FINISHED! More Esthers

I had the last week of January off, coinciding with the last week of school holidays and managed to whip up two more pairs Esther shorts from small scraps in the stash during the little staycation. I now find myself in Week 4 of school and can't exactly account for the time. So here, better late than never a couple more pairs of Tessuti Esther shorts. That makes 4 pairs, with no end in sight. The first two are here.  

The first pair I made up using left over fabric from my Xerea dress.  These, despite the dodgey photo are my best fitting pair. I went down another half size with these and the fit is spot on with the slight stretch in the denim. The colour is excellent and it was great to rediscover tops in my wardrobe that I hadn't worn in ages which are perfect with these shorts, such as this Grainline Archer which normally languishes in my wardrobe.

 The second of the January Esthers, are this pair made with the remains of my CBR frocktails dress, which appropriately is from fabric from Tessuti purchased back in December 2014.  It is heavy weight and textured and quite sratchy so these are lined.

The fit of these are a bit snug in the waist because of the fabric but that doesn't stop me wearing them. I love these and of course paired with the ubiquitous stripe top feels pretty darn perfect. I originally bought this fabric to make a pair of culottes and while now I think that might have been an outrageous idea, these shorts are a good second best.

 

This isn't the end of my Esther making, but for now have taken a rest from shorts. I had been attempting swimwear thanks to the sewalong hosted by Susan, but now the siren song of ruffles and Liberty is too strong and have been lured into sewing up the new Aime Comme Marie pattern.  What are you sewing?

FINISHED! A seersucker two piece setacular

For Christmas I received 2 metres of Japanese blue checked seersucker from Tessuti from my sister! Such a great present! I debated about what to make, I had seen so many gorgeous Annie dresses and other maxi dresses using this fabric on Instagram, but decided on the Esther shorts and then quickly after, a matching top to wear for NYE.  

Honourable mention firstly, to my first pair of Esther shorts made out of rayon (viscose) ottomon suiting from Spotlight. I initially saw the fabric as some amazing pants on Kat and then the fabric was kindly enabled by an instagram moment by Lizzy, who picked up some for Amanda and myself.

So these shorts are ok but they are too big. Easily at least a size too big in the waist and bagging in the butt. I still wear them because they are comfy and because the flowers are super - but they aren't the magic shorts that I had envisioned. A wearable muslin if you will. 

So newly armed with a better sense of sizing I cut into the seeksucker. This time I went down a half size in the waist and used the darts for a 6 in the butt.  I think I need to go down a tad more in the waist.

I added an inch to the original length of the shorts, but looking at these photos the shorts could probably be shorter. I have higher shoes which I had planned to wear with this outfit but I left them at work over the holidays (my drawer has a few pairs of shoes in it as I tend to race into work in sneakers some days!).

After finishing the shorts I realised I had just enough fabric left over to make a matching top. Thank goodness!  I turned to my trusty Kanerva which has served me well over and over. It wasn't the plainest sailing - those sleeves for some reason were a nightmare to get in and I wasted time putting the back and front darts in only to pull them out as the top didn't sit as well as I wanted it to with them in.. but I just adore the top and especially with the shorts.  I love the curved hem. 

I've left some blooper shots in as my oldest boy was sitting in the loungeroom pulling some blue steel faces as me as I took theses photos. 

So while technically this is a 2015 make, I'm calling it the first #woohoomake of 2016. I wore it NYE, then washed it and wore it yesterday. I'm years late to the setacular party but I'm here. May there be many more #woohoomakes this year.