Wednesday, August 24, 2011

FO: The 'Angels' Culottes and Pattern Giveaway


Jane, you were right! I did make culottes this week!!  I made view 2 from Simplicity 8248, a pattern from 1977!!!  I paired it with a turtleneck and pair of boots from my closet (a la Jaclyn Smith from Charlie's Angels)!


The pattern features a really neat waist yoke with pleats and pockets.   There is a back zip and the culottes flair a bit on the side.  I did make them just a touch longer so that they would come to the top of my boots (which are mid-calf).


I really like how they turned out!  I made these photos look a bit more 70's with that characteristic orange tint :)

Here are some really funny hair flip photos...(the best way to get that 70's volume):

















So there are three special things with this project!  First, my Grandma gave me this pattern and I've been wanting to use it and this was the perfect challenge to try it out!  Secondly, I've been really wanting to do a Jaclyn Smith inspired outfit for awhile.  She embodies 70's chic to me:


The third thing that came together this week was the fabric for my culottes!  Back at the beginning of the summer, I was in Glasgow and just so happened (hehehehe) to be in the neighbourhood of Glasgow's best fabric store, Mandors.  I was delighted.  I spent ages looking at EVERYTHING (if you've ever done any fabric shopping with me, you know how indecisive I can be--my modus operandi is to do a reconnaissance mission first and then I only buy fabric on my second time around)!  Not so on this day.  I was thoroughly inspecting the wool section and lo and behold on the very bottom shelf was this amazing 100% cashmere fabric.  I looked at the price tag and it said £5 per metre!!!! WHA????  The original price of £35 per metre was crossed out!  I kid you not, my breathing actually got shallow!!  Ok, I needed to act cool.  I looked around a bit more.  Then I casually approached the lady for check-out.  I asked her if that was the correct price.  She was just as surprised as me.  Apparently, there were a few bad spots in the fabric--but really, you could hardly notice them and they were few and far between.  As she was unfolding the fabric, I first asked for 5 metres....then I started to hear the staff taking dibs on the fabric and increased my request to 7 metres!  I figured this was probably my only chance in the near future to get to play around with sewing with 100% cashmere so I should buy enough for a suit plus some other projects!   My first experimentation with the cashmere is for these culottes!


The cashmere is so incredibly lightweight and drapey--but also a bit temperamental (needs narrow hems as pins and other pricks show on the right side of the fabric).  It's like butter...it's so smooth.  I really wanted to get a feel for it--so I thought this was the perfect pattern to test it out on (also because this is my most neutral 70's shade in my stash) :)  It went together very well.  

In retrospect, I think I could have cut one size larger as the pocket area has some creases (you can see in the photo).  Now, the pockets were a bit difficult to insert--so that just may be my bad sewing but I think I probably could have made it one size bigger (and basted my pockets flat before sewing the seam--cashmere like other drapey fabrics likes to shift a bit).


YAY! Very fun!!!  Have you or would you ever wear culottes??

The Giveaway:
This week's pattern giveaway is this pattern, Simplicity 8248 in a 28 inches waist size.  It includes a pattern for these culottes, a long skirt and a knee length skirt--all with this very cool yoke pattern!  All the pieces are present and the instructions are easy to follow!  A very class skirt/culotte combo indeed!

This giveaway is open to everyone.  Just leave a comment on this post by Sunday midnight (GMT time) for one entry.  You can also do a blog post on this giveaway, tweet about it or put it on facebook for an additional entry for each method (up to four entries total).  Just come back and leave me a comment that you've done all those.  I'll randomly pick a winner on Monday.  It would be great if you could leave me some way of contacting you in your comment!

The only restriction of the giveaway is that you do not sell this pattern.  Keep it for as long as you want and once you are done--pass it along to someone else!

YAY!  Good luck.

Oh, you can still comment even if you don't want to enter the pattern giveaway--just let me know! :)
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31 comments

  1. I admit, I'm rather fond of the cut of '70s clothing, but I love the culottes. Then again, I love everything you make. You wear your outfits so well. What a find on the cashmere!

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  2. I love the 70s and this pattern, but don't count me in they would never fit, and I know I will never get round to making them bigger! I think you look fantastic though, the waist band is lovely.

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  3. Wowsers !! Those culottes are LUSH ! You did such a good job. I also love the waistband, such a flattering look. I only wish I could make clothes as well as you ! Agreed re the excellent find on the cashmere ! xx

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  4. I love these culottes, they look great on you! I've been looking for a pattern for ages, almost bought a pair of denim ones from River Island (and so regretting it now!). 70's clothing is fab, I can see why Jaclyn Smith is a style icon for you.

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  5. Loving the Charlies Angels vibe :-) the culottes are fab!

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  6. I'm not commenting to win the pattern, just wanted to say this outfit is very Charlie's Angels indeed! Love your photos.

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  7. 100% cashmere?!?!?!?! OMG. These culottes look FABULOUS! I love the yoke and waist detail, and I am definitely digging the flair on the sides. How fun are these? They work perfectly with your boots! My favorite photos are the hair flip photos - I think these should become a normal thing. "Debi flips her hair in the countryside." "Debi flips her hair in a pub." You've definitely got the Angel vibe flowing - LOVE IT. Well done!

