I thought it might be useful to share some fabric ideas for what you can use to make the new Lisette B6464 pattern. Fabric shopping can be tricky, but there are so many great options available right now!
Since Lisette for Butterick B6464 is a collection of three separate items that are designed to work together as well as with the rest of your wardrobe, I thought it would be fun to design outfits for you. After all, the secret to having a great wardrobe that works for you is to do a little planning. If you design your clothing within a tight color palette of two or three colors with an accent color or two and you choose patterns and textures that work together, you’ll have many more mix-and-match options and you’ll get lots more use out of the clothes you sew.
We can talk about that whole wardrobe-planning idea in more detail later, but for now I’ve made a Pinterest folder with my fabric choices. Then I selected from those choices to develop coordinating micro-wardrobes or outfits with appropriate weights and drapes for each style. You’ll see that I left some additional choices as well, so even if you don’t care for one fabric you might find another to replace it. I drew from several sources, but you can often find the same fabrics elsewhere. For example, lots of stores carry Cotton + Steel, Robert Kaufman, and Kokka fabrics. And if you’re looking for ponte, you’ll find it in many stores. So hopefully this will inspire you and help you start thinking about your likes and preferences.
Outfit #1 is Japanese in influence. I focused on a drapey double gauze for the top, ombre cotton with metallic accents for the jacket, and a geometric-printed jersey for the skirt. (Remember, the skirt needs to be made of knit fabric, but the jacket and top are designed for wovens.)
Outfit #2 uses lawn for the top and takes advantage of color-blocking options for the jacket, which is also lawn trimmed with quilting cotton. The skirt is a sand-colored ponte.
Going slightly cooler in tones for outfit #3, I mixed blues and deep reds with a blue undertone. (That sounds so fashion-y, sorry. Old habits die hard.) Crinkle gauze top, double gauze jacket, and ponte skirt.
Outfit #4 mixes a busy rayon floral with a more geometric printed voile. For a little extra texture, I added heather gray double-layer jersey for the skirt. This is a more daring mixture, but I think it still works. (Although sometimes you really need to see these fabrics in person to be sure the scale and colors work together.)
Outfit #5 has a tighter color palette. The top is rayon, again, with a printed cotton jacket and a black ponte skirt.
And outfit #6 goes back to those deep shades of navy and darker blue. The top and jacket are both double gauze, and the skirt is jersey. With this striped jersey I might play with the stripes a bit. If the fabric is stretchy enough you could alternate directions, and if it’s not stretchy enough you could still stagger the stripes instead of matching them.
Here’s what I pulled from my stash for my own outfit, since black and navy are both important colors in my urban wardrobe. For the top I bought just a small amount of black Liberty of London Strawberry Thief last year, and I’m planning to use gold metallic piping around the yoke, just for the fun of it. My jacket will be linen/cotton chambray, which is technically less drapey than the pattern calls for but I think it will work just fine. And I’ve been saving a heavy black cotton/spandex power knit for this skirt.
You can always add another coordinating top or jacket and you’ll expand your mix-and-match options right away. You’ll see that I left several additional choices in the Pinterest folder for this possibility.
I’ll show you how they turn out when I finish them, and I hope you’ll do the same! Tag your images #B6464 on Instagram or add them to the SewLisette Flickr group when you’re ready because I can’t wait to see what you do with these patterns and which fabrics you choose!
The new Spring 2017 Butterick collection is available now, and it includes a new Lisette pattern for the season. This style has three pieces, so there’s even more in the package than usual! Let me introduce you to Lisette for Butterick B6464.
This pattern is all about separates for combining in many ways. Versatility is very important to me when it comes to designing and sewing. I want to give you pieces that you can wear in as many ways as possible, and I hope these items will do just that.
The kimono-inspired jacket isn’t too literal, but it has a modern feeling to it. I love kimono-inspired jackets and think they’re so chic. Ironically, after designing this pattern I was in Paris for a fabric show and all the fashion industry insiders were wearing long, dramatic kimonos that were probably too extreme for “normal” wear (unless you’re a fashionista–you know what I mean).
This is my take on a more wearable contemporary kimono for layering. It’s a simple piece that can be styled lots of ways. You can sew it color-blocked like we show in the sample or you can make it in all one fabric. It’s meant for drapey fabrics so it will have lots of movement, and you could easily lengthen it for a more dramatic, fashion-designer feeling if you want to sweep into the room, ready for your close-up. It’s also easy to sew, with a dropped shoulder (no eased-in sleeves!) and bands at the sleeves and front edge.
The fun thing about a jacket like this is that you can throw it on over almost anything. The Paris folks were wearing theirs over ripped jeans (which is how I wear mine a lot of the time, too) and strappy heels, but obviously it also works with the pieces in this pattern for a more professional look that you can wear to work as well. I think it would be great to wear in the summer when it’s too hot for a tailored jacket but you need an layer for the air conditioning. I’ll be making one for myself this spring because the evenings here in Madrid get cool.
