Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Complete: Bandwagon Pants and Tammy Top...and MMM '15

Well, I'm not quite sure where March went, but here we are well into April and well overdue on the posting front. For some reason - and I can't pinpoint anything specific - I've been finding it really hard to sit down and write a post lately. Happily this hasn't been the case with actual sewing time - I'm pretty happy with what I've achieved over the summer. So to get started on the backlog of the unblogged, here are my Bandwagon Pants and Tammy Top.

On the whole, I think I'm pretty good at not getting sucked into trends. I'm not sure whether it stems from a preference for clothes that aren't dateable to a specific year's season, a general lack of ready cash to waste, or a deep-seated aversion to being told what to wear (does anyone else detest that phrase "this season's must-have??); probably all three equally. But every so often some style will happen along, and suddenly it won't matter that every second person on the street is sporting it - I want in too.

In Australia this past summer it's been voluminous printed pants. (Sorry, can't call them trousers. Trousers are tailored.) At first I thought they looked like clown pants - especially the elasticated cuff versions. To be honest, I still do a bit...

But, oh! I know now why everyone wears them - they're as sublimely comfy as pj's, but with the benefit of being acceptable in public. So onto the bandwagon I cheerfully hopped.

My local fabric store outdid itself in terms of printed rayons this spring/summer, and I couldn't resist this one. (I forgot to take a proper close up of the fabric, so this zoomed in enlargement will have to do, I'm afraid.) The pattern is Simplicity 1887, shown below:



               
Just a quick query - does anyone else find that Simplicity patterns seem to have an awfully generous amount of ease?? I know ease preference is a personal thing, but I made up a couple of S. patterns this summer, and each time there was a massive amount of excess fabric to take out. I like to be a bit more scientific and considered when it comes to fitting, but am starting to think "just make the smallest size regardless" might be the S rule of thumb...

I didn't bother making a muslin, because these a) are meant to be voluminous and b) have elastic at the back waist, so I figured any problems would be easily remedied. If I had made a muslin, I would have gone down two sizes, because the sides of the front waistband sit nearly 2" past where they should. Ah, the blessings of a busy print!


I'll come back to the pants in a moment; here's the top I made to go with them:


This is Style Arc's Tammy Top, from their very versatile (eight in one!) dress/top pattern, made up in a black modal jersey. (Hadn't worked with this fabric before: a delight to sew, drapey without being flimsy or diva-ish, and to my lasting regret completely sold out.)



The pattern itself was a bit of a surprise. My experience of SA patterns has been that the size 8s, tops and bottoms, fit without too many adjustments needed at all. But this one didn't turn out at all as I expected. This is the tank/singlet sans overlay, but on me the shoulder width became almost a cap sleeve. The neckline is less of a tank style and more aspiring to be bateau. Also, the line drawing suggested it was much more fitted than it turned out to be. If I ever sew up the dress, there'll be some serious fitting work to do; even the back seam which should add shaping patently fails to do so on me.


Lack of shape evident in the side view. I do like the scooped back neck though.


If I'd had my heart set on a simple tank I would have been disappointed. As it is, I'm not sure I'll wear this out over skirts/pants/etc - it's not fitted enough for sleek and too fitted for slouchy. But as a "tuckable in" (tuck-inable?) top, I actually like it a lot! And unintended though it was, I do like me a cap sleeve :). Here are the two together:


I admit, I do still think "clown pants" when I look at these photos. But I truly don't care! This has been one of the comfiest, most effortless, go-anywhere summer outfits I've ever owned, me-made or RTW.

And when they do become seriously passe in public, they shall still have pride of place as summer pj's ;)

In other news, Me Made May '15 is fast approaching, and I'm in! I'm not panic sewing - honestly! - but I am hoping to get a couple of things finished before it starts. I seem to be having some trouble signing up officially - I'll blame it on the internet connection - so will record my pledge here first.

