DIY Linen Summer Dress - a Mini Tutorial

It's a summer dress! Just in time for winter in Australia!

I made this dress when the weather was still nice, and it got a LOT of wear, let me tell you!
It's comfy, it's pretty, and it can be dressed up or thrown over bathers; it's a win-win!

The Fabric

I used the 'linford grape/ washed linen from Tessuti Fabrics.
It's a light weight (110gsm) vintage washed linen that feels like you're wearing nothing!

DIY YOUR OWN!

This was such a quick and easy make that I hacked using a camisole pattern and you can too!

The Bodice
Grab a cami pattern that you have tried and used in your stash!
I used The Misty Cami from Sew Altered Style and eliminated the centre front seam by cutting it on the fold.

Find the waistline on the pattern and mark draw a line to mark it. Cut out a bodice front and back from the waistline mark upwards.

Construct the bodice as per the pattern instructions, leaving the waist unfinished.

The Skirt
The skirt part of the dress is two long rectangles that have been gathered and attached in tiers.

SWIPE the photos below to see the mini tutorial below on how to draft the skirt:

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A post shared by Julia Bobbin (@juliabobbin) on Apr 29, 2020 at 2:11pm PDT

The Hem
To add to the relaxed look of the linen, I machine stitched along the hem circumference, 1.5cm from the raw edge. I then frayed the edges up to the seam-line.

Final Thoughts

This was a quick and easy make and such a great addition for a warmer climate. I can definitely see me making more of these dresses for next summer!

The Evie Bias Skirt - Tessuti Patterns

Hi friends, you know that mythical skirt pattern? That one that goes with everything, looks fantastic AND is easy to make?

Well you guys, you can stop looking because I FOUND IT.

The Pattern

It's the Evie Bias Skirt in View B by Tessuti Patterns.
It's a classic shape, cut on the bias and comes with two waistband finishes.

View A is finished with a bound waistline and side zipper opening, and View B is a pull-on version with a scalloped elasticised waist.

The Fabric

This stunning fabric is the most perfect silk satin with a 22mm weight from Tessuti Fabrics.
Honestly it's one of the most beautiful fabrics I've ever touched. It's soft, it's got the most beautiful drape, and it moves like running water.

You can see it in action below:

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🤔 THESE DAYS, if you make a new garment and you don’t do the #handmadehustle , do you even instagram? #profound . IN ANY CASE I just finished making up the #EvieBiasSkirt in a heavenly silk satin; both pattern and fabric from @tessutifabrics and let me tell you, it is TRUE LOVE 😍😍😍 . 👉 SWIPE To see this fabric in action. 💃🏻 It is so divine it looks like some sort of mixture of running water and melted gold. . 🎧 SONG is ‘Saw Her Standing There’ by The Beatles. I know every lyric but I employed IMMENSE self control so that you didn’t have to see my dancing/singing face. No one is ready for that #youarewelcome . FACT - my dad and I recently lit up the dance floor with this tune at my sisters wedding and it may or may not be immortalised on film. No one is safe. . . . #silk #silkskirt #biascut #fashion #silkslip #sew #sewing #sewersofinstagram #tessutipatterns #tessutifabrics #thebeatles #johnlennon #thehandmadehustle

A post shared by Julia Bobbin (@juliabobbin) on Feb 22, 2019 at 8:21pm PST

The Details

This skirt is cut on the bias for a loose but form flattering shape.

I chose View B for the waistband, which finishes the waistband with a scalloped edge elastic. This makes the skirt quick and easy to make as there are no zippers or buttons and can be all done in one sitting.

I french seamed the side seams for a polished finish, and hemmed the skirt with a delicate narrow hem.

I cut a size 12 but ended up taking in the side seams by about 4cm and, pinched out about 10cm from the just above the widest part of my hip up to the waistline.
The great thing about a bias cut though, is even if you cut it in a bigger size, the cut will still drape to your shape so it will never look boxy.

Worn With

I've paired my skirt with my me-made leather jacket, BurdaStyle #108B which you can read about here

This jacket happens to be lined with a stunning silk twill that I also bought from Tessuti about 9 years ago, so it seems fitting that I should wear it with this skirt.

Final Thoughts

This cut and this colour make for such a great 'sew-frosting-but-still-a-basic' staple in my wardrobe. The green acts as a neutral and goes so well with most colours and styles.
It can be dressed up with heals and a blouse, or kept casual with sneakers and a tee. I love how versatile it is, but how it elevates every look.

I'm definitely not over this pattern and I plan to make it again in all the colours.