Silk Charmeuse and a French Pattern

Waiting on my cutting table for me to dive in:

slik datura blouse

This is an incredible silk charmeuse that I bought from Emma One Sock back when I was working on the projects for Stitch Savvy.  I think I had this idea that I would make a version of the Enchantment Under the Sea Dress from this fabric, which is clearly too drapey and slinky for the structure of that dress, which I must have known at the time, since it was clearly labeled silk charmeuse, and what is that if not slinky and drapey?  All of which makes me think that I was grossly rationalizing the purchase of this fabric because I wanted it so badly, just to have it, and now I am so, so, so, so glad I did.  Because: look!  It’s AMAZING.

mod check silk charmeuse

I’m coupling it with–can you feel the tingles??–the Datura Blouse from Deer & Doe, a French pattern company who publishes their patterns in French and then mails them to you from France.  With “Madame” in front of your name, and tiny French stamps.  Did I mention they’re FRENCH?  You heard me.

deer and doe patterns

I’m pretty excited.  I don’t know if you can tell.

sewing silk charmeuse

I’ve been knee-deep in sewing shorts for my children, none of whom seem to have a single pair that fit and/or all of whom have grown so much that their knees literally shot through the fabric of their pants and now nothing is nice enough to wear to school/in public/to church/anywhere that people generally like for children to be mostly clothed.  Lots of shorts-making going on over here (for which I highly recommend the KIDshorts pattern from MADE or the Parsley Pants from Rae, both of which I’ve been using, supplemented by my own Perfect Pants pattern from the Sewing Clothes for Kids e-course), but once that’s done, this is totally going to rock my sewing machine.  Just in time for the Spring Top Sewalong, too!

What about you?  What projects do you have that you’re aching to make, and what projects have been suddenly and seasonally thrust upon you?

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  • Brooke
    April 10, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    I want to make that datura blouse so badly! One of these days I’ll take the plunge and buy it. Shorts and tee making over here too- somehow O had no shorts and only a few tees for summer. Loving the kid shorts pattern. So easy.

    • Deborah
      April 11, 2014 at 7:42 am

      Christine Haynes is teaching a workshop at Sew LA with the Datura–and somehow, even though I totally won’t be able to take the workshop, that’s what finally tipped the scales and encouraged me to buy the pattern. Having the silk on hand was just a happy coincidence–stash power, baby!!

      We’re up to EIGHT pair of shorts sewn in the past week over here, with at least two more to go. These kids just need more to wear–I did have to lengthen the girls’ shorts version from Dana’s pattern to fit our school dress code–I think my kids are bummed not to get the cute bias tape version until after Memorial Day! 🙁

  • sewing princess
    April 11, 2014 at 3:21 am

    I love that fabric, Deborah! it will really make a nice blouse.

    • Deborah
      April 11, 2014 at 7:39 am

      I just wish you could feel it–sooooo soft! Can’t wait to have it to wear to concerts in the park this summer. 🙂

  • Marchelle
    April 11, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    I am currently making the Belladone dress, which I bought when I lived in Paris. I got the chance to meet Eleonore of Deer and Doe, and she is very sweet!

    • Deborah
      April 14, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      Oooh, I haven’t seen that one outside of Instagram! Will have to get the TWO Daturas I now have planned finished first, and then check out their other designs.

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    May 16, 2014 at 9:07 am

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