I want to use MMM this year like I did last year; as a way of gauging how cohesive the wardrobe I'm sewing actually is. But in order to up the challenge a bit more:

"I, Danielle of One Small Stitch, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavour to wear a me-made outfit (sewn, knitted, refashioned) for ten of the days, at least two me-made garments for ten more, and at least one for the remaining days,"

I'll define outfit as "everything you see", barring shoes/tights/jewellery. (Depending on how desperate I get, a dress may fall into this category at some point...) I'll try not to repeat outfits, but will see how I go...

How about you? Are you signing up this year?

14 comments:

  1. Clown pants or not, you look great in your outfit :) I like the top, with the shoulders wide like that. I haven't made up any modern Simplicity patterns, but I hear they have crazy amount of ease. I suppose they do it to flatter people when they need to go down several sizes. There is a psychological effect to this. But in reality, it is extra labour. Oh well ;)
    I have been thinking about MMM for a while, but I am afraid I'll be in over my head and find it stressful with all the documentation and what nots. I honestly haven't built my wardrobe big enough yet! It does take some time, I find. But slowly getting there :)

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    1. It does take time! But you're getting there very stylishly :)
      That's a really interesting point re the psychological effect; I hadn't thought of it like that before! Sneaky.... :(

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  2. Danielle, I really love your trousers (as a Brit I can't bring myself to say pants, it feels like I'd be complimenting your underwear! Haha)! I don't think they look like clown trousers, I think they look chic, elegant and cool as a cucumber. Yes, I've found that Simplicity include ridiculous amounts of ease, too! I can't understand it. I know people need to be able to move, but their trousers also need to stay up! My pet hate is when they also don't include finished garment measurements. I hate measuring pattern pieces but sometimes it's the only way! x

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    1. Oh, I hate that too! So frustrating... Nice to know I'm not the only one who's found that with Simplicity. And feel free to call them trousers! I guess it's a similar potential awkwardness to "flip-flops" vs "thongs"....

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  3. I really like both of these, but like Ree above, I need to call them trousers! :) I also know what you mean about this style. I love it, but I'm wary of them looking a bit 80's with the wrong fabric choice, and also I'm struggling with suitable footwear. I'm glad to say that yours do not look 80s in any way! Love the "cap sleeves" on the top, even if they are unintended.

    As you know, I am planning on joining in with MMM15, but I'm still deliberating on my challenge. I think if I go with one item per day, I'll end up wearing jeans and a self made top every day, which isn't much of a challenge really! I like your approach, and may "borrow" the idea! :)

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    1. Borrow at will! I think it'll be a stretch, but achievable.
      Thanks for the reassurance re 80s style - I did have a sneaking uncomfortable suspicion I kind of looked like I'm channeling my inner MC Hammer...!

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  4. They do look, like, SO ON TREND! But infinitely comfy and stylish too of course! I'm keen to make a similar style in chambray (I'm in denial summer is over...). Great outfit all up. It's funny re the line drawing of your top - it definitely looks more cap sleeve on the model drawing compared to the garment alone. I really wish SA would show their garments on real bods!
    As for MMM yes I'll be in but I'm not sure how I can be more interesting as I wear so much self sewn each day already. Maybe I'll try no repeats excluding work days.....

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    1. No repeats is a good challenge. In fact you could just about try that with your Elle Pants collection alone!
      Ooh, a chambray version would look amazing! I'm sure there's enough vaguely summer-esque weather left this season to warrant a pair. :D

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  5. This outfit must be he most comfortable summer outfit ever yet stylish too! I love the top a great basic … trully versatile! I can’t wait to see your mmm15 outfits - sadly I’m not there yet !

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    1. You can't be far off! MMM is great fun; you'd love it!

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  6. I really do like those pants! They look flattering and comfortable and trendy. You look great in the whole outfit!

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  7. Those pants were everywhere in New Zealand too! I've had that pattern for awhile and haven't made it up yet. Any tips you can give me, apart from the large amount of ease?

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    1. Probably just to do up a muslin of the waist band to check the fit there - the side seams on mine are much further toward the back than I'd like. The legs are pretty forgiving fit-wise - so long as you don't mind volume!

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