March 16, 2015

Stripes for days: another B5929 skirt and a Renfrew to match


A final post to bring this Barbados series to a close. Never fear – we’ll be back to the lovely brick wall  and bright white winter light before the week is out.
Believe it or not, this is another Butterick B5929, though it bears almost no resemblance to the swooshy tea-length silk number I made last time. That’s because it’s a different view, I made it wrong, and it’s made out of yet more non-garment fabric (like the way I slipped that mistake in there? I’m a master of misdirection). Then because I was feeling like an overachiever, I made a navy short sleeved Renfrew to pair with it. As usual I omitted the cuffs and hembands and used the old coverstitch instead.
Butterick B5929 and Sewaholic Renfrew
Anyhow, back to the fun part of the outfit. Who could resist these red-dotted and navy stripes, even if they were meant to upholster a sofa in a beach house in Nantucket? Not me. This time round though I think it works better, because it does a great job at keeping all the pleats in place. Keen-eyed makers of this pattern may notice that I did the side pleats the wrong way round. Obviously that was just artistic expression.
Butterick B5929 and Sewaholic Renfrew

 

This pattern has that darling of the sewing world, pockets, but given the heft of the linen I converted them into two piece faced pockets with white linen on the inside. I also used that linen to face the waistband – I’m finding that non-waistbanded skirts are much comfier than traditional ones – has anyone else found that?
When I tried the skirt on it was already the perfect length, so I just whapped some hot pink bias binding on there and called it a day.

 

Butterick B5929 and Sewaholic Renfrew
I call this “Stripe Matching Like A Boss”

The only “downside” of this pattern, such that it is, is that if you used striped fabric you’re not going to be able to get a perfect stripe across the slightly curved waistline or hemline, no matter how hard you try. But let’s face it, only sewists would ever notice such a thing and I now think of it as my advanced technology “sewist identification device” (SID): if I see anyone curiously staring at the top of my skirt, I’ll be sure to introduce myself and strike up a conversation about underlining techniques.

Butterick B5929 and Sewaholic Renfrew

And so, my mini-summer-wardrobe will now get packed into a box and put in the top of my wardrobe until the snow mountains disappear from Boston. They’re taking bets on when that will be. But it does mean that I can get on with finishing (ok: starting) my Cascade Duffel coat, which will be eminently more useful for a couple of months.

Do you enjoy sewing out of season outfits? Do you get slightly over excited at the prospect of vacations and proceed to sew all the things? Please tell me I’m not alone.

p.s. you may have noticed we got a facelift around here! I finally moved over to WordPress (though I’ll still be at cashmerette.com), and it was a totally painless process thanks to Sarah at SpunMonkey. In the meantime, let me know if you see any glitches, because I’m sure I didn’t catch everything!

32 thoughts on “Stripes for days: another B5929 skirt and a Renfrew to match

  1. Andie L. says:

    Snazzzzzzy new blog! 😀 😀

    Love the skirt/top. That fabric is awesome and your stripe-matching is boss.

    So jealous of your vacay pics. Looks so lovely. Too bad you couldn’t stay until the weather was warmer in Boston. :/

    1. cashmerette says:

      Stripe matching is so much easier when the stripes are 4 inches wide 😀 Yes I am sadly back to snow, but I have a slightly peeling forehead from sunburn to remind me of it 😉

  2. Laney says:

    Love those stripes on the skirt so much – and that hat! So lovely!

    1. cashmerette says:

      Thanks! Sadly my hat got a bit crushed on the way back and now I’m frantically googling “re-shape panama hat”…

  3. Sarah Bailey says:

    Love the new website!

    1. cashmerette says:

      That’s probably because a very good developer set it up for me 😀

  4. Hilde says:

    Great outfit; those stripes!

    1. cashmerette says:

      Thanks! You can’t go wrong with stripes, can you?

  5. Marina says:

    U look great. Outfit is fab!

    1. cashmerette says:

      Cheers!

  6. Ooohh WordPress! Yay! So easy to comment! New blog looks fit, as do you on that lovely outfit. Like your hot pink hem!

    1. Jenny says:

      Oh I’m glad it’s easier! I wasn’t sure if it would be better or worse for folks. And thanks! No one uses fit that way in the US and I miss it 🙂

  7. erniek3 says:

    I’m a curved waistband. So I needs pieces. The petersham interior band seems so slick, but it’s not happening for me.
    Chances are your hat is paper, so reblocking is……dicey. If not, easy peasy steam, slap it on your head for an hour. I wish you not paper.

    1. Nope it is indeed a genuine Panama hat so hopefully it can be reshaped!

  8. Cynthia says:

    Lovely outfit and you look fabulous in it. Yes, I get excited about sewing out-of-season for vacations. I’m in the midst of doing the same now. Hope you had a wonderful trip.

    1. ooh exciting, where are you going?

  9. Linda says:

    Sun! Gorgeous outfit, and I am firmly in the camp of no waistbands/small curved waistbands for comfort. 🙂

  10. liamarcoux says:

    This is so lovely and chic (and also you are wearing the hell out of that hat). But all that sun and green might make me cry as I am holding the Boston fort. I don’t want to buy any more flannel, I want to buy poplin and batiste, sniff sniff.

    1. Soon, Soon! Let’s all do a sun dance

  11. *Sew and Smile* says:

    This is so pretty on you! you wear the style of the skirt and stripes so well!!!

  12. Amy says:

    Beautiful site! And, beautiful new outfit! Hope you get to pull it back out before too long!

  13. bimbleandpimble says:

    Oh hullo sassy stripes! This is a perfect summery make- here is to hoping the winter finally leaves you guys!

    1. Well it’s officially spring and… it’s snowing outside! When will the Boston weather ever learn?!?!

  14. Say what you will about using upholstery fabric for clothes, but that material really makes and holds those pleats superbly! (Randomly: at first glance, the fabric looks like a navy and pink stripe, and now I’m oddly entranced by that combo for some future project of my own. So thanks for that optical illusion!) The whole outfit is wonderful for spring, and here’s hoping you get to crack it out again very soon!

    1. It did! I think it lends itself to certain types of structured garment, you just have to figure out what’s what.

  15. Fabric is fabric, hon. Who cares what the manufacturer intended? You made a stunning skirt.

    1. Well, sometimes it means it’s not drapey or washable or frays like a crazy person… but sometimes it works 🙂

  16. jodie says:

    Lovely! And yay for no waistband! As a new-ish stitcher I’m still looking for my ideal waistband mod. Can’t wait to see the coat. 🙂

  17. Omg. I have a trip to Florida coming up, and this summer I’m going to Mexico for a wedding. I am contemplating how many outfit/bathing suit changes I can fit into four days. On top of my required time in a bridesmaid dress for the better part of one of those days!

Let me know what you think!