A Garment A Week – Week 21 – 27/05/16
A busy week 🙂
I’ve had this design for leggings stuck in my head for awhile now lol, something a little bit different. Finally got them patterned last week and made this week. The grey is a two way stretch rib knit with faux leather inserts on the lower, outer calf. The pattern started from a Kwik Sew pattern for leggings but I made a few changes before cutting them out.
They are held up with the help of elastic at the top and the fabric is nice and stretchy and I’ve since taking the photos, taken the legs in a little more to hold tighter to my legs. Taking them in a bit more means the fabric doesn’t bunch above the knee anymore either. The joining seams are sewn by overlocker (serger) only as this stitch will stretch and not pop like my straight stitch machine would. (I’m getting better with knits!) They are a thicker fabric than RTW leggings so are a little warmer – which I definitely need in this weather! The hems are overlocked and turned up, double stitched for a coverseam look. (I will get one of those machines one day!)
The black long sleeve top is a brought merino (an essential for winter).
The black sheer floral is a long over top, should be good for summer too with a singlet underneath. It’s a polyester fabric and a bit thicker / heavier than a chiffon.
It’s a self drafted pattern. I started with the hem line – I’d seen something similar somewhere online with a plain black fitted sweater over the top, the floral is just poking out the bottom, I thought it looked really neat. Sorry I forgot to photograph me in that.
Then I wanted a little bit of difference, not just a straight top. The split / cowl at the back has a double function, not only does it add detail but because the fabric has no stretch it gives me a lot more movement across the shoulders and means the top needs no zip! The sleeves were supposed to be a bit longer but I ran out of fabric. There are bust darts but no vertical darts on either front or back.
The hems are small rolled hems, lower edge, sleeves and each side of the back cowl. The neckline is bound with a piece of the same fabric cut on the bias and turned under for an invisible binding. Internal seams are overlocked.
Photos all over the place this week as the weather was terrible, most of the pics were taken between showers of rain. Autumn here is truly four seasons in one day.
Overall really happy with this look, comfy and stylish. I need more longer tops to wear over the leggings but the top should work over jeans too.
