Where Anderson meets Alberta Street

If these clothes look crumpled it’s because I did actually wear them to work today, so the 9-5 bundle really is living up to its name for me.

Like a lot of the other posters I made the Alberta Street Skirt by Sew House Seven and the Anderson Blouse by Sew Over It.

I made the skirt first out of a thick stretch cotton that I bought exactly a year ago at The Fabric Store in Brisbane. I knew then that I wanted to make a pencil skirt with it, and funnily enough, I had this pattern pinned but wasn’t prompted to buy it until the bundle sale came up.

I loved this pattern. I made a straight size 10 and made no changes, other than to add 2cm in length and I left off the pockets for a smoother look.

I LOVE this pattern. This style of pencil skirt is one I often choose to wear to work and in fact the fit and shape closely match a favourite old RTW skirt of mine. The construction is very straightforward, just the darts at the back, a kick pleat and a lapped zip, with a nicely shaped curved waistband. I already have another one of these cut out and ready to sew.

The Anderson Blouse – another lovely style and a pattern I had my eye on for a while. Alas, like many of TMSers have already written here, it’s a pattern with a few problems.

I made mine with a very soft, floaty poly remnant from Potter’s textiles. I’m glad I didn’t splurge on better fabric as while totally wearable, this is not one of my better projects and probably not a pattern I will repeat.

First, there is the ease. I took a look at the finished measurement, decided I didn’t need 12 inches ease around my bust and cut the smallest size. I also decided to pleat, rather than gather, the shoulders. I sewed up the shoulders, back neckline binding and then tried it on with the side seams just basted.

Very tight armholes – no surplus ease there!

Realising the sleeves would be impossible, I cut down the armscye by about an inch and just did a rolled hem on the now sleeveless shirt. I then just secured the wrap fronts crossed over each other, about 10cm further on each side than the pattern directed, simply to prevent it gaping open. I also didn’t bother with the ribbon tie, I just hemmed the bottom of the blouse as it clearly only really works tucked in anyway.

It does gape, a bit although the sheer fabric means I have to wear something under it. Also I have been wearing it with my beloved Grainline Driftless cardigans that I made for IPM one-pattern two-ways challenge and they kind of pull the wrap front together.

Would I make this pattern again? Probably not. I really like the look they were aiming for (Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson, cooling tracking a serial killer in The Fall) but I don’t think this one quite works. Also, I watched The Fall again recently and she actually mostly wears silky button-down shirts, not a wrap style.

Happy Indie Pattern Month everyone! I’ve made some stuff I really love, discovered some new pattern designers and seen a lot of great clothes.

More sewing over my blog at Hound’s tooth.