Pink flares and Bixa version 2

What can I say about this outfit but I made it because I can!

Its taken me a whole month to get round to taking photos of this outfit. In the meantime I have not worn it. Mainly thats because of the colour and the sleeves which can be trashed too easily with housework and since lockdown I have done loads of that. In fact I think my house is as clean as it was when I moved into it and I cleaned everywhere before unpacking.

In the end though I want to wear the yoga pants to lounge around in so had to get round to taking the photos!

I bought the pink scuba fabric for 99p from Ebay about 30 seconds before the auction ended. It was advertised as that it had a small mark on it but was 6.5m in length. From the photos most of it would be useable anyway. Its not a colour I would usually buy, I have to admit, but for 99p I will try anything.

Cream Bixa

When I received it I washed it and the stain came out - bargain then. Still not any ideas for what to make from it so into the stash it went. Now I am about to start a new job ( assuming its still there after lockdown anyway) and want some new tops and I am bored so I decided to make another Bixa. Its was already on the To-Do list anyway and at 99p its a cheap risk. So I lengthened the body section because the cream version is a bit short for my age - or so I feel. You have to feel comfortable after all. Its not all about fashion.


Then I joined the top sleeve and bottom (under sleeve parts) together. I lengthened the top overlay to the same length as my new sleeve pattern. I then cut it all out from the pink crepe and the overlay is cream wedding veil tulle.

In the end I am not going to wear this top for work! 

Since the fabric was also huge (6.5m) I decided to cut a "matching" pair of yoga pants using the free pattern from here:
http://ifonlytheywouldnap.net/2015/03/06/free-yoga-pants-pattern/

I used this pattern several times before and I really like it. Its makes for tight slightly flared yoga style trousers. I do not however like "yoga band" waists so cut a proper waistband from some scrap leapardskin print fabric from when I shortened my dress which was about the same time as cutting this hence I knew where it was.  The dress now ends just above my knees and is worn far more than it was, which was never. The resulting waistband is a fake yoga band that has wide elastic in normal waistband with a second strip sewn on top to give the yoga band look. It works for me.

I also added 3cm to the width below the knee on each side of the front and back pattern pieces, which I graded down to the bottom hem to make the flares wider and just hoped they did not twist as a result. It worked and they did not twist. I really like them!

I sewed the trousers up with crepe-side as right side but the top as crepe-side inside. Crepe-side outside for tops for me feels very aging. I prefer a flatter fabric.

It was a bit tricky adding the overlay which turned out very full but with careful pinning it worked. As I went to sew it I also decided to add the ribbons. The ribbon addition was just inspiration.

Well what can I say? Its completely impractical so it really is a case of "just because you can". 

 Because the top is longer than my previous cream version you only see the waistband when I stretch or bend but thats OK. Its a nice touch I think.

 I just could not resist the ribbons. I own a Burda pattern for a medieaval costume top and that has a similar shaped sleeve which gave me the inspiration, but I has made it a top that I do not feel I will wear for work. This shade of pink and the overlay and the flares - well its all a bit OTT really isn't it?
Thats what lockdown is doing to me!

I am not sure the top will get worn much to be honest,  though for a day out somewhere, it has a place in my wardrobe. As previously though with the last Bixa top, this could be a good wedding guest outfit. Or a going out to dinner or a clubbing outfit.

The trousers though, I am aching to wear.  Surprisingly I even do not mind the pale dusky pink colour. I

Looking at these photos I am also aware I need to make some underwear (knickers!) that looks better in these kind of clothes! Its on my next list!

Thanks for popping by and stay safe,

Bracken

Bixa top

 This is the first attempt at the Bixa T shirt top from Mood. Its a free pattern.
What actually caused this pattern is I went window shopping/ investigating current high street trends in New Look. I was struck by the large number of T shirt type tops with lace and net sleeves including double layered tops like the Bixa pattern which I downloaded a year ago or so.

I like Mood free patterns because so far they have all worked without problems which is pretty impressive for free patterns. They also have some very interesting designs. This is one of them.

This top is cropped so as you can see its a bit short. I am wearing it with high waisted jeans from 1997 and a long vest top under the Bixa. The jeans are flares so very on trend despite their age. You cannot see that with me wearing wellies!
I had them saved at the back of the wardrobe for years because I just could not part with them. Anyway recently they are my favourite jeans again.

This Bixa is my test version. so I left the original length, and the double top and bottom sleeve, as well as adding the overlay. Bearing in mind this is made from scraps I think its pretty good. The top is crepe scuba ( reversed to make a plain surface rather than crepe). Top sleeve is also crepe (reversed) but the under sleeve is ribbed cotton mix with the overlay of polyester tulle. I am not a great fan of the short/long sleeve look but I do like the overlay. Having said that its completely impractical as a top. It would make a good wedding party look though.

Other problems:
Its cream (for me not the best colour when I am looking after hens and dogs but could be OK for work I suppose), the overlay is tulle so very weak and not hardwearing at all and the dog claws get caught in it. So far I have managed not to get it ripped but I keep changing into different tops because they keep jumping up.
 

 

Despite its not at all practical yes I do like this top. I am intending to make a second version with a longer body length and make the mesh sleeves without the top sleeve sections so really by sticking the two sleeve parts together and then extending the overlay.  Thats whats in fashion not the double sleeve look. I will let you know if this idea works.

 

 As a RTW copy I think its a good pattern for the current trends though will need a bit of tweaking but I will do that with version 2.

Hopefully I can show you that next week,

Thanks for popping over

Bracken