Wednesday 2 November 2011

FO: Purple and paisley






























A finished top and trousers.


Purple and paisley are not usually my thing. But here I am finding myself in ...purple and paisley. This is due to the fact I am trying to sew without spending much money and using second hand fabric where ever possible, so fabric choice is limited by what came out of gifted bin bags. The top is my completed Mariposa tunic by Anna Maria Horner. The fabric came from my Devon bin bags. I started making this tunic back in September as a wearable muslin but got frustrated when it came to trying it on and found it was too big on the top half and the modesty panel was massive making the top very immodest. I took the modesty panel out and decided to wear it with a vest underneath instead (is that camisole if you are reading this in the States?) In September I wondered if the too big top would fit by now, well, the bust is still a little too large and hangs awkwardly. This is partly due to the fact that I lined the front bodice with fabric (again a found free fabric) that is maybe slightly too heavy and doesn't drape well. If I were sewing normal non maternity clothes I would probably take time to alter this but as it is maternity wear for only a few months and I may still get bigger up there (eek) I am going to leave it. The top ties under ther the bust - I have tied it behind my back today.


The trousers are purple H&M cords that I bought in a charity shop last week. I've been looking for some cords to alter for a while now as I wanted some warm winter trousers. Finally I found these for £2.00 in a favourite charity shop in Devon last week. I used the tummy panel from the Burda 8376 trouser pattern and cut a panel in jersey left over from making this dress. Then I cut out the panel from the cords and sewed in my new stretchy panel. I added buttonhole elastic in a casing.

View of the stripey panel...





Verdict: I cut the panel a bit too low so I can only wear long tops with these trousers. These cords are also really very flared. I am considering taking them in a fraction. Any opinions? Or advice on taking in flares? Apart from that they work well and are so much better than the Next maternity jeans I bought on ebay. The maternity jeans I bought are awful, they fall down way too much, they are supposed to be skinny but are too big on my legs so they wrinkle and bag out giving a Norah Batty effect and the feeling of falling down tights. I think I am going to resell the jeans on ebay and stick with my me-mades. Hah....lesson learnt here. I cannot resist finishing this post with a picture of Norah Batty just for those of you who may not know her.






Norah Batty: Style Icon (image source)


13 comments:

  1. I love the top and am a big fan of wide flares. (70s child) Thanks for the Nora Batty image - but what has she got on her head?! She certainly pioneered that look...

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  2. Purple cord flares?! Oh please don't alter them - they are fab! (Another 70's fan here!)
    You are SO good at reinventing clothes :)

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  3. I love this outfit! you did a wonderful job xxx

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  4. The tunic and purple flares work great together!

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  5. Thanks for the comments -
    Roobeedoo
    and Clare - did you two spend part of your childhood running round in grubby flares then? I did :) Then I was bemused when my big sister started to wear drainpipes!

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  6. Oh, nice job! I like a pair of flares too, and the fact that they are purple just makes it all the better!

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  7. Debbie I love the tunic and your blooming bump! I think the paisley's good - and I always think with maternity clothes it's good to break away from what you normally choose as by the end you get so sick of them you can't wait to get rid and into your " normal" clothes. Flares? I'm going to be controversial and offer a different view. I am thinking about straightening my boot cut jeans, so not even real flares, because I'm not wearing them. I feel they'd get more use if straight legged ... But your purple cord flares, let's face it, are iconic!

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  8. You can't beat either purple or paisley in my book!

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  9. Fab outfit! Flares and paisley are great together! Love the stripy jersey too! Think I might get myself that tunic pattern.

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  10. Purple cords?! Wow what a find; I'd leave them be for now. Maternity trousers are so hit and miss that you are probably better off with me-made and tweaking it as you grow. I hope you are feeling as glam as you look :)

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  11. Your trousers look great. I spent most of pregnancies during the warmer months so I didn't get a great deal of use from trousers. I don't know if it helps but I blogged a few items I made and thrifted while preg too... Might inspire another outfit hehe

    http://moobeardesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/junk-lovin-thrifted-pregnancy.html

    Xo Steph

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  12. I think the outfit is lovely and you and your bump look great! I didn't yet sew when I was pregnant with the little cabbages and looking back how I wish I had been able to make my own maternity clothes rather than give money to GAP.

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  13. I love flares. They were all the rage when I was in high school in cameroon. I love the Mariposa top. trying to psyche the mister to get it for me for my bday. I wish my bump was like yours. now i still look like i've had one too many beers.Not cool!!

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