The La Ciotat Skirt stands out as a unique wrap skirt design, offering both style and practicality. Unlike standard wrap skirts, this one features a double front wrap, eliminating any concerns about wardrobe malfunctions. The addition of a flattering waist panel contributes to its elegant silhouette, and the two ties ensure that the skirt stays securely in place.
After purchasing the pattern, I spent some time searching for the perfect fabric. Eventually, I realised that the ideal choice was already in my fabric stash: two and a half metres of Tencel fabric adorned with a Christie Williams print. This fabric had been with me for about three years, cherished for its beautiful colours and its reflection of the distinctive Australian landscape. This project finally provided the perfect opportunity to use it.
Christie Williams Design Tencel
The La Ciotat Skirt pattern is comprised of rectangles for the main body and curved pieces for the waist panel. It offers flexibility, allowing sewists to either print the pattern or cut pieces directly from the measurements provided. I selected size L, which suited my measurements of a 33-inch waist and 40-inch hips. The finished skirt ends just at the top of my ankles, which I find to be a flattering length. I did not need to make any modifications to the pattern.
This pattern is straightforward to sew, featuring pieces that fit together logically and a flexible skirt style that eliminates the need for a toile. Beginners will find Sewing Therapy’s YouTube tutorials especially helpful, while the written instructions are clear and beneficial for more experienced sewists. I personally enjoy watching Sara’s videos while sewing; her teaching style is both relaxing and informative.
Every time I work with a Sewing Therapy pattern or watch one of Sara’s videos, I pick up a new tip or technique. For this project, I tried her suggested method for creating gathers. Rather than using the traditional double line of long stitches, I increased the stitch length and tension, as advised. This approach produced beautiful gathers, but I would recommend leaving very long thread tails for adjustments. I nearly ran out of thread tail, but fortunately, it all worked out in the end.
My spring–summer handmade wardrobe is growing, and I’m becoming more confident in my creations. I’m looking forward to wearing my skirt on windy days and sunny days! I’m so excited to be getting around to using some of my “good” fabric.
Some patterns I sew are real skill builders and the Viola Vest is one of these. I have a few things to work out with this pattern, and I considered not sharing until I made a version that I was one hundred percent happy with, but this blog has always been a journal for my sewing whether successful or not. I decided that I should jot a few notes down and come back to it.
Swimstyle Patterns has been my go-to for elegant, elevated core wardrobe items. The Viola Vest is drafted for knit fabric and has a wide V-Neck with angled, overlapped side seams. It has an oversized relaxed fit. I bought this for that relaxed oversized look.
My measurements of 38-inch bust, 33-inch waist and 40-inch hips fit into the L size range so that was the pattern size that I cut. Generally, this was great. I like how the pattern also included how to choose the right fabric with what stretch and recovery was needed. I found a ribbed knit that was suitable, but I didn’t consider how bulky the ribbed knit would get. I do have a very basic home sewing machine which might have also affected my ability to deal with the bulkiness of my fabric.
The part I thought I would struggle with was the V-Neck. It actually worked very well and was easy with the excellent instructions provided. I felt that I skilled up by sewing this neckline. The part that I couldn’t work with was the angled and overlapped side seam. The side seams are neatly folded and finished before being angled to sew together about 4 layers. The folded seams provided a great finish to the vest. However, with 4 layers, I had problems getting the angle and the bulk made it hard to stitch the seam as instructed. In the end, I had to sew it with a straight stitch.
Another thing is the hem which is sewn and prepared all in one before joining the side seams. The bottom is a bit wavy so I must have pulled the fabric a bit when sewing. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I considered unpicking and retaking the photos but I decided to leave it and try again with another fabric. I need to give myself more grace when it comes to my sewing.
So, I’m not sure if the armhole sits too low because of my modified stitching or whether this was part of the design. I need to find slightly thinner fabric to make it again but I’m not sure if I should size down. This is why I like stalking a pattern on Instagram because it’s handy to see items on other people (regardless of size).
