dear stella everyday skirt

November 13, 2013November 18, 201310 Comments

today i’m guest posting over on the Dear Stella Design Blog with a fun project using fabric they sent me (lemme tell ya – getting emails out of the blue offering free fabric is pretty much a sewing blogger’s dream!).

i guess it wasn’t totally out of the blue – i did visit the Dear Stella booth at Quilt Market this spring wearing Washi Two made out of Dear Stella fabric – which i thought would be uncool, sort of like wearing a band t-shirt to their concert. but in the land of Quilt Market, apparently displays like that are met with excitement and photo requests and offers of fabric months down the road. 😉

anyway. they sent me three fabrics of my choice and this is the first – it’s from their confetti sparkle line, pretty much the most perfect holiday fabric ever (GOLD METALLIC POLKA DOTS, YO). i knew it had to turn into a liesl + co everyday skirt right away!

and nope, i didn’t suddenly shape-shift – these photos are not me.

i didn’t realize until after the skirt was mostly sewn that the style wasn’t going to work with my pregnant belly, so i asked my sister-in-law to model for me. she was the ideal modeling candidate, having just given birth to her fourth child 3 months ago…hehe. but seriously, she looks amazing, right??

head on over to the Dear Stella Blog to read more about this skirt, the fabric it’s made with, and see more photos, too!

i can’t wait to get sewing with the other two cuts and show those to you…one will be the perfect Christmas dress for Em, and the other is sort of the launch point for an entire bedroom design! all in due time…

thanks so much for having me, Dear Stella!

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confetti sparkle is shipping to stores now – here are a few online resources for Dear Stella fabric – drygoods design, hawthorne threads, fabric.com, and over the rainbow on etsy, which looks to have some of the confetti sparkle line in stock already!

you can also check out their “where to buy” page for a store near you to check it out. it’s so pretty in person and i loved sewing it. even though it’s quilting cotton, it seems to lend itself really nicely to apparel.

striped maternity pencil skirt

November 4, 2013March 6, 201448 Comments

sometimes the quickest, easiest sewing projects are the most satisfying, ya know?

take, for example, this skirt.

two pieces to cut out, sew together, hem, and thread elastic through at the top.

striped maternity pencil skirt

the parts that took longest were threading my double needle and matching the stripes on the sides (which shifted on me a bit anyway, meh). it was a “one naptime” sew, AWESOME for adult clothes!

this little pencil skirt is now one of my favorite things i’ve sewn for myself. it’s super comfy, actually fun to walk in, and a great piece to make me feel “prettier” during pregnancy, when sometimes it’s easy to feel like i’m losing that a little each week.

the fabric is a ponte knit from fabric depot, which you can find online here. the pattern is megan nielsen’s ruched maternity skirt (which i didn’t ruche…didn’t seem to need it). it was a gift from a friend but now appears to be ~~sold out everywhere online~~ available as a PDF! yay!

the cut of the pattern is so cool – the shapes look kinda crazy on paper (definitely NOT rectangles) but it makes the skirt hug the right spots and stay straight at others, and the belly coverage doesn’t make me feel claustrophobic like maternity panels usually do. i just wish i had more occasions to wear this skirt, but i’m thinking with the holiday events coming up, it won’t be a problem.

i made a large even though i measured somewhere between small and medium, because i’d seen a few versions that looked a bit tight for my taste. i wanted it to feel relaxed enough to remain comfortable, which it totally is…plus i get a pretty big belly and need it to last (i was 22 weeks in these photos, taken a couple weeks ago by my husband).

