Hello everyone!  It’s a week since we returned from Cairns.  The past couple of days have been incredibly cold in Melbourne, so I’ve been remembering our holiday extremely fondly.  Anyway, we’re back to all of the usual – back to school, back to work, so hopefully back to blogging!  I still have that backload of garments to blog.

I think that I jumped on the Style Arc Charlie skirt and leather look bengaline bundle the second that it was released.

From their website: CHARLIE STRETCH WOVEN SKIRT: Charlie has all the details of a traditional slim line jean skirt with the exception that its pulls on. This elastic waisted skirt has the latest styling and shape along with comfort as it sits on the natural waist.

This skirt was sewn entirely on the sewing machine. All that topstitching was strangely enjoyable and satisfying. I used the edge of my presser foot as a guide to keep the rows parallel, and am very happy with the end result.

I used double sided fusible tape to hold the back pockets in place before stitching them on. I find that this works much better than pins for these types of pockets.

The instructions have the side seams sewn last. This means that at the waistband, the seams go right up to the edge, rather than being enclosed in any way by the top of the skirt. I tried to figure out an alternate method of construction that would somehow keep the side seams fully enclosed at the top, but couldn’t come up with anything. The front waistband is a separate “yoke”, whereas the back yoke is self-faced at waistband level and contains elastic for fitting. It doesn’t really matter, as I made certain to match things up perfectly at the waist edge, but it made me use a few brain cells.

I am trying to remember if I made any alterations to the pattern before cutting – I probably shortened it a little bit. Otherwise, I sewed it as is. That stretch bengaline is extremely forgiving fit-wise although it does show every roll of my stomach as it does so.

I wore it with a Style Arc Maddison top (blogged here) and a Tessuti Megan cardigan. I’ve made this pattern before, and sewed it again without any changes. Most construction was on the overlocker, with just hems twin needled on the sewing machine.

The Megan is a lovely longline cardigan pattern, with that nice element of swing at the bottom while fitting more closely at the shoulders and upper chest. From the Tessuti website: Megan Longline Cardigan – This longline flared cardigan features full length sleeves, a centre front and neckline bind and flared side seams with an asymmetrical hemline. The simple style looks fabulous worn over sleeveless tops, pants or dresses and is a wonderful wardrobe staple. Ideal for soft jersey knits such as viscose/elastane and wool jersey.  The fabric I used is a merino knit that is brushed on the inside – incredibly warm to wear. I bought it from The Fabric Store at quite a discounted price – maybe that vibrant shade of green wasn’t for everyone?

Anyway, I’m very happy with both my “leather” skirt and my kermit cardigan. I feel that I’ve sewn some great items this winter. More successes than losses – and the wardrobe is groaning again as a result.