Gilbert Top + Free-Range Slacks
It’s finally started to feel like fall here (We had very hot late August to early September this year) and I’m very excited about the cooler weather!
But before we get into full autumn stuff, I want to share a little more summer outfits I’ve made. These photos were taken at our old place (if you haven’t heard, we’ve recently moved!)
If you’ve been following me for a while, then you probably know I like Liberty fabrics, especially their Tana Lawn base.
I bought this fabric a few years ago, and it’s one of my favourite Liberty prints ever!
The print is called “Sky High” and this particular colourway was exclusive to a Japanese fabric store.
Isn’t this print so cute?!
I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to hot air ballon prints and designs in general; I think they are so whimsical and fantastical!
With this fabric, I wanted to make a breezy, comfortable, yet fashionable, ultimate summery top!
Once again, I turned to my tried-and-true pattern: Gilbert Top!
Pattern: Gilbert Top by Helen’s Closet Patterns
Fabric: Liberty “Sky High” (Hobbyra Hobbyre exclusive colourway)
The last time I made a Gilbert, I added pleats to the back.
This time I changed it to gathered back which I really like the look of it from the back, but it wasn’t the best decision considering this one has a tied front.
I think it added excess volume to the hem when the hem should be cinched a little bit a when the front is tied. As a result it has more volume than I like, when looking from the side.
But even with that, I still love this shirt! The print is beautiful, it’s lightweight and breezy, and the fit is comfortable!
I lengthened the sleeves slightly; I think relaxed longer short sleeves are trendy right now. Love the way these sleeves turned out.
It’s hard to see in the photos but it’s got a chest pocket too! The buttons I choose are clear light blue plastic ones.
With this cute summery top, I was determined to develop an ultimate summery outfit! So what would go well with this flowy little top? A pair of breezy linen pants, of course.
I haven’t made (or worn) wide pants much before (except for PJ bottoms), so I was a little nervous if they’d work on me.
But in the end, I’m so glad I tried something outside of my comfort zone!
They go perfectly with each other, don’t you agree?
This outfit is so comfortable, perfect for hot summer days!
Pattern: Free-Range Slacks by Sew House Seven (Curvy fit is also available)
Fabric: Everyday Linen from Blackbird fabrics in Olive (6 oz)
The fabric is a mid-weight linen, and is 6 oz which I think was a really good choice for loose fit pants. I hope I can find something similar next year as I’d love to make another pair in a different colour for next summer.
I’ve tried this pattern once; I made a tapered version with a stretch cotton twill.
I really liked how those turned out, but I knew that the fabric was slightly too thick/stiff for this pattern. So I was excited to make a second pair in linen which has much more drape than a cotton twill.
I love this linen version even more! This time I made a wide leg pair, but I think linen would also work great for the tapered version as well.
The pattern calls for 1.5 inch (about 38 mm) wide elastic for the waist. The wide elastic really helps keeping the waist secure and hold the pants in place well; however, it felt a little too constrained for me even if I gave enough length to it.
So for this pair, I used 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide elastic instead. That made a significant difference! It’s much comfortable for me, yet still feels secure.
When working with linens, I like to enclose all the raw edges inside. Linen seems to fray easily and I want a cleaner finishing than just zigzag finish (I don’t own a serger/overlocker.)
I used french seams, felled seams, and bias finishing to enclose them; no exposed edges!
I’m so happy I made these pants! These have been my go-to when I want to be extra comfortable and look clean at the same time.
Can’t wait to make another pair next spring/summer!
Sep 24, 2022
