Denim Flint Culottes

Not much can beat a garment that turns out perfectly. These denim culottes ended up exactly how I envisioned them and I am so happy with how they turned out! It was a project that was a joy the whole way through, from cutting the fabric to the very few fitting adjustments needed. 

A pair of denim culottes seems to me to be the perfect trouser for spring - now that I've made a pair I'm just left with having to wait for spring to actually come! I've wanted to make the Megan Nielsen Flint Pants ever since the pattern came out. Although my mind was brimming with ideas for a variety of variations a denim pair seemed like the perfect first pair. The wide legs meant that I wanted a fabric that was structured enough to hold it's shape but still lightweight enough to hang nicely. It's not often that the perfect fabric comes along but in this case it did: a cotton denim from Craft Cotton Co. For such a basic fabric the perfect denim isn't easy to find but this one honestly was just that. The perfect shade, the perfect weight and it was such a lovley fabric to work with. Using a stable cotton fabric is always a dream after sewing with unstable fabrics especially having a fabric that doesn't move when being cut out.

The main design feature of this pattern is actually really simple but completely ingenious. A tie closure and hidden buttonhole allow the trousers to be put on without the need for a zip and adds a lovely detail too. I like the pleats a lot too, they add a nice interest to waistband. One of the things that I like about using such a plain fabric is that these details show up really well.

I've never made a pair of trousers quite this wide before although I do like the look of them. It meant that I spent quite a long time at the hemming stage testing different legths before I found the right length, I think leaving them too long would have left me swamped in fabric.

The fit on these is great. The only adjustment I made was to lower the waistband by 2cm and on my next pair I'll adjust the crotch length on the pattern first to avoid having to do this. They came up really high waisted at first but this completely solved the problem and although they remain a little loose around the waist they're very comfortable and fit well in general. 

These trousers are pretty much my idea of a perfect pair of culottes. I loved sewing them and I'm sure that I will love wearing them too.

Two Stripy Tops

Sometimes the most simple makes are the most successful. To me, this ribbed jersey screamed out to be made into a t-shirt. Not a particularly complex t-shirt, just a classic everyday top. I wanted to create a top that wasn't too fitted but wasn't boxy and that was cropped just the right amount. In other words, the perfect everyday t-shirt. 

While a lot of people may find sewing t-shirts boring, I actually really enjoy. Not only are they really satisfyingly quick to make, they also tend to be the clothes that get the most wear. I made a few basic t-shirts last year and realised just how much they get worn throughout spring and summer. I've never felt the need to purchase a t-shirt pattern as alterations to existing patterns are just so easy to do. 

I ended up with quite a bit of fabric left over as a simple top like this doesn't require much fabric at all. So - I made another one! I asked my sister whether she'd like a top too and she said yes so I whipped up an identical top. I just love that we have matching tops and while I know that we will almost certainly never wear them at the same time it's nice knowing that we could! 

Feel free to head over to Minerva Crafts to read the full blog post.

Indian Fabric Marigold Trousers

Despite two previous attempts, the patterned trousers that I've made myself have never turned out quite right. It was a garment that I knew I wanted to try again, partly because it's such a comfortable thing to own. When my friend visited India last year she bought me this beautiful fabric from a market - a feat made even kinder due to the fact that she has aboslutely no knowledge of sewing or fabric buying. The farbic is gorgeous, a lovely coppery red colour with a print that isn't too bold. Of course, it had to be made into a pair of baggy trousers. 

The main issue that I have with the Tilly and the Buttons Marigold Trousers is just how high-waisted they are. My last pair turned out to be pretty much unwearable because of this. Since then, I've hacked the pattern for several different projects included my wide-legged trousers which I love. The only adjustment that needed to be made was to lower the crotch seam by 1" which is what I did on this pair too. They are still pretty high-waisted but I think that that's the style and the elasticated waist makes them very comfortable.

I used up pretty much all of the fabric I had making these. I think it was about 1m in width, meaning that I had to be fairly careful with pattern placements. One of the details that I really liked was the border which was a different print. I used this contrast print on the waistband and the cuffs and I think that it adds a lovely detail. I added the cuffs at the last minute and I'm glad that I did, I think that the finnish suits this style well and I like the contrast of the border print at the bottom.

These are such easy trousers to make and the simple design makes it perfect for a printed fabric. I like the details of the pleats and pockets at the front too, making them slightly more sophisticated. I'm really pleased with the end result mainly due to how much I like the fabric. It feels beautiful too! It's soft and drapey but maintains the structure of the garment and is easy to sew. The trousers definitely fit much better than my previous pair as well as the self-drafted pair I made 2 years ago which are sadly too small as I love that fabric too!