i gain confidence with every new thing i successfully make for myself…and it’s addictive! i want to keep it up. it might be that maternity sewing is more like kid sewing – sort of temporary since i’m “still growing” and i feel more free to mess around, maybe? 🙂

my canadian tuxedo

October 17, 2013November 4, 201339 Comments

pretty exciting development in the world of women’s sewing – Liesl Gibson, creator of the fantastic children’s pattern brand Oliver + S (and my sewing mentor), recently announced the release of three new women’s patterns! i knew adult patterns were coming (she mentioned them at Quilt Market) but had no idea what they’d look like or whether they’d work with my pregnant belly. when i got an email from her with the patterns attached last week, i fell in love and rushed to the fabric store that same day.

chambray weekend getaway blouse

i plan to sew all three of the new patterns eventually, but first i decided to tackle the weekend getaway blouse.

chambray weekend getaway blouse

okay no, i’m lying.

i actually planned to sew the late lunch tunic, and bought this great chambray shirting from Mill End specifically for that pattern, buuuut then i flew down to visit Jess last weekend (more on that later) and she had already sewn up her version of the weekend getaway in the exact size i measured, so i got to try on her finished blouse to see how it fit (when is that possible in sewing? not often!).

between liking how hers looked on me and having her pattern pieces all taped and cut out, i went ahead and sewed it up with the fabric i’d brought along. lazy, or opportunistic? you be the judge.

chambray weekend getaway blouse

this blouse would typically be a quick sew, but it was pretty much my slowest – lots of chatting, not much sewing! so fun to sew with company, though. i got it most of the way made while i was there and finished it up once i got home, and i’m kind of in love with it! i feel like the fit is slimming and easy to wear, especially with my oxymoronic maternity skinny jeans (hence the canadian tuxedo post title).

i felt totally comfortable tackling this pattern, which looks and feels exactly like the Oliver + S patterns i adore. (Edit: it comes in sizes 0-16 and there’s also a 3/4 sleeved dress option!) there are cool details (exposed facing in the front, smart pockets, opportunity for contrast topstitching) and i feel like i could sew this pattern in a range of different fabrics and options and it wouldn’t look like i just made the same thing 3 times.

i love that it’s sized nicely too – none of that “this pattern says i’m a 16 but i usually wear a 6” funny business going on, which is a HUGE peeve of mine with commercial patterns.

i also appreciate that it’s loose fitting enough for me to sew with no adjustments for my 21 week belly – it definitely won’t last me the whole pregnancy, but i know it’ll fit afterwards.

Liesl’s goal with these new Liesl + Co. patterns is to give us interesting, wearable designs that are approachable and not too difficult to sew. she’s starting off with basics to help us all build confidence in sewing for ourselves, then she expects to add more of the “tricky tailoring stuff” with future patterns.

i’m totally on board with that plan.

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i was sent the weekend getaway blouse + dress pattern at no cost, with no strings attached. all this gushing is of my own free will.

you can find fabric to create a similar look online at my sponsor Drygoods Design here and here!

my jeans are from when i was pregnant with O – similar here. my comfy moccasins are Minnetonka (affiliate link).

reglisse in white

September 27, 2013September 27, 20134 Comments

now i realize it’s after Labor Day and wearing white is no longer “allowed,” but today i’m reposting my guest post for the Bolt blog from August, in case you missed it. i was about 12 weeks pregnant here, and fretted the whole time I sewed that this dress wouldn’t fit or flatter when i was done! somehow, though, the waistline hit just high enough to hide my already-poppin’ belly (with the help of a little sucking in and some spanx).

aaaaanyway…here’s the post.

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Hi, I’m Kristin from skirt as top and i’m happy to be sharing a project here today on the Bolt blog! It was a really neat experience for me bringing this dress to life with the help of the fine ladies at Bolt, and creating a sample for the store I love so much.

The pattern is the Réglisse Dress by Deer and Doe. Deer and Doe is a French company that I’ve started seeing pop up more and more in blogland lately, and I love their classic, pretty style. The instructions come in both French and English, so no guesswork is involved. Bolt carries a great selection of their patterns and after sewing one, I’m looking forward to trying more in the future!

