Real talk time: I am hyper competitive.
As in I can find a way to make the most mundane tasks a life or death battle royale. Washing the dishes? Bring it. Politest customer in the queue? I’ve got it. Grocery shopping? Total time trial I will win. So when I was stuck with what to make next the only way to get me started was a competition. Enter the husband choosing a random fabric from my stash to try and make an outfit out of.
Game. On.
Welcome to the Amanda vs Husband fabric challenge. And I totally declare myself the winner!
The challenge fabric that was picked for me was one metre of Ikea’s grey and white gingham upholstery fabric. The original plan was to make yet another pair of Iris shorts (yes, I am well aware that I have a problem) but I wanted to stretch myself a little. I had a trawl around the magical interwebs with a search titled “fierce gingham clothing” and came across a number of beautiful circle skirts and fitted top combos. Small problem – not enough gingham for a circle skirt but enough to make a cute fitted top. After a potter through my pattern stash I came up empty on fitted tops to match the skirt so decided to free style things a little by hacking up my tiki dress pattern and manipulating V8849 bodice yet again…
Due to all my previous work on fitting the bodice this was a pretty straightforward construction. Three inches was added to turn the bodice into a bustier but that was it. I decided to mix things up a bit by cutting the front panel on the bias – but this was really sheer laziness, as I didn’t want to match the gingham there as well. I played around a little with the strap placement and shortened the right hand side strap 0.5” to compensate for posture issues. Actually, that sounds lame. I adjusted the right hand strap because my epic lady shoulders are buffer on the left hand side. Like. A. Boss.
The only issue I had was due to not using my noggin. I made the bustier up, put in a zip and went to try the final fit. And of course I had used an invisible zip so I couldn’t get the bloody thing over my arms. Frack. I then had to carefully unpick the zip of disappointment and tears, hunt down a separating zip, and try to insert that. Can I say I had real trouble finding a tutorial for a separating zip and in the end did a bit of a dodgy hand picked lapped zipper that seems to work well. Necessity is the mother of all invention and all that…
Now that I had the bustier finished I needed to match it with something. My first thought was Iris shorts (the hot pink, electric blue and denim were all fine options) but I thought this needed more pizazz – hullo circle skirt. With my gingham in hand I went hunting for colours that would really pop. Teal broadcloth was the definite winner so four metres followed me home…
I used Casey’s circle skirt sewalong to walk me through the process and the By Hand London circle skirt app to help me work out fabric requirements. The skirt was ridiculously easy to construct. I’m talking one afternoon to draft the pattern, cut the fabric and sew together. It took another evening to pick the zip in and hand stitch the hook and eye on. And as I am a lazy sewist I totally used my blind hem foot to hem this sucker. What can I say? The idea of several metres of blind hemming is horrifying to me!
What I loved about these patterns:
- Bustier tops are ridiculously super cute and when some comes around I’ll be making some kind of sunshine yellow version to go with sailor shorts…
- The circle skirts was ridic easy to make. So much so I feel almost embarrassed to blog about it.
- How cute it all looks – I’m slowly starting to imagine looks in my head and manipulate patterns to make it happen. This is one of my favourite noggin to reality makes so far.
What I would change for next time.
- Take the waist in on the circle skirt an inch. It is a little loose and I would rather have it nice and fitted.
- Add an extra inch to the bustier. This would make it a bit more versatile – hullo bustier and sailor shorts!
- Horsehair braid the skirt. Because every lady wants a bit more floof to their skirt.
Bustier and Circle Skirt
Pattern: Bodice from hacked Vogue 8849 and circle skirt from Elegant Musings
Fabric: Gingham in stash x 1m; teal cotton broadcloth x 4m
Notions: Boning; grey and teal thread, hook and eye, separating zip
See also: Sewing in Athens, Four Square Walls, A Stitching Odyssey
Overall I am super happy with how this combo turned out. Yippee! The skirt is so much fun to twirl in and I feel like some 50s bombshell. Booyah! In fact, I loved this look so much I made a frock for a wedding using this as a template which I may have to show you soon… Now let’s spin out!
Looking hot lady! Loving the top, now I want one.
I recon a pencil skirt would look hot too!
Ohh, Bec- I love the way you think! To Simplicity 2154 again! 😀
Looking gorg, my lovely!! Oh, and the outfit is ace, too. Mwah x
Nawww, you’re the best Boo! xx
Like A Boss! you showed that challenge who is the boss. Looks great and I love the twirly skirt.
Thank ye, lovely! I am super happy with this challenge. So much so I’m making the husband pick another piece of stash goodness!
Sweet mother of god, you look like a million bucks! Bec is right: a pencil skirt would take this into serious sexy secretary territory. And I say DO IT!
