Portfolio tunic #1 : the crazy calacas + marionetas version

I'm back today to share something I made recently that I'm super pleased with : my (first) Lisette Portfolio tunic.

Though I finished my first Lisette Portfolio top as practice for this tunic, I dove straight into my "nice fabric" to make this as quickly as possible.  Officially, this was supposed to be one of my February sews -- my colors of the month to add into my handmade wardrobe were pink + red -- but I just finished this up this week.  Actually, I think I would have made my self-imposed February deadline but I unfortunately dropped my Rowenta iron in exactly the wrong way and it exploded.  (Or, it at least broke into too many pieces to fix.)  This left me agonizing over what kind of iron to replace it with for several days, and then waiting for Amazon Prime to deliver it.  Needless to say, I was able to finish it finally.   I made it out of a Day of the Dead Alexander Henry fabric that only a crazy Spanish teacher would wear. (Enter me ...) :)

There's not much to say about this amazing tunic that I will love for years on end -- except, did I mention how much I love it??  The fit is perfect -- thanks to the experimental top I was able to size down confidently and I think my smaller size fits well.

The pockets are sublime.  They are perfect for my days spent running around as a teacher with euros stuffed in the pockets (my classroom equivalent of participation points), white board markers, and remote control powerpoint clickers.

I think my little front detail turned out great - I used a gold top stitching and I managed to sew it all rather straight so it looks pretty even all the way around the neckline.

And, I love the button detail on the back, once again.   I see myself making many more of these tunics ... though I'll perhaps vary the fabric choice (dark linen would be nice?) or sleeve length (longer sleeves for the winter, perhaps?).  We'll see ...


Notes :
Pattern : Lisette Portfolio (unavailable but the updated Cappuccino dress is here)
Fabric : Alexander Henry Marionetas in Pink
Mods : none - size 14 made.
{{on Kollabora here.}}

continental blouse #1 : the wearable muslin

So, now that I'm sewing for myself more (and a 2015 goal is to put more wearables into my handmade wardrobe), I thought I'd venture out of my scout tee and everyday skirt comfort zone into the world of the umpteen patterns I've purchased but not used.  There are several patterns I'm dying to try in the Liesl & Co range -- the Cappuccino dress, Bistro dress and Late Lunch Tunic come to mind.  Some digging around on the internets led me to the fact that the Cappuccino dress is an update to the now-out-of-production Liesette pattern for Simplicity, pattern 2245, the Portfolio Tunic.   I realized, then, that I had bought this paper pattern ages ago -- and while digging around my stash I also found the Simplicity pattern #2059, aka Continental pieces, as well.

I thought I'd start with the Continental blouse ... then move on to the Portfolio outfit ... and then start sewing through the Liesl & Co. patterns that I still want to make.  (This might take me the better part of 2015!)

So -- here is my first version of the Continental blouse, in a wearable muslin (aka, Country Classics navy blue purchased for $2.50/yard).  I'm pretty please that it turned out pretty well on my first try, and was incredible easy to put together.  If it doesn't work out, the two yards or $5.00 investment won't be too much of a disappointment.  I think that in a different fabric, the gathering at the back will hang very nicely -- until then, in a heavier cotton, they do have a bit of a poofy look.

However, given that this is such a super easy sew and that I love the look of the gathers on the back, I think I'll stick with this for a few more garments before moving on.  I loved that I was able to use certain details that I learned from my Scout Tee(s) such as french seaming the insides (including the armscyes), as well as the bias binding on the neck.  A different print on the bias binding on the neck gives a nice, special touch.

I'm also so glad that my 2011-self thought of purchasing these Lisette patterns on a super craft store sale, so that my 2015-self could make them up.  Sometimes it pays off to be a bit of a hoarder! :)

I'd like to make this longer in the future (more of a tunic length) and maybe try some of the Liesl-suggested variations.  I also think I'll size down next time around - this one is rather roomy.

Notes :
Pattern : Continental Blouse by Lisette
Fabric : Country Classics cheap cotton
Mods : None - Size 16 made.  Next time - I'll cut a size 14. 
{{On Kollabora here.}}