I’m excited, finally, to be able to take the wraps of our two new Lisette styles for fall. This season we are releasing a combination blouse, skirt, and dress pattern and a unique tailored dress pattern that features an optional obi sash.
The Continental Blouse, Skirt, and Dress pattern features a blouse and an A-line, bias-cut skirt with an asymmetrical seam that will let you dress up or down for any occasion, depending on your fabric selections.
The relaxed, pull-on blouse features an interesting gathered-back detail, which you’ll be able to see if you click to enlarge this photo.
The bias-cut skirt is designed for color blocking or to highlight mitered stripes at the front and back seams for an interesting and unique look. I created this design specifically to showcase the two twill polka dot-stripe prints (one of which the model is wearing in this photograph) and the two canvas ikat stripe prints in the Fall 2011 Lisette fabric collection. But don’t let that limit you. The style will be equally interesting done with many other fabrics of your choice. I think it would be great for textured fabrics as well.
The pattern also includes an easygoing belted dress option that’s perfect for late summer and early fall and can also be layered as we move into cooler weather. It looks great belted and can also be worn loose for a casual style.
The Itinerary Dress sewing pattern is a stylish pull-on dress that includes a gently curved yoke with soft gathers at the front, a button closure at the left shoulder, and an optional matching obi sash.
The pattern lets you mix prints and solids to create the perfect dress to accentuate your style. For a simple, relaxed version of what’s shown here, you could also omit the sash and make the yoke in the same fabric as the body of the dress.
Both styles come in the standard two Simplicity size ranges: 6-14 and 14-22. They are available now from our website and everywhere Simplicity patterns are sold.
You can see more images of each style in the patterns section of our website. And we’ll be showing you additional versions of these styles soon. As usual, I can’t wait to see how you make them into your own style.
18 Comments:
Love them.
I knew you wouldn’t disappoint!
I can’t wait to sew the Continental blouse! And the itinerary dress will be perfect for fall!
Very beautiful! I love that the patterns work so well with the new fabrics and can’t wait to make them both.
Very cute. but I have to be honest, I am a little disappointed that once again everything is so short…. I like my lengths around the knee and it’s such a chore having to lengthen everything… especially when there’s no lengthening line. I bought all the patterns except for the Portfolio from the first collection – I don’t like cropped pants and straight dresses – and had to lengthen everything except the shirtwaist version of the Traveller dress which I am wearing today and love:).
I’m also a little surprised by the Itinerary pattern – maybe you’ve spoilt us, but after the selection of multi-patterns you’ve issued so far, with different collar choices etc adding to the possibilities, this one is a little meagre. I’ll probably get the Continental pattern even though I guess the skirt will be hard to lengthen??? The dress looks cute belted and i like the blouse cos it looks streamlined from the front even though the back is loose.
The fabrics are gorgeous – wish I could get them in my country!
Francesca, as the designer it’s my job to decide what silhouette to express for the Lisette brand. And part of that silhouette is determining the length of the clothing. Right now I think that shorter lengths look fresh and attractive, so that’s what we’ve been providing. Because I’m tall, I also need to lengthen the styles when I make them for myself, and it’s not that difficult or complicated.
Sewing allows you to customize your clothing is ways you can’t customize ready-to-wear, so I encourage you to alter these styles in ways that are appropriate for you and your preferences. If you need help with lengthening, here is a tutorial that can offer some guidance:
http://www.oliverands.com/blog/2010/02/lengthening-and-shortening-a-pattern.html
I hope that helps!
i can’t wait to get my hands on these new lisette patterns! by the way, i’m only 5’2″ so even though these styles are above the knee-length, i still have to shorten them for myself – which doesn’t bother me at all.
Thanks so much, Shel! I’m glad you like the new styles and hope you have fun sewing with them.
Well I am happy because they are the perfect length!
Off course they are designed for me,I am utterly convinced of that and no one will convince me otherwise!
Thanks Liesl, the tutorial is really helpful. Since I’m 5,9″, lengthening is practically always necessary 🙂 .. So, do you think it will be possible to lengthen the bias cut skirt? It’s so cute and I’d to know if I can make it wearable for my height..
Francesca, we’re about the same height, so I know what you’re saying. It won’t very hard at all to lengthen the skirt. If you draw in a grain line that’s straight grain (45 degrees from the bias grain and running the length of the skirt), you can use that to lengthen it. Or just extend the hem by whatever amount you want if you don’t mind a little extra flair to the hem. Then you can cut the skirt on bias using the original grain lines on the pattern. It won’t take much extra time at all and you’ll get exactly the length you want.
Cool! Thanks Liesl, that is very clear. Then I’ll go ahead and order it. What fun. Now, if only joann’s shipped to malta… I love the dot stripe and the ikat stripe…. hopefully one of the fabric shops I buy from online in the States will stock the fabric.
I stopped by Joann’s today to ogle the new patterns, and the are awesome…but my random question is why do they have different pattern numbers? The two I looked at were 205 and 206, and they’re listed differently here. I thought I was just going crazy, but when I double checked my stash, I have 2 copies of the market pattern, and one is numbered 2211, and the other is 0449. Is it because I got them at two different stores?
Joelle, good question! What you’re seeing is a special promotional display that JoAnn and Simplicity have put together. In order to track the success of the display they’ve developed different numbers, and sometimes different envelopes, for the patterns. They’re still the same patterns, but this helps them to determine whether each sale is made via the Simplicity catalog or the promotional display.
I happened to be at Joann’s today and thought I’d pick up the new continental pattern, which I did. But then I saw “little Lisette” patterns. Please don’t tell me Oliver + S patterns will be no more!
We’ll be announcing the new Little Lisette line shortly. This is a new line which has no impact on our other existing products.
Hi again 🙂
I bought my first three patterns from sewessential in the UK – it’s so much less hassle to get from the UK when you’re in Europe, otherwise customs steps in – but they don’t seem to have the new ones, and when I wwent to the Simplicity.com website, neither do they – what’s up with that? Is it only in US stores that they’re available for now?
Thanks!
They should be available everywhere Simplicity is in the near future. But this season we’ve had them before a lot of other retailers.
Thank you very much. I shall wait impatiently 🙂