The Traveling Beignet (and a Hat!)

Amanda — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:10:00 +0000

I did it! I successfully scared myself into finishing this skirt by today, Sunday! This is my second Beignet Skirt from Colette Patterns and I really loved how it turned out. I paired it with a hat to go with this week’s “Hat Trick” challenge over at the Sew Weekly. Sorry for the poor-ish quality photos, I need to invest in a better camera (or steal my sister’s!).

I call this the Traveling Beignet because the materials are from all over the place! The shell is from New York’s Garment District, the bias trim and lining is from Sew L.A. in Los Angeles, the cotton facings are from a Joann’s in Connecticut (leftover from a bag I made for my cousin), the buttons are from a Joann’s in Burbank, CA, and the lace is from a thrift store here in Virginia. The hat and the (on its way out) top are from my old neighborhood in Brooklyn and the shoes are from Tip Top Shoes on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I can just hear my ol’ co-worker in L.A. lecturing me on the high carbon footprint of this ensemble.

The Basics

Pattern: Beignet Skirt from Colette Patterns
Fabric: Cotton Blend Tweed (shell); cotton voile (lining); lightweight cotton (facings)
Other Goodies: Bias tape for the belt; 11 buttons; lace at the lining hem; twill tape at waist seam
Size: 4 at waist; 2 from hip to hem

I had learned that hats went out of fashion (at least in the U.S.) when JFK showed up to his inauguration sans hat. If that’s so, wow, did he have some kind of influence on our heads or what? Some historians and I talk about bringing hats back, especially since we love how people look in old photos we use for our research. So darn classy, if you ask me. And, oh, those hat boxes!

The first Beignet I made was a straight size 2, which ended up being a bit too tight for me at the waist. It still fits, but just a little snug for my comfort! It fits a lot better now with the sizing adjustments, although can you see where the seam lines kind of go inward and then outward again at the front of the skirt? Oh well, I think that’s just the contours of my body more than anything else, but I could be wrong!

For some reason, wearing a hat brought out these poses in me, what can I say? :) I never wear this hat because I’ve convinced myself it just looks busy with my glasses, but maybe it’s not so bad. I bought it with the vision that I’d be reading away in Barnsdall Park in Los Angeles when I lived out there (that happened…once).Below are my “Ode to Hollywood” photos.

I had cut the pieces to this skirt a few weeks ago in the hopes it’d be an Easter skirt, but things got busy. Maybe a good thing because I probably would’ve called this post, “It’s the Easter Beignet, Charlie Brown!” As it is, I had to refrain from calling it “The May Day Beignet”. Yeah, it’s not hard to get cheesy around here quick.

The whole skirt didn’t take much time to finish once I got back into it. I eliminated the pockets and the belt loops this time around. I wanted straight lines down the sides and found that the pocket openings on my first pair gaped a little (probably because it was heavy fabric). Clearly I need some narrow belts in my wardrobe because all I could do to add some color was grab bias tape and call it a day. Actually, I like the look! I was thinking of stitching the tape to the skirt and leaving the ends loose so I could tie them (and get in and out of the skirt).

The lighting on the above shot isn’t the greatest, but it shows the 3 fabrics all together. I thought at first to use the tweed for the facings, but I worried that would make the skirt too thick. I love the contrast dotted fabric on the inside.

I bought the cotton blend tweed at B & J Fabrics in New York. First time in that store and I loved it! Took me a second to realize you look at the fabric swatches along the walls of the store and then ask someone for the amount of fabric you need (rather than attempt to pull fabric out of the stacks and stacks of fabric at the center of the room). I took Tilly’s advice and only bought 1 yard of 55″ fabric; the pattern book calls for 2 1/2 yards so it was quite the risk! But at $21.99/yd it was a risk I decided to take. I definitely had enough for the facings if I wanted to go with the tweed there. I think if you have a directional print though you should probably go with a little more than that.

The lace at the lining! Please excuse the holes where the
old stitch lines used to be! At least it’s on the inside…

I really loved working with the tweed fabric. I had never done so before, but it cooperated nicely. The feel and the texture are great. I was nervous to see how they would hold up with the buttonholes, but it ended up being fine! Can you imagine getting through this and then the buttonholes fail on you?

The only thing I don’t like about this skirt pattern is that lots of people love it and want me to make one for them! I’m a slow stitcher to begin with so I’d probably have to charge $500 for the whole thing to be worth the time it would take me ;)

Oh, and my newest sewing tool is this wonderful wrist pincushion from A Fashionable Stitch. You can also see it on my wrist in the 2nd photo of this post, the perfect bracelet for this seamstress! It’s hard to tell, but the colors go from orange to peach to pink (it’s silk dupioni). I’ve been told I’m pretty mellow in real life, but I can’t help but gush about this one, it just makes me happy :) I have a small wrist and it’s such a relief to have a wrist pincushion that doesn’t flop upside down as I’m working. And the metal base keeps the pins from pricking my skin, which my skin appreciates wholeheartedly.

And that’s a wrap! I’m off to test a pattern this week (which I can’t share for a loooooooong time), but after that will be on to my next project…to be determined. Happy May, everyone!

Pendrell Blouse & Beignet Skirt!

Amanda — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Alrighty, a completed project for the blog! This thing’s been lonely for awhile with just a couple of paragraphs to its credit so I’m glad I got something up before the end of the month. Phew.

The Beignet skirt from Colette Patterns was made last year when I was still in L.A. enjoying that mild winter. I used cotton canvas for the shell and a green voile for the lining, and with all the concentration in the world made 11 buttonholes for those brown buttons. I was very proud of my Janome, it worked through those with no problem! I love the color and feel of the skirt. Colette patterns are designed with very little ease so it’s a good idea to go up a size if you’re between sizes.

And now for the newest garment in my handmade wardrobe – the Pendrell blouse from Sewaholic Patterns! I just happened to find Tasia’s blog last fall and am very glad I did. She has excellent tutorials and such a great, feminine style. This is her very first pattern; she designs for pear-shaped women (which I’m not), so I just brought in the hips of my size and voila! Tasia is hosting a sew-along if you’re interested in making this blouse and need a little guidance.

The blouse is meant to be semi-fitted and tucked in. I went with View B since I don’t have anything with ruffles and wouldn’t have thought about them otherwise. I figured I’d give them a go, even though my shoulders and hips are about the same width and I wasn’t sure if they would look good on me. Sewing’s all about trying new things and if they don’t work out, we move on, right? :)

I used a silk/cotton blend that was listed as “silk/rayon” in the store. It didn’t feel as slippery as silk/rayon, but I trusted the fabric store over my own judgment and only happened to confirm my suspicion when I later saw the fabric on Gorgeous Fabrics, listed as silk/cotton. So, long story short, I’m not sure the ruffles are draping as much as I’d like them to, and as the pattern calls for, but I still think they work. The ruffles and sleeves were fun to gather, and the fabric feels great. I accidentally pre-washed it with too much softener, which made the fabric smell like fresh laundry every time I pressed it (might have to do that more often, mmm!). The only thing that threw me for a loop was the neck binding — it said to cut 2 of those, but I only used 1 in the end and it worked out fine. But, I’m wondering, did I miss something??

I’m participating in Sunni’s (The Cupcake Goddess) Trouser Sew-Along and I know this blouse will work well with those! I’m even scheming for another Pendrell, view C sleeveless, and adding lace to the sleeveless arm opening. I have a (now old!) blouse from B. Moss that looks similar and I think it would look nice with the wide leg trousers I’m making.

Sewin' in the Rain » Beignet

The Traveling Beignet (and a Hat!)

Pendrell Blouse & Beignet Skirt!