And here is how I wore the top with my white linen twill Butterick 6179 culottes, as shared on my instagram. I wore this outfit last Friday night to a retirement function for my husbands colleague.

Butterick 6182 sandwashed silk boxy top worn with linen twill butterick 6179 culottes.

This is such a great outfit because it is simple lines done in lux fabrics: breathable, comfortable and stylish. What more could a girl want?

See you soon!

 

McCalls 7248, Butterick 6179, Jalie 3461 Eleonore Jeans and McCalls 6886: DIY animal print top, culottes, jeggings and breton top

McCalls 7248 animal print tunic top and Butterick 6179 triple crepe culottes

Hello Readers!

Today is a bit of a bumper post containing the next 4 items that I sewed up for the wardrobe contest currently running on PR.com. The first thing I have to say is that I am about to cut out item number 7, but I have made a decision that I am not going to rush to complete the remaining 4 items by the end of the month. I am absolutely fine with that, and it is the right decision for me. I have no regrets with what I have sewn up for the contest so far and will still go on to probably sew the remaining garments in my own good time.

McCalls 7248 animal print tunic top and Butterick 6179 triple crepe culottes

So first up is Butterick 6179, first sewn here. This version is made in a triple crepe and the only alteration I made was to shorten this version by 2 inches compared to the first version. I LOVE these culottes…I know they are not everyones cup of tea…but I just love how I feel when I wear them. Classy, elegant, sophisticated and on trend. Nothing more to say about these.

McCalls 7248 animal print tunic top and Butterick 6179 triple crepe culottes

The top…now that’s a whole other matter, LOL. The top is McCalls 7248. I had such high hopes for this top, especially after seeing Amanda’s gorgeous version, and really I guess I was hoping this version (made in a polyester georgette) would be a wearable muslin. And it kind of almost is. But, you see, I made a decision to raise the neckline split by 1 inch and I think that 1 little inch has thrown the fit of the whole top off. You can probably see in the pictures it is pulling over the top of my bust from the neckline split.

McCalls 7248 animal print tunic top and Butterick 6179 triple crepe culottes

If you follow me on instagram you would have seen I initially attached one of the sleeves and it just felt tight right across the tops of the arms and across the back. So I took the sleeve off and added a self bias facing at the armholes and kept it sleeveless. The fit of this top is not perfect and I really don’t know if it is simply down to that 1 inch or something else. I did do an FBA on the pattern and added bust darts before sewing…even in this sleeveless version the armholes are snug (but wearable). Any thoughts? Here’s some pictures of it untucked (I would never wear it like this with the culottes BTW!)…and my review follows.

McCalls 7248 animal print tunic top and Butterick 6179 triple crepe culottes

McCalls 7248 animal print tunic top and Butterick 6179 triple crepe culottes

 

Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

Loose-fitting, pullover tops have front band and pleat, back pleat, Self-lined yoke, and narrow hem. A and B: Bias neck binding and gathers. B, C (button tab) and D: Long sleeves with continuous lap, pleats and button cuffs. Wrong side shows on rolled sleeves C, and longer back hemline B and D. C and D: Neck band.

I made view B with the sleeve tabs from View C and the hem from View D.

Pattern Sizing:

6 – 22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Erm…kind of. My version is sleeveless.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

For the most part, yes. I did NOT like the instructions for the neck band and did my own thing! First off you are told to staystich the neckline at 0.5 inches from the raw edge, but the neck band is sewn on using a 3/8 inch seam allowance, which means the stay stitching is visible (and therefore had to be unpicked). Secondly, if you follow the instructions fot the neck band I think the pattern has you treat the neck band almost like a bias facing? I didn’t get that. I wanted my neck band to be more visible so I turned the inside edge under and slip stitched it closed.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

See above for a dislike. The fit of my top is off and the main reason I think is due to the fact I raised the neckline slit depth by 1 inch. It seems to have thrown the fit of the whole top off. There are pull lines radiating out from the neckline slit over the top of my bust. Initially I had a sleeve on and it felt tight across the tops of the arms and across the back. I ended up taking the sleeve off and adding a self bias facing to finish the armholes off. I don’t know if dropping the depth back down again will alleviate these problems. Even in this sleeveless version the armholes feel snug.