Next: the top. I think shoulders are a fun way to show a little skin without being too revealing. This is a really easy piece to sew. It can be made in drapey and lightweight fabrics like voile and lawn or in silks and satins, but it will also work in regular cottons and shirtings. If you want, you can use a contrasting fabric for the neck yoke, and then there’s the little keyhole opening at the front and the gathering at the neckline which eliminates the need for bust darts. This top could be worn so many ways. You could even lengthen it to make a dress or a tunic if you want. I think it will be a terrific summer piece.
The skirt is designed specifically for knits. I wanted it to be more structured than the usual tube skirt, so I included princess seams and hidden elastic in the waistband. You can make this in either of two lengths: just above or just below the knee. If you choose a knit with some spandex that has nice recovery it will keep its shape and be really comfortable at the same time.
I hope you enjoy sewing with this style! You can find the pattern itself right here.
I don’t know about you, but in winter I never seem to be warm enough. My sisters and I are all alike in this regard; we walk around the house draped in layers of sweaters, blankets, and scarves. So when I think about winter dressing, I think about being cozy. And this new coat pattern, Lisette B6243 for Butterick, is definitely cozy. Just take a look at this.
And this.
For fall I introduced you to a classic winter coat pattern, Lisette B6385 for Butterick. That coat is your essential dressed up, going out coat. I wore mine on my book tour and it looked great with everything I packed: jeans, pencil skirts, dresses, you name it. I got loads of compliments on it everywhere I went.
But when I want to be really comfortable, I prefer a less fitted style so I can snuggle right into it no matter how many layers I’m wearing. (Usually it’s a lot!) And the new Lisette B6423 is that coat.
This coat is a dropped-shoulder, shawl collar coat with a loose-fitting shape. The details include stylish front princess seams that curve into front pockets, as well as a dropped-waist back seam with a kick pleat that I just love. I also included a side panel with an under-arm gusset that allows for additional movement. The sleeve is wide enough to fit your bulky sweaters without being a full-on 1980’s style batwing/dolman. (I just can’t go back there, having lived through it once.)
What fabric to use? Oh, so many choices! The one that the model is wearing is a dense, stable knit that resembles a boiled wool, which would be amazing if you can find it. Otherwise melton wool, wool-cashmere blend (so soft!), or anything with a little texture. Double-face wool would be lovely, and a jaquard or fuzzy wool would be so much fun for this coat! Whenever I’m in New York I drop into Beckenstein Fabrics on 39th Street because, in addition to their amazing selection of men’s shirting fabrics, you can often find really interesting plaid wool coating in the very back of the shop, hidden behind the suiting fabrics. The choices often have a bit of a vintage feeling to them, which is tough to come by these days. I also love New York Elegant Fabrics for their variety of interesting coat fabrics.
You could also pick something lighter weight if you live in a warm climate. I think an interesting twill would work for this pattern, and you could even use wool crepe if you really wanted. Whatever you do, pick something fun and luxurious for the lining. I’m still hunting for the perfect lining for the fuzzy turquoise wool I found in Paris last spring and purchased specifically for this coat. (I can’t wait to show you!)
I hope you’ll love sewing this pattern! It’s rated easy by Butterick, and it sews quite quickly. If you make it, be sure to tag it #B6423 on Instagram and upload it to the SewLisette Flickr group. And while you’re sewing it, don’t forget my tutorial for a bagged-in lining, which involves little-to-no hand sewing and will save you lots of time. You can find all the details and steps in Day 5 of the Lisette moto jacket sew-along.
I want to feel cozy in the winter. Because, who doesn’t when it’s cold outside, right? But it’s also really nice, and sometimes important, to look and feel elegant and feminine in the winter. So I thought it would be great to have a dress pattern that did both: elegant and cozy.
This dress pattern, Lisette B6411 for Butterick, is designed specifically for knit fabrics. It’s the kind of dress you slip on in the morning and then forget about for the rest of the day. You look fantastic, but you also feel really comfortable. This is a work-appropriate dress if ever there was one. It includes a faux-wrap bodice and can be made in all sorts of jersey. Right now I want to sew it in wool jersey, but I also found a really beautiful soy/cotton jersey at Drygoods Design in Seattle while I was there and I can’t wait to use it for this pattern.
A few favorite fabric ideas for you: Robert Kaufman’s Laguna jersey is cotton with just enough spandex for good recovery. I love it, and it comes in a lot of great colors. Kaufman also has a new ponte that is more limited in color choices but has a fantastic hand. Mood has a ridiculous selection of jersey right now. (Be sure to swatch first, since quality and weight/hand can vary quite a bit, especially with jersey.) And I’ve done really well with Girl Charlee, too.
