Covid, and a long post-surgical recovery, have put me off clothes entirely. Yet, they somehow seem necessary, even in these weird days. How to wear clothes that don’t feel like clothing? That is the question!
As a start, I settled on these Burda pants, with a lovely, wide, stretchy, waistband. Flexibility! Soft around the waist! Almost cozy, dare one hope? (But the appearance of an actual, publicly-wearable garment!)
Vogue didn’t do Adri any favors when they showed this pattern in white and peach. Even in 1985, these were b-o-r-i-n-g color choices! Maybe the Vogue stylists took a look at that uninspiring top and just tossed in the towel?
But the skirt is another matter — it’s got a marvelous swoop, a Covid-friendly belly band, and giant pockets. Sign me up!
Read on . . .
Somewhere, in a bookstore (in Massachusetts?), in the Before Times, I found a clever, light, fold-up nylon backpack. I theoretically bought it for Mr. Noile, because we tended, in those days, to buy used books in vast amounts which were difficult to carry home using flimsy paper or plastic bags, and he usually ends up carting them.
The backpack I bought was really nicely designed, but I soon realized that we — not just Mr.Noile, but I, too — needed something similar, but different. Above, the original purchase, i black, from Flip & Tumble, a woman-owned firm in Berkeley, California, and my altered version, gray, below.
Read on for more details.
. . . but not. I made a version of BurdaStyle 12-2020-127, but using a fhandwoven wrap.
Details are on my weaving blog at this link.
I’m not sure why I bought this pattern. It might have been because the denim version looked as if it might possibly be some kind of cat-proof tunic for lolling around the house.
But in the end, I found a very different use for this, uh, somewhat sack-like garment.
Most of the reviews I’ve seen for this pattern are for the skirt. I don’t know; it just seems overdone to me.
But I loved the idea of that top! Could it be my dream top — like a t-shirt, but with a more flair, and made out of linen?
Terri, a reader, has very kindly sent me a comprehensive list of online fabric sources in the USA and Canada. I’ve made a separate page of her listings — it’s an amazing resource. See it here on the Sources — Terri’s List page.
Thank you, Terri, for this brilliant page of wonders!
So, I’m still staying at home just about 100% of the time, and I never wear shoes anymore. Additionally, for years I’ve longed for slippers that would feel like socks, but would fit less floppily, without slipping on our wood floors or stairs.
It was time to make my own.
Paco Peralta has a reputation for beautifully drafted designs, and, even though this skirt is, in truth, simple to make, it’s no exception. This is Vogue 1619, and, if out-of-print, well-worth snagging for all three pieces. But that skirt! It has it all — including pockets.
I made a bag (quite a while ago, actually):
It’s a copy of one I saw online. I didn’t buy the commercial one because, as designed, it didn’t have features I knew I’d want, but I loved the look of it, and, well, the adventure began.
