• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Tutorials
    • Vintage Hairstyles
    • Knitting
    • Sewing
  • Patterns
  • Sewing
  • Home
  • Knitting
    • Patterns
    • Free Vintage Patterns
    • Knit-alongs
  • Wardrobe
  • Travels
  • Contact
Tasha Could Make That

Tasha Could Make That

Vintage knitting, sewing, and a lifetime of craftiness

Crazy for tulips skirt and blouse

July 1, 2013 by Tasha 40 Comments

I assume by now everyone who was using Google Reader has exported their feeds to another service like Bloglovin or Feedly? Today’s your deadline if not, so you better hop to it! I exported my feeds to both of those services when I first heard about it, so I could play with them both. I decided awhile back that I preferred Feedly, partially because it included options to organize blogs into categories. I know you can do this with Bloglovin now too, so I might give it a try again. Options are nice!

Anyway, today’s outfit is one of my favorites so far! And it was an accidental side effect of clearly having tulips on the brain.

You may recognize the skirt from the sneak peeks in my shaped and lined patch pockets tutorial last week! This is the skirt that my little tulip-shaped pockets made it onto. It’s another version of vintage Simplicity 4496, the same pattern I used for my polka dot dirndl skirt.

But you’ll see that the tulip shape of the pockets aren’t the only tulips on the skirt!

I used a free transfer pattern from Needlecrafter for a Pennsylvania Dutch tulip and rose design, flipped it upside down to follow the curve of the shaped edge of the pocket, and omitted the roses. I love how it came out and I’m definitely in the mood for more embroidery!

My fashion fabric was a buttery soft, somewhat lightweight cotton blend twill from Denver Fabrics called fine line twill. Let me tell you, I love this stuff! I had a mixup where I thought it had a slight stretch content and couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t stretchy, then I thought it was 100% cotton, and then when I checked the site I saw it’s an 80/20 cotton/poly blend. At $5.25 a yard, I highly recommend it. I think it would be great for trousers or capris!

But wait, the reason I was telling you about the fabric was the embroidery. I decided I didn’t really need a stabilizer on the back of the fabric since it was a firm weave, but I did run into an issue on the front: I have a transfer pencil, but the pencil is red and it just wouldn’t show up on the copper-colored fabric. So instead, I used Casey’s great tutorial for embroidering on a knit sweater, and it worked a treat!

I drew my transfer onto tissue paper, drawing the upper curve of my pocket just to match things up neatly, and hand basted it onto the top of my fabric. For those wondering from my pocket tutorial, I actually did the embroidery on the pocket piece after attaching the facing (that’s why you don’t see a seam allowance above the curve in the photo below), although that makes no sense and I’m not even sure why I did that. So don’t be silly. Just embroider first, then attach your facing. Your facing and lining will hide the back of your embroidery.

Embroidering like this was a breeze! Since I was doing two pockets, I actually stitched an area on both pockets before moving onto another area, to make sure my stitches were going in the same direction, etc. I used a combo of stem stitch, split stitch and French knots.

The embroidery kind of perforates the tissue as you go.

And then you just carefully peel off the tissue at the end and pick out the extra bits with tweezers!

I just love the results. It really turns a plain skirt into something more special!

And apparently I’ve been into tulips lately.

Over a month before our trip to the UK, I sewed up this blouse, and if you follow me on Instagram you saw me wearing it several times during our trip.

The fabric started life as a vintage feedsack, printed with delightful tulips.

In this next photo I see the facing is poking up on the right… I swear even after under-stitching (and sometimes after carefully tacking it down across the bodice front/back, not just the shoulders) this still happens to me. I loathe facings.

What I don’t loathe? This blouse! This jubilant tulip print with red, gray and two shades of blue is one of my absolute favorites, I think, but it’s just so hard to pick a favorite with feedsack. I want them all. Seriously.

Sorry I’m not sharing anything more about the pattern I used… yet! I’ll just give you a little hint: it’s not a vintage pattern, but a modern one that I modified. You’ll hear more about it in the future, I promise!

After this skirt though, I think I’m temporarily over waistbands. I know you know that feeling, when you’re working on a project and when it’s done, you think, “Well that’s about enough of that for the moment!”

So I think I may focus on some solid-colored blouses (perhaps with embroidery) to go with the amazing novelty print vintage skirts I never wear because I don’t have tops to match. Now of course I have tops, but not ones I want to wear with them… you know how that goes. And I’m looking longingly at these wardrobe orphans and want to do something about it. Enough it enough!

Do you have a favorite vintage or 40s- or 50s-inspired blouse pattern you love?

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Vintage Wardrobe Tagged With: blouses, clogs, finished projects, simplicity, skirts, vintage sewing, vintage sewing patterns

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anthea says

    July 1, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    Your skirt is amazing! And since I’m Dutch I have to love the tulips!

    Oh my god, I wish I knew how to transfer embroidery patterns to knitwear. I did a lot of embroidery on my recently finished knitting project, but didn’t transfer anything, it was so difficult to get everything right.

    Reply
  2. Paige P says

    July 1, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    Very Cute! I might have to apply some embroidery to my most current project!

