If you read my last post or are following me on Instagram, you will know that The Rushcutter is part of the Indiesew Spring Collection (yay!).
As part of the fun and festivities, there's a blog tour going on, which is really exciting. When Allie first mentioned this, I was a little apprehensive. Free time for sewing has been scarce lately, and I wasn't sure if I would be biting off more than I could chew, if I put my hand up to be involved. But then I remembered that I work wonders with a deadline (hello very late nights, lots of stress, and not washing my hair for three days), and although it could end up being a little stressful, it would be a good excuse to make a couple of things that could fill some holes in my wardrobe. And the collection is beautiful right? So it would be crazy not to get involved!
Which brings me to the fact that today is the day that I get to share what I made from the collection.
The Sanibel Dress and Romper from Hey June
Description form Indiesew: When you're looking for a comfortable, yet flattering garment the Sanibel sewing pattern by Hey June fits the bill. This dress or romper features a cinched elastic waist with drawstring closure. The full button placket and two collar options make this a great project for the intermediate sewist. Sew your Sanibel in a lightweight denim and pair it with clogs and a floppy hat for a great spring look.
If you have been following along with me for a while (particularly in my early days of blogging, when I was still over at Em Makes Patterns), you may know that I find it very difficult to make a pattern straight out of the envelope. It is basically impossible. I have the best of intentions when I get the pattern, and then suddenly, like a tidal wave hitting me, I get the urge to hack the pattern into something I can call my own. So before going on, I want to apologise to Adrianna from Hey June Handmade. Your pattern is absolutely beautiful and so very versatile, but my crazy urge to cut and spread and add and take away took over and now my Sanibel looks nothing like a Sanibel, (although I just love it all the same, and I hope you do too!).
the pattern
Before I did hack up this pattern, I did take the time to have a proper look over it, in its original form, and also go through the instruction booklet pretty thoroughly, and I can definitely say this is a great pattern. It is well drafted, the instructions are clear and thorough, and it has loads of options to play with. I am even starting to think about making a shirt, by taking just the upper section of the romper and lengthening it.
Another thing that I loved about both patterns that I made from the Spring Collection collection, is that they came with copyshop versions, that I could take to a print shop and get printed on A0 sized sheets. Although it is adds a little extra cost, to me it's definitely worth the time saved.
THE HACK
So here it is. Although, as you can see, my dress looks nothing like the original, it didn't actually that much effort to alter the original pattern to create the pattern I ended up using.
What I did:
- joined the skirt pattern to the shirt pattern leaving out the waist tie and casing
- increased the width of the dress slightly, at the side seam
- added a pleat to the centre back, using this method
- removed some of the width from the capped sleeve at the shoulder
- created my own placket, and added pleats to the centre front
- left off the collar and instead bound the neckline with bias binding
- and added in-seam pockets (of course)
Fabric
This fabric is a bit of a mystery, as I bought it from The Fabric Cave (a brilliant shop in Sydney where you can find the most incredible range of pre-loved fabric) but after a lot of fondling and a little bit of a burn test, I have come to the conclusion that I think it is a silk linen blend (not bad for an op shop, I must say). I really do get a lot of joy out of using second hand fabric, and the fact that sometimes, when ironed, I get a waft of that charity shop scent, is just part of it's charm (or at least that's what I keep telling myself).
Construction
As I altered the pattern so much, there was not much use for the instructions (although I did use them for sewing in the capped sleeves). I decided to go with french seams, because I just love them, and they really make me feel like my clothing is in another league of quality. I needed to overlock around the placket though.
I used the in-seam pocket pattern from The Rushcutter, that you can learn how to draft (or even just download) right here, and then I used this method to finish the pockets with french seams.
I used a lightweight iron on interfacing on the placket to add some structure, before finishing the neckline and hem with bias binding, using this method and this method.
Final thoughts
I just love this dress. It is exactly the kind of thing I love wearing at the moment - cool, breezy and very easy to wear. It can be dressed up or down, and goes just as well with my sneakers (which I spend 90% of my time in) as it does with dressier shoes. It is just the kind of thing my wardrobe has been begging for since I started working for myself (things I can just throw on and then run, yet still look somewhat put together) and I am very tempted to make myself another one quicksmart.
Florence Kimono by Sew Caroline
Florence Kimono by Sew Caroline
The second pattern I decided to make was the Florence Kimono, by Sew Caroline.
Description from Indiesew: The perfect spring kimono has arrived! The Florence Kimono sewing pattern by Sew Caroline is a relaxed-fit kimono with 3/4 sleeves and three different hem lengths. Add lace trim to the sleeves and hem for a pop of visual interest. Sew your Florence Kimono in a flowing rayon challis and pair it with a knit tank top, skinny jeans, and heels for a night on the town.
The Pattern
The pattern is a nice easy one that you can smash out in a couple of hours. It consists of three pieces - the front, the back and the sleeve, so cutting was nice and speedy - so I was sat at my machine in now time. As I said earlier, the pattern includes an A0 version, which is much appreciated as the pattern pieces are quite big, due to the over-sized nature of this silhouette.
Fabric
Like my 'Sanibel,' I used a pre-loved fabric I found at The Fabric Cave. Once again, I wasn't sure of the fibre content, but due to its handle and the way it presses, I would say it's a viscose rayon. I am in two minds about the print (which may or may not be because my boyfriend described it as a "grandma print") but I guess time can only tell.
The hack
I was much tamer with Florence than I was with poor Sanibel. The only change I made was to add a pleat in the centre back seam, which I made using this method (I am clearly going through a pleat stage).
Construction
The instructions ask for french seams, which was definitely the right choice for my fabric. For the opening, the pattern suggests using bias binding to finish the edge, and I decided not to bother, and just sewed a thin double folded hem, using this method (the same finish I used for the actual hem).
Final thoughts
This was a really quick project, which was a very satisfying sew!
The collection
As you can see, I didn't quite get through the whole Spring /collection (although I did make a Lou Box earlier this year), but I can definitely say it's a great little collection, and definitely a great place to start if you are thinking about sewing yourself a capsule wardrobe this spring. For more details or to purchase the collection, head over to Indiesew.
The blog tour
I really hope you are enjoying the Indiesew Spring Collection Blog Tour as much as I am. IF you've missed it, here are the previous posts in the series:
Feb 24: Sew Mariefleur
Feb 25: Dandelion Drift
Feb 26: Right Sides Together
Feb 29: Sewbon
March 1: Sew DIY
And here is what's still to come:
March 3: Sew Caroline
March 4: Baste + Gather
March 5: Ada Spragg
