Marimekko Poppy Tunic

Do you have fabric that you feel is 'too precious to cut into'? Ridiculous, isn't it. It's not doing much good folded on a shelf. The Marimekko fabric that Andy brought back for me from Denmark a year or so ago just had to be used. I'm so very glad I plucked up the courage.

 Sorry it's a bit wrinkled. We've been up on the roof cleaning out gutters all morning (in old clothes) and I snatched a brief opportunity between getting cleaned up and Andy having to pick Clem up from a party to get some photos. One of the gutters was so full of well-composted leaves, I found an earthworm in there. (!?)

I love this Make it Perfect Poppy Tunic pattern, and I made this one knee-length so it's suitable as a summer dress as well as for winter-over-leggings. I made the same alterations as I did last time (a little shaping on the side seams and taking in at the front shoulder pieces) and cut the bottom panel in a continuation of the slight A-line shape.
The main fabric is a hemp/organic cotton denim from Duckcloth. Actually I don't know I'd really call it denim since it's really rather lightweight but quite beautiful and lovely to work with.
I haven't put pockets on this one yet. I'm a bit reluctant to spoil the simple look, but... I really love pockets. And I don't know that side seam pockets would do my shape any favours in this. Any suggestions?

- Jane x

Poppy Tunic the Second

Oh yes, I said there would be more and here is evidence. I think I cut out this Poppy Tunic while wearing my first.
This time in woven fabrics: a tweedy cotton blend I got from my local fabric shop maybe two years ago? I have a pinafore-type dress I've worn to death in a slightly lighter & greener version of this fabric. It rarely requires ironing and doesn't show the dirt. Yay!
The accent fabric is Windham Timber by Jessica Levitt. Also from the stash. I now match a couple of cushion covers I have around the house.
Alterations - decorative:
- added pocket (I don't know why but this one was crying out to me for a single, curved pocket)
- used piping on pocket and where bottom band meets main body
- made bottom band less deep than pattern and in main fabric rather than contrast
Alterations - fitting:
- took a triangular slice from the bottom of the front shoulder pieces, creating a dart-like effect to fit my bust area better - see pink line below for approximate adjustment (right is the outside edge)

- shaped the side seams of the main body in a little under arms and towards my waist and back out - roughly like pink line below.

And a side / back view... all a wee bit rumpled since I've been wearing it and the leggings non-stop for about two and a half days now.

Clearly a tunic length, never to be worn without leggings, but this seems to be my 'winter look 2012'. (Boots are Duckfeet which I wore non-stop last winter and am doing so again thus justifying their purchase price but they have been oh so worth it.)
Still thinking about a denim version. Getting a few comments from Jasper and Clem to the effect of "what? you're making another dress for you?" since it's been, oh, two in a row now. Maybe if I whip up a t-shirt for somebody I can sneak in another one....
- Jane x

It may be the winter of the Poppy Tunic

If I had the summer of the Miz Mozelle, I think I'm going to have the winter of the Poppy Tunic by Make it Perfect.

What is behind me? A better question would be "what isn't behind me?"
NB: I used a stretch fabric but the pattern is meant for wovens

I liked the look of this when it was released... but it's kind of deceptively simple. I wasn't fully convinced until
a) I saw the lovely variations that Toni, the pattern designer, had made for herself and
b) when Andy remarked that I could totally do the tunic-over-leggings-or-jeans. I put jeans under my velour dress one day for riding on the scooter and he told me it was a good look. I'd always thought it was for tall, thin girls but if my bloke thinks it's alright, then it's alright with me!

Also, I thought about what I really wear from my wardrobe, over and over. Simple, comfy basics? Yes indeed.

I've lent our DSLR camera to my brother so these photos are courtesy of Andy's iPhone. Let's get all square format Hipstamatic, shall we?

I'm wearing my new merino wool leggings from this Etsy shop. They're soft and warm and fabulous, and I think she really should charge more.

Wow, even the unidentified freezer contents in ziplock bags on the bench look kinda hipsta-cool.

The fabric is - wait for it - hand-dyed bamboo/hemp fleece. Pass the patchouli. The Poppy Tunic pattern is designed for woven fabrics but since I made the velour dress I've been on a mission to make another dress from something stretchy-yet-substantial. This fabric was from The Bamboo Fabric Store and the dye was a combination of Rit Denim Blue and Teal. I was going for something darker and probably should have used all of both packets but I like the colour anyway.

I made size M. Because of the stretch the armholes ended up vast, so I pinched out 2 inches front and back at the bottom of the armhole and tapered the side seam all the way down to the bottom. It would sit better if I took width out of the bottom too but I doubt I'll get around to it. I added pockets, which I do to pretty much everything, and changed around the contrast elements (the pattern shows contrast yoke and bottom hem band). Also, the bottom band is only half as deep as called for in the pattern.

The most fiddly thing about the Poppy Tunic really is making and attaching all the bias tape, however that's also much of its charm. I tried the continuous method to make the tape, plus my previously untested Clover gadget, both of which made the process a bit smoother. That stripey fabric is something I bought ages ago from eBay. It's old-ish, and linen-ish, and I'm happy to have cut into it.

I would love to make a denim version of the Poppy Tunic, but next in line might be some tweedy cotton blend from the stash.

Well, here's another weekend done and dusted. The big boys head off on school camp tomorrow for two nights. It will be strange without both of them!

I will finish up with a piece of unrelated sagely advice. Don't use purple carrots in pea and ham soup. Tastes fine, looks utterly disgusting. Not even "oh cool, boys, purple soup!". Nope, just disgusting.

Have a good week!

- Jane x

The Honey Blouse

Yeah, I'm really uncomfortable posing for photos... but at least I managed to cut the fabric so the pink flowers didn't end up in awkward places

The Honey Blouse, by Make it Perfect.

This is the pattern I was so impatient to get my hands on, I ordered it before I knew whether or not I'd won it in a giveaway. Then I did win it, then I had to say oops, I already bought it, so the talented Toni Coward who made the pattern could give it away to someone else.

Still, I think it was worth all that palaver!

I bought my Pattern from Crafty Mamas and I know Earthgirl Fabrics now has it in stock too.

I used an Anna Maria Horner voile that I bought probably six months ago, in a fit of wishing I could build myself some kind of fabric vat and swim in AMH voiles.

One of the loveliest details on the top is the kind of twisted band on the neck and sleeves.

I've always wondered how to get that look, and it's not too difficult, just a bit fiddly handling the layers of twisted fabric and gathers and not sewing the wrong bits together. However, I managed with a minimum of swearing and unpicking.

The top is really comfy. Having just worn it to a hippy music event where I had to sit on the ground, I can say that I was really appreciative of the security and length of the waistband, which covered up the bit that my jeans, er, don't, when I sit down. Well it felt like it did. I wasn't sitting behind me so I can't say for sure.

I made a size M which is my usual average size but with the looseness of the design and my narrow shoulders, I possibly could go down a size. And maybe slightly shorter in length.

I liked how the pattern told me how to finish the seams, and at which point. The way the pattern pieces went together, and the order of the instruction pages, took a bit of getting used to but in the end it is quite economical with paper which is a good thing.

I'm a dork, I'm a dork, I'm a great big dork

If I hadn't been choosing fabric from my stash I might have gone for something plainer, that shows up the shaping of the blouse a bit more and makes it a bit less ultra-girly. (Blouse - it's just not a word I use! But I guess this really is a blouse.) A lovely light linen, anyone? Also, a double gauze as shown on the pattern would be lovely.

I think this will see quite a bit of wear over the coming summer months and I can imagine I might make more in the future. Thumbs up.

- Jane x