    Reply
  3. Rebecca says

    July 1, 2013 at 4:12 pm

    Love your whole outfit, especially the embroidered pockets! Thank you for the tips and btw where did you get those cute shoes??

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 1, 2013 at 6:33 pm

      Thanks! The shoes are Swedish Hasbeens. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mariela says

    July 1, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    You look great! I’ve been making dirndl skirts lately. Especially since I finally tried the 2 rows of straight stitch method. SO much easier and even. Now I just need to make some nice blouses to go with them. I love me a good button down blouse or a casual pullover.

    Reply
  5. Perlchen Noir says

    July 1, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    very cute!

    xoxo Perlchen Noir

    Reply
  6. Technicolor Cutie says

    July 1, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Loving the play on colors! I sadly have 3 or 4 intake blouses cut-out, but waiting to be sewn.

    Reply
  7. Miss P says

    July 1, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    Great tip with the embroidery! That style of top and skirt combo REALLY works on you 🙂
    Px

    Reply
  8. Moe says

    July 1, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    I love all the tulips! And your separates wardrobe is on fire these days! Really inspiring. As much as I love the simplicity of dresses, you’re making me long for some nice separates.

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 1, 2013 at 6:32 pm

      Thanks! The reason I’ve been gravitating towards separates lately finally came to me: in summer I am not a “glower” I am an out-and-out sweater (wait– one who sweats…a lot). For some reason it just makes me crazy having to wash dresses that frequently, so then I find myself avoiding them sometimes and catch myself wearing any old thing. I much prefer blouses this time of the year because of that!

      Reply
  9. Gabriella says

    July 1, 2013 at 6:10 pm

    Gorgeous skirt and blouse combo. I love everything about it. …and are those Swedish Hasbeens I spy on your feet? Just so lovely!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 1, 2013 at 6:33 pm

      They sure are! I lurve them. 😀

      Reply
  10. Draped in Cloudlets says

    July 1, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    Your skirt is amazing – the color, the embroidery, the pockets: perfect!

    Reply
  11. Helen Le Caplain says

    July 1, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    What a lovely skirt – love the pocket detail and the embroidery *swoon*

    http://www.mancunianvintage.com

    Reply
  12. LLADYBIRD says

    July 1, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    You always have the best me-mades, argh! I love how plain (in a good way!!) that skirt is, paired with the cute embroidery and fancy pockets. So perfect! See? Best me-mades. I’d say I hate you, but I can’t. I just can’t 🙂

    Reply
  13. Bubiknits says

    July 1, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    Amazing outfit!! The blouse is beautiful and the skirt is lovely! I love your clogs too!!!

    Reply
  14. Taygan says

    July 1, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    Oh I love this outfit! You’ve inspired me to finally try and flesh out my shirt-collection, and finish off a half-finished embroiderey project too!

    Reply
  15. Kat says

    July 1, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Your makes always have an extra little detail that takes them from good to amazing. I love the embroidery on the pockets. Great idea! Oh and I wanted to say thank you again for your stranded colour work series you did. I used it to help me with my latest knitting project that I just finished. It was a massive help! I’ve posted the finish jumper on my blog if you want to check it out.

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 3, 2013 at 7:53 pm

      I really am so tickled to hear it was helpful. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Janey says

    July 1, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    Gosh, you have such skill! And what a fantastic outfit!

    I’ve never embroidered like that before! I’ve always just used a water soluble pencil.

    xoxo
    -Janey

    Reply
  17. Marie says

    July 1, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    I literally love all your outfit combos and this is no exception! The skirt is divine with such fine embroidered detail and the blouse is adorable…together, thet are perfect!

    Reply
  18. Amia says

    July 2, 2013 at 3:31 am

    Love the outfit, the embroidery is such a darling touch!
    http://www.teapotsandbelles.blogspot.com

    Reply
  19. Cassie Stephens says

    July 2, 2013 at 3:42 am

    Lovin’ that last photo! The bright red planter, blue table and yellow flowers go PERFECT with your skirt! How’d you do it 😉 I need to remember these embroidery tips as I’m a total cheater that just draws all over the fabric like a big ape. Thanks for the tips! Now go get dressed cuz THE GUTTER MEN ARE COMING 😉

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 3, 2013 at 7:53 pm

      I’m running and getting dressed right noooow!!! 😉

      Reply
  20. Chrissy88 says

    July 2, 2013 at 5:26 am

    I love the skirt. I’ve never embroidered before but I’ve wanted to try it for a long time. You are inspiring me to give it a try!

    Reply
  21. Jennie says

    July 2, 2013 at 8:34 am

    I’m in love with this outfit – The skirt fabric looks stunning 🙂

    Reply
  22. ette says

    July 2, 2013 at 10:23 am

    What a beautiful Outfit. I love the Feedsack-Print.
    And I really have to do more embroidery on my sewing projects, it just adds so much to the garment. I always had problems with this tear-away-the-paper-method, my embroidery was very lose afterwards. But your skirt urges me to give it another try.
    And I have to agree with the other comments: I love your shoes 🙂

    Reply
  23. Bunny Moreno says

    July 2, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Oh how pretty and clever! And how is it that I have found someone who has tulips on the brain too! Omg I love tulips and been purchasing anything that has tulips on it-okay not everything but heheh I love your outfit from one tulip lover to another hehe xox

    http://www.bunnysvictory.com

    Reply
  24. Danielle Hinton says

    July 2, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    So cute! I tend to just freehand most of my embroidery, but I love the idea of a pattern transfer..I may have to give that a try 😉

    Reply
  25. RetroRuth says

    July 2, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    LOVE the outfit!

