Hippy Linen Tunic

Split and Biased Yoke
Ottobre Tunic - linen/cotton
Ottobre Tunic – linen/cotton

Tunics generally aren’t my thing….they’re a little too….maternity circa 1985 for my taste. At least that is how I feel about them on my body. I have boobs. Anything without darts or shaping goes to the boobs, and tents out from there. My waist is still a good 10 inches smaller than my bust, at least, and I don’t like swimming in my clothes.

front linen cotton tunic
front linen cotton tunic

That aside, it has been Phoenix-level-hot in Oregon this summer, and this linen/cotton blend was a steal at <$5 a yard, so tunic it is.

Ottobre Woman 5/2013
Ottobre Woman 5/2013

I used an Ottobre pattern from 2013.

Ottobre 2013 Women's Tunic
Ottobre 2013 Women’s Tunic

I made it a bit more complicated than the pattern calls for…

Ottobre Tunic Destructions
Ottobre Tunic Destructions

I opted to not have a contrast fabric, but instead split the front placket and cut each side on the opposing bias.

Derp Face
Derp Face

I also opted to split and bias the yoke. It does have a self-enclosed yoke, so that’s nice. Like a dork, I split and biased the inside too – I got so focused on doing it, I added work for myself. lol. Ain’t that how it goes. I French seamed the sleeve insets, decided I didn’t like how it futzed with the gathers, etc., so just pinked the remaining side seams. It’s hardly noticeable – the futzing of the gathers, esp since it’s a casual, wrinkly shirt, but I notice it.

Split and Biased Yoke
Split and Biased Yoke

It has one of those bias-tape plackets on the sleeves – and the cuffs are so wide, it’s really just décor. I don’t unbutton to put it on – could have skipped the button hole!

sleeve button
sleeve button

Autofocus fail but you get the idea.

Anywho, I wear it all the time. It’s super comfy and yummy. I wish it was a dress. Almost. A big muu-muu dress. I don’t love wearing it out of the house – it’s kinda frumpy…but comfy. I think I need to use this fabric in a more fitted version. Of course this was an end-of-bolt clearance, but I love the linen-cotton blend. It’s dreamy – even on our 90-100 degree days, it’s been dreamy. At just around 2 yards, so $10, not bad. Not bad at all.

Aberdeen Shirt from Seamwork Magazine

Aberdeen Back
Aberdeen
Aberdeen

This knit is crazy. It’s this base jersey in a muted rust, with a slashed decorative top layer. I’m kinda into it. The swirlies are a bit grandma, but YOLO. I was drawn to it for the ‘wrong’ side; the rust is a perfect color for this twill I have in my stash, but more on that when I get to it.

Aberdeen wardrobe profile
Aberdeen wardrobe profile

This Seamwork Aberdeen is spot on my style and another addition to my wardrobe capsule in the everyday wearable category. It’s a less extreme dolman sleeve than my RTW version, and the lower half of the silhouette is more t-shirt, but I dig it. I don’t wear V-necks all that often, so I did a quick scoop, but this complicated knit is a smidge sloppy in the neckline. Probably shoulda reversed it or grabbed some black, but whatevs. I’ll also trace the scoop from my Renfrew next time instead of wingin’ it. The sleeve cuffs tho, OMG. so comfy and easy. I cut this out in the evening and whipped it up in the morning before work: EASY. I think I can move some of the pieces to fold-line pieces since I’m going to omit the V-neck, so that will make it even faster.

Aberdeen Side
Aberdeen Side/Seam

I serged the bottom, then did a 3/4 inch turn, and the slightest zig in a knit stitch for the hem.

Aberdeen Back
Aberdeen Back

Looking at the back, I’m wondering if I shouldn’t start doing small sway-back adjustments in my patterns. It would be a bit fussy to do on this knit, but something to keep in mind as I’m eye-balling some more fitted button-ups.

Overall, I can see this pattern being used as often as my Renfrew, I dig it that much. It’s totally my style. My RTW version is a viscose knit, so has way more drapey-mcdrapeyness to it than this rebel-grandma double knit, so I’m looking forward to sewing it up in something with more drape.

And damn, I need a haircut. What do to do next…grow it out? Grow it out some? Go full mullet?

Wardrobe Capsule: Vogue Skirt

knit vogue skirt
knit vogue skirt

This is one of my preferred silhouettes. Dolman sleeve aka batwing, pencil skirt, in this case a double knit. Comfy, somewhat tailored but also forgiving. Office-ready-secret-pajamas. I need more easy whole-life clothes. I no longer want to differentiate so much between work and home. I want clothes that can pull double-duty and fit ME. My life. At all times. Lurking and quietly playing along with Me Made May and Wardrobe Architect for the last couple years has solidified that desire. My style, 24-7. No compromises.

This is the skirt from Very Easy Vogue V8962, top is RTW.

Very Easy Vogue V8962
Very Easy Vogue V8962
V9862 Envelope Back
V9862 Envelope Back

They’re not kidding. It is VERY easy. My measurements put me between a 16 and 18.

Envelope goes to 16
Envelope goes to 16

This envelope only goes up to 16, so I cut a 16, but ended up sizing down to less than a 14. Go figure. This happens a lot – I measure larger than I fit, for God knows why. 9 times out of 10, I’m smaller than what I measure to be, and I take that into consideration. I knew this would be easy to alter on the fly, but when doing more complicated patterns, I have to muslin. Is what it is. Makes bras LOTS of fun!

knit style
knit style

I don’t tuck in this shirt, but wanted to show the elastic waist and fit. As you can see, it’s fitting well – for me this is a good fit. Tight enough to look tailored, but not showing panty lines. We’re not going bodycon here.

elastic waist
elastic waist
knit skirt side
knit skirt side

It takes less than a yard of fabric (WINNING), and that little vent in the back is genius – no zig-zag or double-needle needed on the hem – I straight-stitched that hem knowing I won’t break it because of that vent. It’s the little things.

knit skirt back
knit skirt back

In a solid fabric, like a ponte, the seaming and topstitching detail would be cool to see, but they’re great functionally too, making for a feminine fit. Totally great pattern. Took no time at all, some leftover fabric (putting together a Coppelia with the rest of it), serger-friendly. Highly recommend for when you need a quick-fix garment.