Today I have a couple really simple but functional pieces to share with you. I made this top when I was pregnant with Finn out of boredom, and it was intended as a muslin since I wasn't keen on the fabric. It's a super comfortable and soft jersey with lots of 4-way stretch, but the bright colors aren't really my style. However, when I tried it on, my husband just loved it. I think he will always prefer a tight tee over my default oversized stuff! He also loves bright colors. So, it has entered into regular rotation in my jeans-and-t-shirts wardrobe. I used the ever-popular McCall's 6886 dress pattern and simply shortened it to a tee length. It can be a bit hard to find a nice, fitted tee (since most modern styles are more relaxed), but this design works great. I think that a lot of us stop wearing such fitted garments after having kids, but they can be very flattering as long as there's no muffin top spilling over too-tight bottoms! They're also a necessity for layering.
I made a size 10 which was one size smaller than my suggested size based on measurements. It probably would have been fine in a 12, but I wanted to try a really fitted look. I'm glad I went with the 10 and could probably do the same in the future for this particular style. I also added a neckband instead of simply folding under and coverstitching. You can see a tad of excess fabric in the neckband, so I'll probably shorten it a hair next time. I might also make it a bit more narrow.
The skirt is Simplicity 1071 and was almost completely overlooked. I purchased the pattern for the tops, but in my search for a knit pencil skirt pattern one afternoon, I pulled it out and ended up with this. I made a size small based on my size 12 measurements, but next time, I will make an extra-small to get a more fitted look. It has some drag lines around the waist as it is. I made no modifications other than using slightly wider waistband elastic since it's what I had on-hand. The fabric is a heavyweight ponte purchased at Fabric Depot in Portland.
The best thing about this outfit is that it's super comfortable, but it still looks nice. I was comfortable chasing after my kids at the climbing gym, but it would be equally appropriate for a casual office, I think. I also love that it works with sneakers or flats - both of which are in regular rotation in my wardrobe.
I highly recommend both patterns and will be sewing them many times again!
