Tribute Month is finally here!!! It’s been a lot of work getting the Sewcialists blog up and running, but I’m so thrilled with the awesome team of volunteers who are making this theme month happen.
I’ve got a few projects planned for Tribute Month, and I decided to start with the easiest: Meg from Cookin’ and Craftin’! Easy because of the patterns I used, but also because Meg’s style is close to my own, and while I think this is something she’d wear, it’s also very much something that feels like me!
Remember my plan/inspiration?
Happily, it came together just as I imagined! (Unlike the other Tribute Project I’ve made, which had to be ripped apart and resized!)
Meg is a prolific blogger and Curvy Sewing Collective Editor who often tests new patterns and sews a little bit of everything: jeans! jumpsuits! boxy linen cocoon dresses! interesting knit tops! cute dresses in bold prints! Meg and I have similar proportions (though she is taller and slimmer) so I always check to see how a pattern looks on her before sewing it for me. Thank you, Meg, for all the inspiration over the years!
For my tribute to Meg, I chose this iridescent textured polyester which was just begging to become a floaty kimono jacket. I love how the fabric reads as almost a solid from afar, but also has some sparkle and colour to keep it fun. It was surprisingly easy to sew with. Unfortunately, because of all the poly, it’s not as breezy as I imagined it would be… but that just means I can wear it into the cooler weather of autumn!
Can you guess the pattern! It’s one that Meg and I both tested – the Suki Kimono by Helen’s Closet! I looked at lots of tutorials online for kimono-style toppers, but after 5 years in Japan I have turned into enough of a purest that my heart insisted on proper set-in sleeves and separate neckband!
My alterations to the pattern were simple, though they might sound complicated as I write them out. I basically did the same thing as Helen described in her excellent tutorial on Monday!
- narrow the front by cutting off the inset band and some of the overlap (I just freehanded a gentle curve)
- round the bottom hem for a high-low effect
- attach a longer front band at the neckline
- eliminate the ties and pockets
I’m really pleased with how it fits!
I wanted the kimono to be the star, so I decided it was finally time to sew a plain white shirt! I’d just been eyeing Sweet KM’s chic white tee, so I used the same pattern as she did: The free Blanc tee from Blank Slate Patterns! (Because what could be more Meg than trying new-to-me pattern companies?) Mine is a white bamboo jersey that I bought and immediately regretted: who wants slightly-sheer white fabric that shows every bump underneath?
In my efforts to make it wearable, I cut a larger size, and well.. it kind of works? Definitely wearable for layering! I have to give a shout-out to Emerald Erin, who has convinced me that a red bra is invisible under a white shirt – and somehow, she is right! I’m wearing a bra made from the same red fabric as her’s here, and I think it works!
(Why yes, I have referenced THREE BLOGGERS in my tribute to just one! I really love the sewing community!)
What I love about theme months is the extra motivation to actually sew the projects I have floating around my head. I’m glad that this fabric didn’t linger in my stash, and I’ve got a fun and wearable project out of it! Thanks so much to Meg for letting me channel her style!
We got a bunch of awesome Sewcialists posting their finished projects for Tribute Month on the Sewcialists blog all month, so please go check them out!
Crafting A Rainbow 
Gillian, I love your kimono! It looks perfectly floaty and lovely! I am so honored that you chose me as one of your tributees (is that a word? I think not)… blushing over here!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Great riverside photo setting, too!
Also: I NEVER would have guessed that a red bra would be invisible under white!?!?!
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Apparently red bras are magic!!!! I”m going to enjoy wearing this a lot – it’s fun and dramatic but not too over the top!
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Love your white Tee Gillian – drapey, sexy – looks wonderful on you!
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Thank you!! I think it will be useful to finally own a basic white tee!
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White/ ivory is such a hard color in knits! I’m wearing my ivory camisole today, and I have a tee made from the same rayon jersey. They’re not exactly lightweight, but I still can only wear either as a layering piece due to the sheerness. Your outfit looks great, and I love that the kimono looks solid but is really a print.
Red bras, huh? Who knew? I wonder if that works for ivory as well? That’s generally a better color on me than white.
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I imagine a red bra would work for cream! I wonder if that means a red camisole would be better under a white tee than a white one?
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Love it! My tip for fine knit tops–self-line, either just the front, or front and back. I’ve done it with a few that were too clingy rather than sheer, and it adds a really nice weight/drape to the top without changing the tshirt feel.
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I wondered about that, but didn’t have enough fabric! Next time I’ll try it out!
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Fabulous outfit! Who would have thought that red would work of all colours?!
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Thank you! My next two Tribute outfits a little more out there fashion-wise, but I know this one at least will get worn a lot!
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OH…this is pure Meg! And pure Gillian come to think of it. Well done you!
I love the Suki Kimono so much. Like you, I was a hold out for that ‘certain’ look.
I am totally going to try a red bra. I mean…if nothing else, I’ll have a sexy red bra, right?! And no…you totally can not see it under your white t-shirt!
Okay…must take photos of my tribute garment and get busy writing!
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Red bras for everyone! Clearly it’s the wardrobe basic we never knew we needed!
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Fabulous outfit Gillian, I love the colour of your kimono, looks so good on you!
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What a beautiful kimono. I was utterly in love with that fabric and you have really done it proud. It looks gorgeous. That t-shirt pattern definitely has potential. I didn’t know that a red bra would be invisible under white. I will have to try it out. Nude is never a very good option. Xx
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This is why I love this community. Where else would you learn about red bras and white bamboo jersey in the same blog? You do a great job of sharing information. Thank you for your time and all you do.
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I can understand your being a purist regarding traditional Japanese clothing. I purchased this book, “Make Your Own Japanese Clothes” by John Marshall who spent five years in Japan, in 1990 and in 1992 made a Hanten jacket style 3/4 length coat out of an acrylic upholstery tweed . I haven’t worn it in a while but it is still carefully folded. Later I made a pair of heavy black cotton Mompe slacks, calf length with a wide casing for a drawstring waist–a Ghi pant as the bottoms wear out sooner, especially if one wears them all the time. All patterns illustrated are simply drafted to individual measurements. Amazon has several copies available: https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_22?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=make+your+own+japanese+clothes&sprefix=Make+your+own+Japanese%2Caps%2C166&crid=QV6BF8Z98CJ9
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