Tag Archive for 'Amy Butler'

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BARCELONA SKIRT – APRON OVERLAY

Published on July 19, 2008 in stitchery and textiles. 2 Comments Tags: Amy Butler, apron, barcelona skirt, black & white, city limits, fashion trance, skirt.

Barcelona Skirt – Apron Overlay, originally uploaded by the workroom.

Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt – Apron Overlay

Outer Fabric – City Limits Black & White Tenements
Lining Fabric – Anna Griffin Bird Print
Ties & Waistband - My Folklore Floral

Anyone who knows my sewing history, knows that I started with the skirt. Learning to make a skirt was what got me hooked on sewing. I took one skirt pattern and used it as the base for drafting all kinds of different skirts. It was the only thing I knew how to make at the time and now my closet is full of them. Before there were 13 dresses, there were about 30 skirts.

I didn’t really feel compelled to add another skirt to my collection. What interested me most about the Barcelona Skirt pattern was the Apron Overlay. I love to wear a dress with jeans and this just seems like a great way to wear a ‘skirt’ with jeans.

Amy likes to use lots of fabrics in her patterns. I really find this challenging, mixing lots of different prints that I’m going to wear at the same time. When I made the Lotus dress, I couldn’t even choose two coordinating fabrics. I decided to try it Amy’s way this time and do all three fabrics. My first selections were blues and greens, but I couldn’t get past two coordinating fabrics. I switched over to black and white and quickly settled on these three fabric choices.

While the Barcelona skirt pattern is super simple, the Apron Overlay requires a bit more attention to detail. As always, I’m impressed with Amy’s clever design and learned some great construction techniques with this reversible pattern. It’s the little touches, like the little pleat in the ties and the split front with contrast banding that make me love this sweet apron.

I wore it the other day with jeans because I had just finished it and couldn’t wait. With the crazy hot weather we’re having right now, I don’t know what I was thinking. Clearly I was in a ‘fashion trance’, where all logic goes out the window. I know I’m not the only one, ‘fess up to one of yours.

TO TOP IT OFF

Published on July 9, 2008 in accoutrement, stitchery, textiles and the workroom. 2 Comments Tags: Amy Butler, blossom, bucket hat, grey, lino block printing, reva, yellow.

Summer Hat, originally uploaded by the workroom.

As much as I love teaching classes, I REALLY love taking classes. It’s a real treat for me to have such cool and gifted teachers at the workroom, each one having their own special talents. Sitting in on their classes, has been very inspiring.

We had the Summer Hat class the past weekend which was taught by Reva. I met Reva in the shop before the Christmas holidays. I complimented her on her handbag, which she told me she had made from the Lotta Jansdotter ‘Simple Sewing’ book. We got to talking about sewing, Japanese fabrics, craft blogs and printing fabrics. I learned that she was a trained costume designer and that we pretty much had exactly the same taste and inspirations. Naturally, I asked her to share some of her experience by teaching some classes at the workroom.

On Sunday, we had a full house of future hat-makers. We all decided to make the bucket hat, which is reversible. I used a sage green cotton canvas, lined with Amy Butler’s Optic Blossom in yellow & grey. I’m really pleased with mine. I often forget to wear a hat in the summer and I’m quite prone to getting sun stroke, so having a new stylish hat is just the incentive I need to cover up. The hat class is running again in August, so I’ll be making the military-style cap next.

Reva also teaches the very fun lino block printing class. I would love to print my own fabric one day, so lino block printing is a great way to dip my toes in that pool of water.

p.s. I used to have a real thing for hats when I was in high school. I had a large collection, many of them with big flowers and folded up brims a la ‘Blossom’. Perhaps I’ll try to dig up a funny photo for you.

BIRDIE SLING

Published on July 3, 2008 in accoutrement, DIY, stitchery, textiles and the workroom. 5 Comments Tags: Amy Butler, Birdie Sling, handbag, sewing pattern.

Birdie Sling, originally uploaded by the workroom.

Amy Butler Birdie Sling Pattern
Exterior fabric – Amy Butler Tree Peony in Lime
Band & Handle fabric – Lecien Centenary Collection
Lining fabric – Amy Butler Happy Dots in Grey

I tend to tote too many things back and forth from home to the shop. Piles of fabric that need to be washed and dried for projects, books, my camera, Maisy supplies, various groceries, wallet, and all the other extra bits of things that I may or may not need on a daily basis. The new Amy Butler pattern for the Birdie Sling arrived at just the right time. I was starting to feel like a sloppy bag lady.

This was my first attempt at one of her handbag patterns. So far, I really like her patterns a lot. There was a glossary of terms included with the pattern that explained all of the technical terms quite clearly. The pattern calls for both fusible interfacing and fusible fleece. I didn’t have any fusible fleece and just did the interfacing only. I’m happy with how it turned out, but if you want a much ‘stiffer’ band around the top, you might include the fleece. There are two pockets on the inside, which could easily be further customized with a zipper or additional compartments. My goal was to finish the bag as quickly as possible, so I passed on doing additional any work. The one thing I did do, was make the small pocket using the handle fabric for a bit of contrast inside the bag.

This bag is amazing! You wouldn’t believe how much stuff it can hold and the shoulder strap is very comfortable. The design is very smart and easy for a beginner sewer. I learned a lot of great tricks from making this pattern. I especially like the curved gussets at the bottom and the pleating along the top.

I absolutely recommend this bag for both looks and function. I’ll be slinging this birdie with me everywhere from now on.

13 DRESSES : DRESS 1

Published on June 25, 2008 in stitchery and textiles. 3 Comments Tags: 13 dresses, Amy Butler, bias trim, fabric, Kaffe Fassett, Lotus Tunic, personal challenge, sewing, sewing pattern, William Morris, Winding Floral.

getting ready to test Lotus Tunic pattern, originally uploaded by the workroom.

In the spring, I made a little personal challenge with myself to make ten dresses by the end of the summer. There are a couple reasons for this challenge – 1. I love dresses and 2. I was finding that I was doing very little personal sewing, being so caught up in running the shop.

Looking in my closet this morning, I realized that I had made six dresses so far! With still two more months until Labour Day, I decided I should up the ante and go for thirteen. (this is my favourite number & the day of my birthday) I’ll be posting each dress, starting with the ones I’ve already finished. Wish me lucky thirteen!

Dress #1 – Amy Butler Lotus Tunic
Fabric – Kaffe Fassett Winding Floral in Pastel

This is the first Amy Butler pattern that I’ve attempted to make. I found her directions to be quite clear and easy to follow. Amy suggests using a contrasting fabric for the upper bodice pieces and bias trim. I decided to stick with just one fabric. This William Morris-inspired print is so stunning that I wanted it to get all the attention. The pattern also calls for belt loops in the side of the tunic and a belt. I tend to avoid belts and I really like the look of the girl on the cover of the pattern. (They have styled it with the belt tied in the back, which is another option)

The only other adjustment that I made was to make the back darts bigger, to cinch the waist in more. I have a very curved back, so I make this adjustment a lot. Other than that, the fit of the dress is amazing.

I wasn’t planning on doing the lining. You can use the facing pieces from the tunic top instead. This is what Dory did with her dress. At the last minute I changed my mind and decided to do a solid Lilac cotton lining. I’m really happy that I did. The dress feels very finished & proper with the lining. The sleeve detailing is my absolute favourite part.

Already I’ve been spotted wearing it on multiple occasions by certain people. Yes, it’s THAT dress, the one you wear because it requires no thinking in the morning and you know you’ll look good.