    Isn’t that method of embroidery the best? I used almost exactly the way you did to fancy up a dress I made my niece last Christmas, except I embroidered kitties!

    Reply
  26. Jessica Cangiano says

    July 3, 2013 at 12:13 am

    So charmingly sweet and fun! I love the embroidery, as well as the main fox meets camel colour of the skirt. That’s a really classic hue, and one that I should work on adding more of to my wardrobe. You look super darling, dear Tasha!

    ♥ Jessica

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 3, 2013 at 7:54 pm

      Thanks Jessica! Isn’t that a great color?? It’s taken me literally my entire life to embrace brown of any shade, but I’ve warmed to it in the last year. I particularly love the color of this skirt!

      Reply
  27. Teresa says

    July 3, 2013 at 12:19 am

    Gorgeous skirt! I adore tulips and I adore the embroidery detail on the pockets.

    Reply
  28. Kathryn says

    July 3, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    This is sucha gorgeous outfit! I love the colour of that skirt, and your embroidery addition is perfect. Your top is gorgeous too and I can’t wait to hear more about it, I’m intrigued!

    Reply
  29. Kate-Em says

    July 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    What a fabulous skirt. I love an outfit with pockets and the embroidery sets them off perfectly. It is good to see how you did it.

    Reply
  30. Miss Crayola Creepy says

    July 3, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    That copper color is the most perfect color!!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 3, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      I love it too! It’s never a color I would have liked in the past but I’ve slowly grown out of my hatred for brown, and now I actually quite like it. Particularly this shade! lol

      Reply
  31. Lisa says

    July 3, 2013 at 6:32 pm

    Well, I now want to go and embroider everything I own. HOW CUTE. Marvellous job, AND I’m going to check out this tutorial stat. Thanks!

    Reply
  32. vintagelovingal says

    July 5, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    That skirt is downright adorable, the embroidery is a dream!! I love the effortless yet stylish look of vintage daywear. You always look so great in that style.

    Keep up the wonderful sewing projects!!

    xoxo,
    Tina

    Reply
  33. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Wonderful! What I really need to know is: Where’d you get those shoes?!?!?!?!?!
    I NEED them!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Tasha

Welcome! If you’re into vintage style, knitting, sewing, and general craftiness, well then grab your favorite drink because you’re in the right place! I’m Tasha. Read more...

  • P

Tasha Could Be In Your Inbox

Yes, add me, please!

My Knitting Patterns

Wondrella cardigan - new knitting pattern!

Wondrella cardigan – new knitting pattern!

Fortesse beret - new knitting pattern

Fortesse beret – new knitting pattern

Fortesse pullover - new knitting pattern

Fortesse pullover – new knitting pattern

Confidette bolero - new knitting pattern!

Confidette bolero – new knitting pattern!

Legendaire pullover hands behind head

Legendaire pullover – new knitting pattern release

Fayne beret: new knitting pattern release

Fayne beret: new knitting pattern release

Knitting pattern release: Sprigs and Berries

Knitting pattern release: Sprigs and Berries

Nisse: knitting pattern release

Nisse: knitting pattern release

Debut knitting pattern release: Victory

Debut knitting pattern release: Victory

Categories

Some Favorites

Getting a cardigan right

Getting a cardigan right

Our great 1950s kitchen renovation reveal

Our great 1950s kitchen renovation reveal

50s topper coat for spring

50s topper coat for spring

Nancy Drew and the Clue in the Epic Sweater

Nancy Drew and the Clue in the Epic Sweater

A plaid bolero, a dress, and a belt buckle walk into a bar

A plaid bolero, a dress, and a belt buckle walk into a bar

Spring green batwing sleeve bolero

Spring green batwing sleeve bolero

Topics

1940s sewing birthdays blouses briar rose knitalong butterick butterick B5895 buttons cardigans christmas clogs craftsy dresses fair isle knitting fall for cotton finished projects fitting a 1940s pullover project giveaways haircuts Hollywood 1678 jacket hollywood patterns knit for victory knitting patterns knitwear design mccall's outfits pants resizing knitting patterns reviews sew for victory sewing with knits simplicity skirts stranded knitting susan crawford tailoring vintage vintage clothing vintage hair vintage knitting vintage knitting college vintage knitting patterns vintage pledge vintage sewing vintage sewing patterns wisconsin

Posts

Footer

Tasha Could Be in Your Inbox

Yes, add me, please!

  • P
  • © Copyright 2023 Tasha Could Make That. All Rights Reserved.
  • • Privacy Policy
  • Created with ✨ by Moxie Design Studios
Scroll Up