Blue and White Athleisure Capsule
I sewed six pieces and have nine outfits!
I love a capsule wardrobe! When I saw this blue and white print French terry from Fabric Mart Fabrics I knew I had to have it. This fabric is overstock from Tori Richard and the print was listed as “overlapping circles” though I call it “medallion”. No matter what you call it I loved the print and because the sale price was too hard to resist I added both the snow white and cobalt blue solids to my cart as well.
When it arrived I had lucked up to get the end of the bolt extra yardage for ALL three which gave me more options of what to sew. This French terry is amazing. Smooth hand on the front , tiny looped back and amazing stretch and recovery. I would by this is almost any color, I wish Fabric Mart had more!
I did not have a concrete plan for what I would make with all of this fabric, but I knew wanted four pieces and least one sweatsuit. When it arrived I had lucked up to get the end of the bolt extra yardage for all three which gave me more options of what to sew. I went back and forth a few times on the exact patterns but ultimately I ended up with 5 pieces and a little more than a yard of white fabric leftover for a 6th.
Simplicity 9929
This is one of the first pieces I sewed for this collection. I’ve been wanting to sew this top since the pattern dropped. It’s the only reason I grabbed S9929 as I highly doubt that I’ll sew the very full matching sweatpants. I typically don’t sew bottoms in white for fear I’ll sit it something, so I knew I wanted to use the white for a top and this was my first choice.
This top comes together quickly. The armhole facings could be tricky to a newer sewist as it is similar to attaching a v-neck band to a top. The good news here is that your arm will cover any finish that isn’t perfect. I do love the drape of the neck, but the French terry may be a little too heavy for it. I’ll add it because the instructions don’t, be sure to finish the raw edge of the drape that hangs inside the top. This is a cropped length but I do like the band hem. I want to make this is a lighter weight knit and compare.
Made for Mermaids Pressley Skirt
The Pressley skirt was designed by Aaronica Cole for Made for Mermaids. Even as Aaronica was testing this skirt for I knew I wanted it. Who doesn’t love a pleated tennis skirt? Pleated skirts are classic but the pickle ball trend has makes this style even more popular. I don’t play pickleball, but I love the resurgence of tennis sets. I chose to make this with the print because I had the most yardage so I knew I could make a top and a bottom. Initially I did plan to make pants with the print ,but decided a print skirt would be more fun PLUS solid blue pants seemed more practical. And in the end I still had enough print fabric left to make pants so lucky me!
Though this is a simple pattern you have several options. There are three lengths; micro-mini, mini and knee. Three waistbands; short yoga, tall yoga and contour waistband. Additionally shorts can be attached to create a skort. Lastly in seam pockets can be added to the side seam of the skirt or to patch pockets can be sewn onto the shorts. I sewed the mini length with the contour waistband without the shorts. I also omitted pockets because the stretchiness of the French terry let me know that putting anything in them would make them drag.
Pleated skirts, especially knit ones like this, are a breeze to sew as long as you “get” how to make the pleats. The directions are clear on this so no worries. The skirt is essentially 3 rectangles and comes together very quickly. Stitching down each pleat about 2 inches was the most tedious part and that was optional. I opted to do this because I wanted my pleats to stay pleated.
This French terry is the perfect weight and stretch for this skirt. It hangs nicely and the recovery allows me not to worry about the waistband stretching out of shape.
McCalls 8447
As stated above I decided that blue was best for the pants and I’d always planned on using M8447. I’m not sure I’m happy that I did though. I feel this pattern runs large which I knew from my previous make. I did taper the pants from a XL to a large on the side seams for a more fitted leg and I shortened the front crotch, but it still feels a bit loose in the waist and hips. I wish I’d sewn a large graded to a medium leg. Ultimately, they aren’t too loose to wear I just feel they need to be more fitted. I’m still thinking maybe a XL would work for a more structured ponte, but this is the second time I made this with a French terry.
I do love the style of pull on, pintuck front, tapered pant, so I’m going to keep trying to make these (or the Closet Core Crew Onyx) work.
True Bias Jesse Tee
After sewing up the pants I had about a yard and a half left of the blue so I made the decision to add a Jesse tee to the collection. I love this pattern as it’s free and crop tops are so popular. There is a hip length option if you’re not into crops. Download either the 0-18 and 14-32. The drop shoulder and large elbow length sleeves give a relaxed fit. I did add a pocket from the Closet Core Tee pattern (also free) at the chest.
I’ve sewn this top many times and it’s an easy pattern to sew so it didn’t do much to help me stall on deciding what to sew next. I was stalling because I was second guessing makin the M8447 cropped sweatshirt and leaning towards the Chalk and Notch Page Hoodie.
Chalk and Notch Page
I finally chose the Page over M8447. I couldn’t colorblock the blue with the print because I only had scraps if the blue. Page is a hoodie pattern, cropped in length with two hem options (band and drawstring) and three sleeves (slim, full and short). There is a free crew neck and pocket set add on available that provides pattern pieces for a rib neckband, fabric neckband, chest pocket and kangaroo pocket.
In order to save enough fabric to make the sweatpants I opted for the crewneck option. I did use the scraps as a cording to highlight the raglan sleeve design as well as the neck and sleeve bands. Since I didn’t have enough blue to add hem band I sewed the drawstring hem.
Made for Mermaid Winnie
I told myself I didn’t need the Winnie Pants because I could (and have) hacked this look using any wide leg elastic waist pants pattern, but I just love Made for Mermaid patterns so I grabbed it during their last sale. These are a wide leg knit bottom with the 6 length options (3” or 4.5” shorts, 23” cropped length, and 28”, 30” or 32” pants), two rises (mid and high) and three waistbands (contoured, contoured with a drawstring, elastic waistband with a drawstring). They feature a pintucked front leg and optional slant pockets.
My version is the high-rise, 30” inseam, elastic waist with slant pockets version. I did fold over my 1 inch hem twice and will likely try shorten the next time I sew, but 28” may be too short.
