in sewing

Just in time for the end of summer 😅 (literally posting this on the first day of autumn), I finished sewing my first “matching set”! I wanted to make a coordinated top and bottom from linen.

Me standing in front of a landscaped bed on the Seattle waterfront, gazing down lovingly at my baby while I'm modeling a matching set in a teal cotton-linen blend. The top is a tank top with a vertical center seam, and my hands are tucked into curved pockets on the shorts.

The top is my third Eucalypt Tank, this time with the decorative seam running down the middle. The shorts are the Chanterelle Shorts and the first “outside pants” I’ve sewn.

The shorts have an elastic so-called 'paper bag' waistband

I really enjoyed sewing these Chanterelles! I found the pattern easy and fun to follow. I appreciate how the elastic waistband was constructed, as it was very forgiving for wobbly seams.

The back of the shorts feature patch pockets

Learnings

  • I’m not completely in love with where the darts hit on this Eucalypt top, and there’s two variables there 1) I sized down one from the first couple times I sewed this pattern and 2) I used a cotton-linen blend that seems to have a bit more structure than a pure linen fabric. I might try tracing size 18 darts on size 16 pattern pieces? Is that a thing?
  • When sewing the elastic into the waist band, the Chanterelle pattern instructs you to pull the elastic taut. I don’t know if I pulled it too taut or cut too much length for the elastic, but the waist feels a bit looser than I’d like. Again, multiple variables to mess with next time.
The shorts folded on a bed
Me modeling the set again, this time with one hand on my hip and one loose by my side

Next up: perhaps making a set of Chanterelle Pants with this fabric I accidentally overbought?

No comments yet on this post.