I would have always worn this vest with a shirt or tank top underneath anyway, so I still feel this is a good addition to my closet. I’ll be trying to find another knit for this vest because I love the look so much.
Earlier this year, I entered The Cloth Edit sewing challenge called Sew April Blouse, and I won a PDF pattern from Monsterfabriken. I was so excited to win the pattern amongst all the beautiful entries and was also excited to discover a new designer. The thing I admire most about Monsterfabriken is their philosophy of making their sizing adjustable to ensure that once sewn, those garments will last therefore helping to reduce clothing waste.
My entry for Sew April Blouse
It was hard to choose a pattern from their beautiful library of patterns but in the end, I settled on the Vanja Dress which is a V-neck dress or top. It has an adjustable waist with ties, or it can also be sewn with a wide belt. I made the dress version which stops at mid-calf. There are slits on the side and of course, pockets! I jumped straight into the dress version, but I do love patterns that include a version that can be toiled. I didn’t make a toile because I thought that the sizing system was so good.
Talking about the sizing system, here is where Monsterfabriken is unique. Instead of the traditional sizing system which can vary from brand to brand, they base their sizing on primary measurements of the body. The tops are then based on the chest measurements, and the bottoms are based on the hip measurements. All the other measurements are secondary. It’s all very comprehensive and in the end, you’ll end up with a garment that fits the way you want it to. Once all the measurements are done, it’s an easy process to print the only size you need and there is an option to include seamlines. I chose to print without because I have confused myself before when it was an option and ended up cutting the wrong lines.
I did hesitate a little when I had finished sewing the bodice. It was fine once I had attached the skirt and does fall at the natural waistline. This always seems to be the point where I worry the most when I’m sewing something new.
The fabric is drafted for woven fabric. I had a Jamuna vegetable dyed handblocked cotton from Spotlight which was perfect for this dress. It’s beautifully lightweight and it’s great for hot weather. I am drawn towards the cooler colours for summer with blues, greens and whites. I’ve have found picking colours for the season helpful when putting together my sewing plans.
The Vanja sewing instructions were fantastic and the illustrations also helpful. It’s important to note that Monsterfabriken is a Swedish company and I was using the English translated instructions. The layout of the instructions is logical and excellent. I also downloaded the extra instructions which you’re given a passcode for however, I didn’t need to use them because the instructions that came with the pattern bundle was sufficient.
Neck FacingBodiceTies
There was one point of the instructions that did confuse me. It was in the construction of the slit. I wondered if the original pattern might have had a seam allowance of 2cm but was changed to 1cm without changing the instructions. In the end, it was easy to modify. I just continued the overlocking down the side seam. This was then turned twice to finish the slit.
I love the design of the Vanja Dress. In this version, I made matching ties for the dress. I would love to make the wide belt version and have contrasting fabric for the neckline and hem. The best past is knowing that any small size changes will be easily accommodated because of the clever design by Monsterfabriken.
Maaidesign is launching a new fabric brand called Johanna Ralph* and I was super excited to receive a preview of the Silent Bloom print. It’s a beautiful abstract graphic married with elegance. I chose to preview the linen, but the print comes in other substrates. When this luxurious linen arrived, quite a few patterns sprang to mind. I settled on the Milenda Dress because I thought that the linen would feature the linen beautifully. Linen is great for items needing structure.
Silent Bloom – Johanna Ralph Collection
I tried making this dress about five years ago. I had just started sewing and I loved the look of the dress. Even though the pattern advises that it’s for intermediate level sewist, I jumped in and tried to sew it. I used a double gauze and instantly started making mistakes like not adding the pattern pieces to make the right length, I confused the pleat construction, I didn’t attach the bias binding or the pockets the right way. However, despite all that, I was super proud, and the Milenda Dress has ended up being a dress I’ve reached for repeatedly.
The Milenda is a classic shift dress that can be pulled over the head. The design these features pleats in the front and back which release into a skirt. These pleats are a clever feature and really help to shape the dress in a flattering way.
