There seem to be a lot of a line skirts about recently. As I am on a pattern diet, I did not buy myself yet another A line skirt pattern, but adapted, after internet inspiration, the knee length A line skirt with a bow, #122 that I made from my very first Burda magazine, 06-2008. This not only made me feel thrifty. It also, after much muttering at my former self, allowed me to see how much better I have become at pattern alterations for my figure in the last 3 years. The internet is great for improving your sewing. My changes to the pattern, other than fitting, were to fold out the pleats, and add an insert below the yoke at the same width as the pleat. I left off the yoke bow and moved the zip to the centre back.
I rather like the above photo, which gives the illusion of leg length and sveltness (well, considering the reality!), but in real life the denim (Greenfields, Sydney, @ about $3.50 per metre - are you listening Mary Nanna?) is rather stiff, and I am not sure that I have quite got the length of the skirt at a most flattering point.
In the interests of honesty in blogging I have to admit that the insert denim, which has an overprinted pattern, was from Gorgeous Fabrics, USA, and was about $15 USA per metre + shipping, and that the Greenfield's bargain denim which is fortuitously exactly the same shade also cost a return plane ticket to Sydney and at least $85 in airport parking, an expensive lunch out and even more expensive cycling shop detour for my husband. I think internet shopping is cheaper.
I took trouble with this skirt. The yoke is interfaced with a hemp/cotton blend, and lined with Japanese cotton woven. The horizontal seams are stabilized with woven selvage and topstitched to prevent stretch. The vertical seams are topstitched also, but for mere leg lengthening illusion (wishful thinking, I know). The lapped back zip is hand picked. This is because I have trouble matching topstitched seams in denim otherwise.
I added machine embroidery to the insert after deciding that the fabric pattern alone was too dull to do justice to my fabulous new green handknitted cardigan. (Maybe I was spending a bit of time knitting in front of the telly whilst the Tour de France was on.)
The cardigan is another one of the Jo Sharp garments than can be worn up side down.Knit 10, Silkroad DK Tweed.
The cleverest thing about this one is that it has shape at the back worn either way, because of the stretchy corrugated stitch pattern - very clever design, as most of these garments can be quite blocky.
Unfortunately, I don't know that these garments, which I like individually, really make a great outfit. Any tips? Is it the shape of the skirt, or the length? Are the colours too contrasting? How do you decide what will look good together before you make it?
26 comments:
Love the skirt and the machine embroidery is a clever touch. I'm not a style expert (although sometimes I pretend to be!) but I'd wear a lower neckline under the green sweater. Perhaps in the same rather than a contrasting colour. You might also consider bringing down the under layer over the top of skirt waist.
Wow, two fabulous new garments! That skirt is lovely and a goodie for winter. Long A-lines are supposed to lengthen, and you are definitely looking tres statuesque. And that cardigan is just plain yummy! Gorgeous colour, and those ribbed sections hug your body beautifully! I too love Jo Sharp yarns with a passion....
I agree with Gail's comment. Perhaps the red is not the right colour...? maybe a more neutral shade, or white, or a matching top...?
I always struggle with putting garments together. The outfit I see in my mind is never the outfit I actually sew. If you find the trick, I will be pleased to hear it. I love both of these garments and I like them together. I think I will have to make that cardigan. I keep looking at the pattern ... and that colour green is my favourite at the moment. I'm impressed with your machine embroidery.
That cardigan is gorgeous. The colour is divine. I prefer the view with the corrugations at the top.
I no longer expect to be able to match a garment to other clothes before it is made. Once it is completed (or sometimes even before it is completed), I try it on with dozens of other items, even ones that I don't expect it to go with. Working a garment into my wardrobe is one of my favourite parts of sewing.
Nice skirt, but very excited to see your cardi. I'm knitting exactly the same pattern in colour Emporio. Great to see it IRL!
I agree with you, a fabric spend on Gorgeous Fabrics is far cheaper for me (especially at the moment) than a trek to Sydney with all that entails..
Both garments are lovely. As for putting clothes together, well I haven't a clue either. But I would study the photos in the knitting magazine and see how they show it worn. Hopefully they have a photo that shows all the model, not just the sweater.