The Réglisse is an unlined dress with a sweet bow collar, cap sleeves, and a circle skirt. There’s an elasticized waistband which is cleverly inserted, and, aside from turning the thin bow tubes which was a bit of a pain, the construction was really nice. The pattern is rated Intermediate, which I agree with. It’s not a first project type pattern, but it’s not difficult either.

I made a size 42 based on my measurements. I think the bodice might be a tad big on me and would probably size down next time, but it’s the type of dress that is meant to have a bit of ease, so it works.

The fabric is Robert Kaufman Seersucker, which Bolt carries in the shop in a few colors (I chose white on white). I love how fresh and clean and summery it is. The fabric is 57″ wide, which is a requirement of the skirt (it’s two half circles pieced at the sides) unless you want seams down the front and back. Typical 45″ wide quilting cotton is a bit too narrow – we checked!

The front and back bodices are cut on the bias, and I love the subtle chevron effect from the pieced seersucker.

I’m looking forward to making this dress again in a printed voile, maybe switching up the sleeves or collar for a different look…lots of options! Check out the Réglisse Sew Along on the Deer and Doe blog for construction tips and more inspiration, stop by Bolt to check this dress out in person, and maybe grab some seersucker while you’re at it too!

watercolor ruby top

September 24, 2013September 23, 2013108 Comments

a little while back i got to test out Rae’s brand new adult lady sewing pattern, the Ruby Dress & Top! it’s a flattering yet simple design that takes pretty much all of the tougher parts of adult sewing out of the equation (no darts, no zippers or buttons or closures of any kind…that stuff). it’s also a quick one to sew up. you can sew this pattern!

and you should.

because even though my face is a bit like 😐 in the photo above, i think this top is great…and the tweaks Rae made with the feedback from testing made it even better in the final version. that girl really takes her time to get the fit just right, something i really appreciate with her patterns.

it’s a SUPER fun (and maybe even a little overwhelming?) pattern to pick fabrics for. you can really go a million different directions with it. i used a semi-sheer lightweight rayon/poly type blend from the back of an Old Navy shirt I bought for the other side (eyelet). it moves around a lot which made the skinny bias binding way harder to apply, but the drape is nice.

the bottom fabric, which i ADORE, is from Skylights by Rosewood Organics. i got it at Bolt (I think?). such a cool watercolor design. i made this summery top when it was still 90 degrees out and it’s definitely fall here now, which just means i’ve got a whole new color palette to choose from when i make Ruby 2!

i usually sew a medium in Rae’s patterns but here I made a size large, because do you know what else the Ruby Top is great for…?

…hiding an early baby bump!

yep yep, 18 weeks along with baby number 3 over here, and so excited! i know at least one observant blog friend guessed it based on my posting slowdown this summer, but seriously guys, little #3 really kicked my butt in the first trimester. so tired and most food just made me feel sick. i’m glad to have some energy back now so i can sew in the evenings if i want, or in the daytime for that matter (i was pretty much napping when my kids did – good for the baby but frustrating for me, since i ACTUALLY ENJOY DOING THINGS)!

i’m due in late February and we can’t wait to find out gender in a couple weeks, though Em is CONVINCED it’s a girl and has even told us what we should name “her.” in the meantime, she nicknamed the baby “Avocado” based on the size i told her the baby was at the time, and loves to give her little “sister” kisses, bring me blankets and Mommy Elephant to snuggle with when i’m tired, hold the doppler machine and listen to the heartbeat at the midwife…she’s a loving little mama and it’s the cutest. it’s really fun to have her understand what’s going on.

O seems happy about it sometimes, and sometimes indifferent. because he’s 2. 😉

and there ya go – my secret is out! i’d never announced a pregnancy to blogland before…hope i did okay. 😉

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thanks for the great announcement project, Ruby Top! check out Rae’s highlight reel of my fellow pattern testers here, video tutorials on how to line the yoke here, and Rae’s supercool arrow dress that started it all here.