Um, now i’m gonna go and buy this Vogue pattern cuz this is just freakin’ awesome.
Lady, you are far too kind! And seriously – this is my fave Vogue pattern ever. The bodice is epic!
Glorious creations! Also love your new hair 🙂
Thank ye, lovely! And am rather enjoying being a brunette. I have discovered Brunette Amanda loves lipsticks while Regular Amanda was scared of them. The power of change and all that 😉
So cute! Great fabric and pattern combos for a perfect outfit! I’m dreaming of sunshine yellow for summer (summer? Is that still happening?)…
Summer? What is this majestic mythical beast of which you speak?! But yes- yellow for all this summer!
Absolutely fabulous! All of it! I love the challenge top – your husband picked a winner. And your hair looks amazing in the last couple of photos! g
G, thank you so much! I’m super stoked with husband selection 😀 I’m making him pick again for my next make!
This is such a cute look! You look adorable!
Merci, mademoiselle!
The bustier is great. I love the bias front. Paired with the teal circle skirt the whole look rocks.
Thank you, lady! I love the bias front now – good things come from laziness occasionally!
Definitely an epic WIN!
Booyah! 😀
Great outfit! Love the colour combo. Life is too short to hand hem a circle skirt!
Thanks, milady! I’m surprised with how much I like teal – it’s rather sassy!
That is so freakin cute! Th colours go together so well
Thank you, lovely lady! Teal and gingham = totes winner!
You competitive… Really? You totally won this battle. What an ace bustier & a gorgeous twirly skirt. The perfect outfit for you. Looking forward to version 2. Twirl on…
I know, right? 😉 The dress version is chock full of crazy print… I shall share soon!
YEAH GIRL! This is so freaking fabulous. Love the color combo, LOVE the bustier top, just love really. Maybe soon I’ll come up with another descriptive word. Probably not, though. LOVE.
teehee! Thanks, Ash! I am so super stoked with this make – I feel like a pin up!
Yessss! This looks such a great outfit. High Fives to you and the mister.
*hat tip* Why thank ye, milady!
Yeah I hate it when I don’t use my noggin either! 😉
Absolutely adore the teal colour… great combo Amanda. x
I say using your noggin while sewing is totally passe! Thanks, lovely!
Next time I’m uninspired/unmotivated, I’m totally going to have my husband challenge me by picking something from my stash. Such an awesome idea! And the whole shebang is awesomesauce!! Love the bustier, the fabric pairing, all of it! 🙂
Lovely, you need to try it! The gingham stumped me for two days but then it was game on and my sewjo was at full force!
You look so damn hot in this outfit and what a perfect match that skirt fabric is!! Love it !!
Thanks, lady! I am super stoked with it! And thanks for the teal advice at A2F!
Noggin to reality- super score! Awesome designing, and totally prom worthy outfit. Loving the pin up girl swirling!!
OMG prom dress! We should have a prom challenge, Winnie! May the best taffeta clad lady win!
I bet you can’t drive to Sydney and do my washing up before 10pm tonight?
Great outfit…love it! I really REALLY want a circle skirt but I cannot figure out the maths. Pi = WTF I say?
If only my tiny car hadn’t carked it last week I would so be there 😉
Dude- we can make the magic of Pi work for us!
(true story, my roller derby number is mm3.14 because I love pie too much!)
Ooooo – lovely! You def won that challenge!
Loving both the bustier and the circle skirt and both will be so versatile.
I have been meaning to make a circle skirt for YEARS…must get on that!
Bwah ha ha! Winning!
And yes, circle skirts for all! They are crazy easy to sew up 😀
This is awesome! What a clever idea. I might need to let Corey pick something for me to sew. I could so with a kick up the butt!
It’s totes motivational, Katty! I’m going to get husband to pick out another one this weekend!
Smashing! “Fierce gingham clothing” achieved!
Merci, lovely! That phrase makes me feel like I am levelling up in some rad video game!
You’re rocking this look. Love it. Lots. And that bustier is awesome!!
*hat tip* Why thank you, Miss M. Am super stoked with this one!
How gorgeous is this?? and that bustier would totally go with every bright colour imaginable. It would be super hot with a hot pink high waisted pencil skirt a la Gertie’s book! Love your work!!
You are adorable! Bustiers and mummy tummies don’t mix, so I am living vicariously through your cute and sassy makes:)
Absolutely gorgeous!
You are indeed a winner! Fab outfit 🙂
WIN!! I just love the corset top! Cutting the middle bit on the bias; genius 🙂
Love the colour of that skirt! I would seriously get dizzy by twirling too much LOL 🙂