Lovely cardigan - I really love it. I also think you look really fresh and happy in your photos (maybe sewing and knitting for yourself??) I think same or white/light underneath - the red is competing with the skirt and I think you want to highlight the skirt and cardi. Maybe some nice beads?? (although I like them on others I feel too overwhelmed by large beads).
Putting garments together is probably where I'm most lacking. Fortunately, you're getting good suggestions from others. :-)
I do have a question about your skirt, which I really, really like. My recollection is that the skirt pieces are on the bias and that there is no CB seam. Did you cut with a CB seam instead of a fold? Just wondering! I like the idea of making the skirt w/o the bow.
I L*KE :)
I was thinking how nicely it came together as a "look" - the embroidery/printed denim picking up the colours of the top and the cardy. I think it works great as an outfit! As you wash the denim and it loses some of its body the skirt will drape to a nice length - this is one of those skirts, like tweed, that improves on wearing.
That cardigan is truly fabulous. The colour is one that I would definitely reach for. I also like the view with the corrugations at the top. The other way looks a little bottom heavy. I'd definitely go for a lower neckline in your under layer. I'm not sure whether the top should be tucked or not. I still struggle myself with the placement of tops when the bottoms don't have a tie or belt. This is still a journey I'm well and truly on.
Great skirt- I love the panel in front. The cardigan is gorgeous!
Love, love the cardigan! And the skirt is gorgeous :)
The cardigan is just beautiful - both color and style are perfect. I also think the skirt with yoke is a very flattering style. To my (non-stylista) eye, they two go well together.
Wow, I LOVE that sweater. I think I like it better worn upside down (the cropped view). The skirt is leg-lengthening, and the fit looks great. I'm no help with hem length, as I can't contemplate anything longer than just below the knee. I'm too short for longer skirts.
I love your skirt! And I love the cardigan, particularly combined with the skirt in the first view. Really, I think that is a very attractive pairing! I would think that the cardigan and the skirt would be very versatile and easily worn with lots of other things in your wardrobe!
I super flattering skirt - I love the insert - clever idea. Very clever cardi - great colour - how amazing - upside down - that blows me away!
Great outfit. You've done a clever piece with the insert and embroidery. I love your colours too. You look really warm and cosy. The cardi is so special. You look great.
I really like both of these pieces. I particularly like the cropped version of the cardigan, with the ribbing on the bottom. The colours are lovely on you.
Regarding pulling the outfit together:
- A lower neck top
- a pin on the lapel of the cardigan
- other shoes? Though I like the height of the boots.
Also, do you do the embroidery on your regular sewing machine? Enquiring minds want to know.
That's a cute skirt. Love the sweater. Wow, great knitting!
That's a lovely skirt with that interesting embroidered section, and the length looks great on you. Long skirts are very useful :-)
The cardigan is absolutely amazing, fits you so well and makes me really wish I was a super knitter like you evidently are! It is soooo gorgeous.
I will just concur with other commenters about what to wear these with - they sound like they know what they're on about.
PS Thank you for your encouraging comments on my blog - I really appreciate them!
That cardigan sounds very clever. I love the colour on you, too.
As for the skirt, oooh! lovely! And I think the added embroidery takes it from being a rather lovely garment, to something very special.
Regarding your outfit, I rather like it as it is. It looks all warm and cozy. But warm and cosy is also quite heavy, and I wondered if that is why you not so sure about it? Everyone's suggestions basically are ways of lightening the whole look. Lower neckline, lighter shoes instead of boots, lighter colour underneath etc?
And you've convinced me about internet shopping for o/s fabrics being a perfectly reasonable proposition!
Both the skirt and the sweater are wonderful. What luck on the match between the two denims. Love the insert highlighting the embroidered denim. The green color of the sweater really looks nice with the denim. Vogue pattern 8653, a Marcy Tipton jacket pattern can be worn upside down too in the same way as your sweater. I was intrigued enough to buy the pattern. As far as styling suggestions, sorry I can’t help. I have to rely on magazine pictures for styling assistance.
My mum's ordered that cardi pattern Book 10 to make me one! I'm going with a pearl gray, can't wait to see it.
Thank you so much for your very lovely comment! It meant such a lot to me, so kind and encouraging.
I guess the styling of clothes, including self-sewn ones is just as interesting to me as the sewing details! Have you settled on a favourite way of wearing this truly gorgeous cardigan?
Love, love, love the sweater. It's perfect.
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