Here are a few styling ideas for this pattern. I really love the idea of adding a belt, which I’m going to try. And you know me: I’ll be lengthening the hem to a midi length, too. I’m kind of obsessed with the idea of a burgundy dress and charcoal gray tights right now.
This dress is rated easy by Butterick, and I think you might be surprised at just how straightforward and quickly it sews up. Of course I hope you’ll tag your photos #B6411 on Instagram and add them to our SewLisette Flickr group as well. I can’t wait to see how you sew this one!
As part of my goal to produce a collection of versatile basics sewing patterns for you to choose from, Lisette for Butterick B6386 is an sequel to our first athletic wear pattern, Lisette B6295. I thought it would be useful to have a simple windbreaker and basic athletic trouser. Both styles are practical and versatile, the way I’m always aiming to design these patterns.
Let’s talk about the jacket first. It’s a simple unlined windbreaker style with a shaped yoke (sort of a modified raglan sleeve that’s easy to sew and adds a sporty detail), shaped in-seam front pockets, elasticized sleeve openings, and drawstrings with stoppers at the hood and the shaped hemline (which is longer in back for a little extra coverage). It closes with a separating zipper. You can sew this style in one color for a sleek look or try color-blocking it for the fun of it. This is the sort of light jacket I like to wear when I run, and I pack it when I travel as well. It will keep you covered in a light rain and keeps you warm on a breezy day.
The trousers, which are comfy basics, are designed to sit below the waist and include a front and back yoke with a cute drawstring detail, front pockets, plus elastic at the ankles. For this style, too, you can choose between sewing them in a single fabric or color blocking them. I like the yoke, since it also give the illusion of a little lift in the back–sort of like well-positioned back pockets. It’s nice to be confident that your back side looks good, even if you’re dressed down or working out.
These are designed to be more classic-style sweatpants rather than more contemporary “joggers.” The difference between the two? The width of the leg: joggers taper toward the ankle. I’ll show you how to make the change if you prefer the tapered silhouette. They can be cute, but they’re not for everyone.
The trouser pattern calls for French terry, but I’m going to try a lightweight woven wool, just for the fun of it, when I sew mine. The jacket, meanwhile, works really well in classic nylon or ripstop nylon. Fortunately, there are lots of color and pattern options to choose from in fabric stores, so have fun with it!
Here’s my Lisette for Butterick B6386 pattern Pinterest folder, if you want some ideas for this pattern.
As always, I can’t wait to see what you make with it! The pattern is available now directly from us and everywhere Butterick patterns are sold.
It has been too hot this summer to consider cold-weather sewing, but fall is on the way! And that means that our new Lisette for Fall-Winter 2016 patterns are now available.
This is the first of our two new releases this season. It’s a pattern I’ve been wanting to develop for a while, and who better to do it with than Butterick? This style, Lisette for Butterick B6385, is a classic, fitted, fully-lined coat. This is the coat you’ll turn to again and again for almost any event or purpose. It’s a feminine, elegant style that can obviously be worn for dressy occasions but can also be worn more casually with jeans and sneakers if you’re relaxing for the day.
Here’s what I love about it: princess seams. You know what this means, right? It’s so easy to fit your own body when you have princess seams. And to make it even easier, we’ve already included piece for various cup sizes, so a lot of the fitting work has already been done. I included a Dior dart in this design, just for the fun of it. A Dior dart is a short dart that allows the princess seams to be shifted toward the side seams a bit. I think it’s a nice little detail, and it’s easy to sew.
And here’s another thing I love about this pattern: we included three different collar options and two different pocket choices, so you can customize the coat to your preferences. The pink coat on the envelope cover features the rounded collar, but you can also choose from a pointed collar and a tall funnel-neck-y collar. I’m considering playing with the funnel collar and making it even taller so it’s really dramatic when the collar is worn open. I’ll let you know how it goes when I sew it.
This is a really classic style, so feel free to have fun with your fabric and lining choices when you sew it. I found some beautiful wool coating fabrics when I was shopping in New York last month. Isn’t that pink herringbone in the photo below stunning? And I like the wrong side of the dobby dots as much as the right side. They look like a series of running stitches (which is basically what they are). I think any of these fabrics be fun for the coat.
As always, I’ve assembled fabric and styling ideas for this pattern for you. Take a look at my Lisette for Butterick B6385 coat sewing pattern Pinterest folder for lots of ideas, including some embellishment ideas if you’re so inclined.
I hope you’ll have fun sewing and wearing this style! There may be a sew-along somewhere in the future, too. I’ll let you know. For now, though, you can order the pattern right now from the Oliver + S shop or get it wherever Butterick patterns are sold.
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