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  8. First I just have to say - £5 cashmere OMG! I am jealous! Haha, well, anyway, I totally love these culottes, would so love to make me a pair! And yes, the hair-flip-thing is awesome! ;)

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  9. Cute! I made culottes for my first year (design school) fashion show. Everyone thought I was nuts, but I love the look! They look great :D

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  10. i'm not entering the giveaway bc i already have a similar pattern :) BUT - i can't believe you got that much cashmere for so cheap! and it's such a gorgeous color! wtf i am so jealous hahaha!!

    anyway, love the photos - a perfect 70s vibe indeed! you are such a doll!

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  11. Ooooh...count me in please! I haven't made culottes in years! x

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  12. Love your version of what I call a split skirt. Wore culottes as a child in 1960s, in college in 1970s, to work in 1980s, as SAHM in 1990s. Don't have one right now, but I'm pulling my patterns for a new one, after seeing your lovely garment! Lots of 1970s clothing was beautiful: cuts that flattered many body types, varied skirt lengths, interesting prints. But: Leisure suits. Body suits. Slimy polyester. Ugh.

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  13. These look fabulous on you Debi. I think I may have worn a pair way back in the old days didn't they change the name to skorts for a modern take on them? I too found some cashmere myself on line at a price bargain and bought a huge section of it in periwinkle blue. I still haven't done anything with it and was thinking of using it for a quilt backing but now that I'm into sewing again who knows!!

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  14. Oh yay! I've been looking for culottes for a while now, but haven't come across with any nice ones. Your version looks fabulous and I'd love to have one made for myself with this same pattern ;)

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  15. I'm loving 70's style for this fall! I'd love to try a pair of culottes and this pattern looks great. :)

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  16. Wow, I'm not sure I've even heard the word "culottes" since the 80's. Very Charlie's Angels and cute on you! Not sure I'd ever get to sewing them, so no need to count me in the giveaway.

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  17. I love your cuottes, I bought my very first pair a few months ago and they are so comfy. I have been searching for a pattern since then. Please count me in on the giveaway. Also if anyone knows of a current pattern I would be most greatful.

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  18. Awesome! I've always loved culottes, even if that makes me tragically uncool.

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  19. Those culottes are so fabby! You certainly rock them!

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  20. Your photo's are always such fun. I love the Edinburough backdrops.

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  21. Oh, my gosh - I´m in! Those culottes are so extremely chic, I love this part of the 1970´s fashion. The hair-do´s are so cool and flowy, as are the skirts and culottes!

    Your culottes looks so incredible cute, and cashmere for £5? What a deal! Lucky you. :-)

    Thanks for hosting these givaways, Debi! :-)

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  22. Oh my goodness! I am having such a flashback here. That pattern is the one my grandmother used to make me a long skirt for my first school dance. I still have the skirt and my daughter used it for a 70s project last year in school. I used the pattern again later for a short skirt but never made the culottes and now my pattern is long gone. I would love to have a chance at that pattern and would certainly make the culottes this time!

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  23. This pattern is so great! I would love to make these for my sister

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  24. Debi, you could easily be the fourth angel in those Culottes, you look amazing and the culottes look EXACTLY like the ones on the pattern! Don't enter me for the giveaway, just wanted to say fab job. x

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  25. Ohh me me I've always wanted to try a culotte pattern and the yoke detail on this one is so different from other patterns I've seen. Culottes seem so much more practical than skirts especially if you want to ride bikes or run around campus like I am.

    Bookbuff@comcas.net
    facebook comment is up too Chastity Senek

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  26. I am loving those culottes! Please include me in the giveaway and thank you so much for the awesome offer!

    Sarah A.
    sunnysarah @ gmail.com

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  27. I actually own many pairs of culottes, I love them as a compromise between a skirt and trousers and they look great teamed with boots. My favourite pair is black-pinstripe with an extra wide leg bought in Forever 21 on a trip to the States. I have a 1949 McCalls culotte pattern waiting for the right fabric to come along!

    Your modus operandi is the same as mine, I always scout first with pen and paper then nip back round at the end to pick up the fabrics I really want or where they were cheapest (especially somewhere like Goldhawk Road where the price for the same fabric can vary by pounds between shops). Always feels like I've snagged a bargain then and not just come home with another 20 meters of fabric to add to an already heaving stash!

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  28. I LOVE culottes..and the 70'sand their heels! Unfortunately my mom didnt keep any of the clothes she had when she was a young lady so I have to be content to make my own.

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  29. in 1978 i was ten and had several pairs of culottes with matching vests that my mom sewed for me:) thank you for the flash back! now im in the mood for reading a little nancy drew and suddenly broccoli cauliflower and cheese sauce sounds good for dinner:)

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  30. I have worn culottes. I used to wear them a lot in the 80's through the early 90's. Loved them but one day I looked in the mirror and decided that I wasn't built for culottes and just gave up on the whole idea.

    I used to shop like you do: first a scouting trip then home to think about the fabrics I looked at then back to the store to buy, but now I live in a rural area of the U.S. and it's an hour's drive to the nearest fabric store so I mostly shop online now, which I used to think I'd never do.

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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