Fabric Used:

Polyester georgette with animal print.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Reduced sleeve length by 0.5 inch.

0.5 inch sway back adjustment.

Raised depth of neckline slit by 1 inch (including shortening pattern piece number 2 – front band – by `1 inch).

1 inch FBA, adding in side bust dart.

I interfaced the neck band using a tricot interfacing.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I don’t know. I think on a smaller busted person this would be a great top.

Conclusion:

Disappointed but that’s the nature of the sewing beast. I will probably still wear this top. When I get over it maybe I will look at this pattern again…or just move on (more likely).

 

Ok, so next we have Jalie 3461 Eleonore pull-on jeans. First time sewn here.

Jalie 3461 Eleonore jeans and McCalls 6886 modified to breton top

Jalie 3461 Eleonore jeans and McCalls 6886 modified to breton top

This version is made in 10 oz cotton denim with 2% elastane and they fit and feel much better than the first pair. Changes made:

• Moved back pocket position down by 0.25 inches
• Shortened length of leg above knee by 1  inch
• Slimmed inner thigh down by 0.25 inch
• Raised crotch by 0.25 inch
• Reduced rise by 1 inch
• Reduced depth of waistband by 0.5 inch
• Lengthened at calf by 3 inches (I like the wrinkled ankle look)
• I cut the back elastic 1 inch shorter than the front. For the next pair I would make this more like 1.5 inches shorter.

Overall I love them. Very flattering (I think) and I have worn them all day and the denim has not bagged out at all. I have made another pair…next time!

Finally I made a top length version of McCalls 6886 using a striped ponte knit. I added 5/8 inch seam allowance below the bust (could perhaps have even added on a little more for a looser fit?), made the sleeves 3/4 length and added side slits. The neckline is finished using a chambray bias facing. Very neat.

Jalie 3461 Eleonore jeans and McCalls 6886 modified to breton top

 

Phew! Ok. So, that’s me for today. Where is this year flying away too? Have a great weekend. Until soon…

Jalie 3461 Eleonore jeans and McCalls 6886 modified to breton top

 

Butterick 6179: DIY White Linen Twill Culottes

Butterick 6179: DIY White Linen Twill Culottes

Hi Friends,

Can a not very tall (5’3″), curvy woman pull off midi length voluminous culottes? I personally think the answer is yes. What do you think?

Butterick 6179: DIY White Linen Twill Culottes

These culottes were made using Butterick 6179, and I highly recommend them if you want a true “divided skirt” look.

They are, as the pattern states, fast and easy, and I sewed them up with absolutely no pattern changes (aside from making the hem a little deeper than suggested).

Butterick 6179: DIY White Linen Twill Culottes

I wore them out to a lunch with a friend with my crossover wrap top and felt cool, comfortable and stylish. I wish you could see the fabric in person! It is an amazing linen/ cotton mix twill that I purchased from Mandors in Glasgow. It has the most expensive looking sheen to it in real life.

Butterick 6179: DIY White Linen Twill Culottes

Pattern Review

Pattern Description:
MISSES’ SKIRT AND CULOTTES: Skirt or culottes have waistband, side-front and side-back seams and back zipper. A: Bias front and back. C: Topstitching. D: Side pockets. I made view D, the culottes.
Pattern Sizing:
6 – 22
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the finished shape and look. It’s just like wearing a circular skirt. Very comfortable and the fit is perfect. Be warned: I don’t think the notches match up properly on the inner leg seam and the waistband. It wasn’t a problem for me (a little maths required to make sure the overlap on the waistband was ok) but as this is rated as a very easy pattern by Butterick I think it might throw some beginner sewers off.
Fabric Used:
A linen/ cotton twill.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Absolutely no pattern changes! Not even to the length.

I picked my size according to the finished waistband length, and compared the front and back crotch curves to another pant pattern I had previously sewn and they looked good, so I went ahead with cutting out.

I topstitched the waistband rather than handstitching it. I made the hem 2 and 1/4 inch and hand stitched that.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Not sure if I will sew again (although I also think these would be great done in a wool for winter) and I do recommend.
Conclusion:

Culottes: you either love them or hate them. I love these!

Husband’s verdict: their nice but a little ridiculous. Hmmm….men…!

Until soon.

Butterick 6179: DIY White Linen Twill Culottes