Working the Relax A Little pattern X Five

I love the shape and fit of the fluted four gore skirt in the Cuting Line Designs Relax A Little pattern that looks different in every fabric.   Over the past months, I've made several and tweaked each as I always do.   It's definitely a TNT pattern.

Here's one in a stretch denim where I added a separate fringed edge using strips of frayed selvedge.   I was inspired to do this after seeing this Louis Vuitton resort 2014 skirt.   Here's a photo of it and the selvedge trim.    I did not add the fringed pockets over my hips.   This one is a great casual skirt that works with the Ebb blouses I've made and classic white blouses like this wrap one.

Here is the RAL skirt again in a crisp printed linen sewn according to the pattern instructions with the signature waist and all the edge/ topstitching.  I added pockets, but used the rectangular one from the My Swing Set pant instead of the oval one included in the RAL pattern.   That is a silk noil Anything But Ordinary top that I made a few years ago.

In December I got inspired by this Alice and Olivia ensemble. I found the perfect lace and rayon jersey at Fabric Mart and made my version of the skirt, underskirt, and two tops. I used the Relax a Little skirt pattern to create my own version of the swooshy Alice and Olivia skirt with a slimmer waist and hip, and the Pure And Simple pattern (removed the dart) for the cap sleeve top. This lace does not have scalloped selvedges and it would have been impossible to use them with the curved hem of this skirt anyway. I edged the lace using a narrow 3 thread serged hem. My husband liked the lace on the arms so I made a short Loes Hinse Bianca top with long sleeves and used a satin stitch for the front three tucks so they stood out. I'm very pleased with all of them.

This is a warm ensemble when worn with tights or leggings, an underskirt with another layer under the lace tops. I added large godets to the sides for more movement and used a narrow casing with elastic for the waistband.   Here's the rayon jersey underskirt that can be worn on its own.

I was so pleased with the above lace skirt and tops that I ordered two of the French floral laces and made up another that I absolutely love.   I wore it today (temps here in Asheville were in the 60's!)  with this long sleeve eShrug over a pima cotton knit dress from the Peruvian Connection.   I'll blog more about this one and the tops I made to coordinate with it in my next post.   I've done so much sewing this fall and winter that I've not had the time or inclination to blog about.  But I've uploaded photos with informative descriptions on Flickr that I hope inspire you to sew something you love to wear as much as I love to wear my creations.