I’ve noticed that black and white striped fabric goes in and out of fashion sometimes when I want it specifically for trim on a Halloween project, I cannot find it for the life of me and then other times it’s there in every configuration you could possibly imagine. I’ve learned to buy it up when I see it, but I never buy fabric volume just a little bit because I usually work scrappy.
Good luck in your search! It’s a cute smock. That price is a real encouragement to DIY. The flip side, of course, is that I wouldn’t make it for that amount of $$ based on materials, time & my skill. Handmade is precious!
I have loads of striped fabrics for crafting, but I like a little different fabric for clothes. It looks like ticking or maybe a printed linen.
Funny, but I would pay for expensive fabric but the real cost is the quality of the sewing. As you said, time is precious so I only want to make things I know I would enjoy. Nothing hurried. I am also looking at more things that I can embellish or put in some time-consuming details.
Beautiful rusty cotton/linen blend on sale at the fabric store today, it was not as prone to immediate wrinkling as pure linen and I’d love to try recreating the scoop neck of this pattern. So cute.
I am so annoyed with that Butterick pattern, ERG! I’m in Hamilton for the weekend and the local print shop that will do copyshop sized patterns is open but the pattern is only in wee bits of paper and I am NOT crawling around on the floor trying to line up and tape fourtyeleven straight lines together and then dragging that dangerously flimsy thing between here and the studio. Irritating!
So I bought the Sew Liberated Studio Tunic and sent that over to be printed instead, and I’ll go back to the fabric shop where hopefully I’ll find that rusty cotton/linen blend still on sale and I will buy some. That’s all I will have the capacity for here, I don’t have tissue or scissors so I can’t even prep but it’s partway there, right? And that’s not nothing.
The color is so gorgeous!!
Well, no sewing for me this weekend and I won’t be going to our other place next weekend either so all I can do is admire that fabric for a while longer. One thing I really liked about it is that it isn’t near as wrinkle prone as 100% linen so at least I won’t have to vigorously iron it before cutting.
I’m interested in some 40’s Hollywood style trousers now as well, found 1 pattern on Etsy, anybody made something with this silhouette? Really cute, very flattering.
It’s been on my wishlist for years but I’m terrified of sewing pants that aren’t PJs. I’ve only ever had one pair of homemade pants that didn’t look strange.
I feel like this is something @Lothruin and @tendstowardschaos might have tackled in their sewing adventures.
This is a terrific linen comparison video, very comprehensive!
Cool! …isn’t there a Sew Liberated pattern with that silhouette? I think I know someone who made it a couple times & quite liked it. (It might not have the front panel, tho, hm…)
I did check out their pants but am not a fan. Trendy shapes, barrel legs, elastic waists, weird pockets. Just not for me.
I think it was the piñon pants I was thinking of, which do have more of the retro silhouette. (but no worries if that’s not what you’re looking for!)
Also, love the linen video except now I am sad b/c there’s a crossover of one shop with the sources I’ve been looking at. ![]()
I have been eyeing the Mitchell pants by Cottage Core Patterns for some time. It has that type of silhouette and also an adjustable waist.
Neither of those is quite what I’m after but fun story, Heather (founder of cottage core) is my best childhood friend’s little cousin. We spent every summer growing up out at our cottages together. She was cute as a button & a fierce swimmer, so proud of the company she’s built.
The Ann Tilley magic pants have also been on my radar, and they might be slightly closer, if you opted to add a button detail along the pocket edge.
Decades of Style has a pant pattern that might also work. I haven’t used it but I have used their kitchenette pajamas pattern and the TLC Caftan is on my list, so I can sort of vouch for the patterns
I’ve seen those Ann Tilley magic pants before & they are great, I’d make those as they are.
Decades of Style are soooo close but I do not relish reworking a pattern to include a slash/slant pocket.
Those slant pockets are indeed very flattering!
I have all the pieces cut and marked for my apron/smock…but I have lost the instructions! I have sewn long enough to figure out how to make it, but I like the instructions to avoid any difficulties and to use any shortcuts. UGH! Well, looks like I am going to have to clean more piles in my craft room to find them. It is a purchased paper pattern and not something I can go online..
There could be a sew-along video somewhere, those are fun to watch!


