SYSL: Shoreline Boatneck and Chelsea Skirt
/Hi and welcome to the final week of the fabulous month that has been Sew Yourself Some Love. We are hogging this week on the pattern revolution blog, and I am kicking off the week with two fabulous patterns - The Shoreline Boatneck by Blank Slate Patterns, and also the brand new release Chelsea Skirt from Pattern Emporium.
My wardrobe is pretty much full of handmade creations. My sewing journey began with a bit of self care sewing and I learnt to sew by sewing for myself. After having my daughter, I have embraced sewing for a little girl, but I am passionate about women sewing for themselves, and love that so many sewists are being brave enough to embark on this journey. I find shopping for clothes at the shops quite tedious in comparison - it can be difficult to find things that fit and I love, versus the satisfaction that comes from taking a piece of fabric and turning it into something that I will wear. It is currently Summer here, and whilst I would love nothing better than for the world to stop turning, the inevitable will happen and Summer will soon be gone for another year. I wanted to sew a few things that would transition easily into Autumn. Autumn here starts off very warm, but by the end of May, it has cooled down substantially. These two patterns will transition easily through the upcoming months with me.
The Shoreline Boatneck from Blank Slate is the simple top that every woman needs in her wardrobe. I personally think that boatneck neckline is incredibly flattering on so many body types and shapes and I found this pattern to be well drafted, easy to print, tape and sew, and the fit was spot on. The instructions were perfect. I modified the pattern slightly by omitting the curves at the bottom of the hemline as I wanted a shorter top to go with my skirt. I made this from a lightweight European cotton lycra knit from my stash and it is so comfortable and perfect. This pattern is sized for knits and wovens, and I can’t wait to make a few more. And with so many options (optional dress length and three different sleeve lengths) it would be appropriate for whichever season you are currently living in or sewing for and I cannot recommend it enough.
I opted to pair the shirt with the newest release from Pattern Emporium - the Chelsea Skirt. I have personally found Pattern Emporium patterns to be the cream of the crop when it comes to women’s patterns. The fit for me is spot on and the instructions give incredibly professional finishes and always teach me something valuable about sewing techniques that I use time and time again across a wide range of patterns. This is the knee length Chelsea Skirt - it’s a panelled A-line skirt that has a button down front and is certainly very on trend at the moment. I’ve sewn my skirt in a lightweight wool blend and I do love wool - not too hot in warmer weather if you choose a lightweight one, but incredibly insulating in cooler weather. I feel less like a frumpy mum in this outfit and slightly more chic than normal, and I know that i can change the styling to make it work year round for me.
The Chelsea Skirt comes in three lengths and here is a quick picture of the other two lengths. This is the mini length.
And the maxi length
Here’s hoping everyone is feeling inspired to sew themselves some love. Please keep posting your photos everywhere in various groups on facebook and on blogs. I’ve really loved seeing everyone’s creations and following along on this tour.
Marnie