So happy with my pleats this time!
When this beautiful 100% linen fabric arrived from Maaidesign, I knew I had to make the Milenda Dress again. I started by giving it a cold wash and then a cool dry in my dryer. I then changed my machine needle to a universal 90/12 gage needle. Linen does wrinkle so a good press is essential before sewing. I don’t mind the wrinkles once it’s sewn but it’s good to iron it to make sure the pattern pieces remain accurate.
For my measurements of 38-inch bust, 33-inch waist and 40-inch hip, I made the size M. No modifications were needed. I was so happy that I could follow the instructions to the tee! I guess I am making progress with my sewing. On a little side note, the Tessuti instructions are excellent, but the pictures are photographed not illustrated so it’s easier to follow the instruction on the computer. Everything is logical and the construction is excellent.
Don’t you love a dress with pockets? I loved how these pockets were constructed because they sit to the front. Also, the pockets are at the perfect level and are properly deep.
Tessutti Milenda Dress
When I photographed the dress, I realised that the fabric is slightly gauzy and sheer. It’s still perfectly modest without needing lining. The linen is very lightweight; from memory it’s under 5 oz or 150 gsm and had a generous width of 150cm. I can’t wait to wear the dress when the weather starts to warm up. Linen is just so comfortable in summer. Looking at the Johanna Ralph collection, I think it’s going to be a hit with those bold, abstract prints.
Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
X Em
*Full Disclosure: The fabric was provided for preview and Instagram content. No blog post was required but I share everything on my blog and love documenting all my makes. All opinions remain my own.
I’ve been trying to be more adventurous with knit fabric. I came across this floral stretch crepe jersey fabric from The Fabric Store Online which has a beautifully fine texture with good drape. I bought a 125cm x 150cm wide piece which I thought would be lovely for the Vera Knit Top pattern from Forget Me Not patterns. I’ve been meaning to sew this lovely top featuring bishop sleeves using the long cuff option for a while and finding the perfect fabric has prompted me again. One of the suggested fabrics was viscose knit which is why I thought the crepe jersey would be a good match.
Floral Stretch Crepe Jersey (White Coffee)
Forget Me Not has generously offered this as a free pattern to the sewing community and it includes all the detailed instructions that come with her other patterns. There are no short-cuts just because it’s a free pattern. It is a great way to sample their incredible patterns.
The blouse is based around a B-cup bust. My measurements of 38-inch bust, and 33-inch waist and 40-inch hip sits between a size 38 and 40. The pattern is nested which make it super easy to print. I decided to print both sizes and graded from the size 38 to 40 and added one inch to the length from the bottom of the blouse. The top features a V-neck and it’s fitted in the bust with more ease around the waist.
Features of the Vera Knit Top
Knit fabric is always a bit tricky for me. I’m still gaining experience with handling the stretchy qualities of knit fabric. The instructions are excellent with tips all the way on how to handle the fabric, which needle to use and what stitch to sew with. It really takes all the guess work out which is so helpful. Another quality of the fabric I should mention is that there is more stretch one way than the other which has been fine for this blouse as the pattern is quite versatile. I would love to make a winter version with merino wool or something similar.
Vera Knit Top
I’m excited to add this top to my Spring Capsule Wardrobe. I’m hoping to sew a skirt as well to wear with this, but I think it will match quite a few items I have. I know I’m categorising my sewn items into different capsules but obviously any item can be worn for any season. With my love of neutrals and browns, everything could fit into an Autumnal theme. I’ve just been organising my sewing this way to get a better cross section of items into my handmade wardrobe.
I’m feeling more confident with knit fabric coming away from this. I want to practise with this pattern a few more times so I’ll be on the lookout for more fabric suitable for this pattern.
It’s been a nice slow start back into my sewing. I wanted to do some planning and organise my sewing in this second half of the year. Sewing ad hoc can be fun and spontaneous but during Me Made May this year, I realised that I was short on a few essential items. Also, before my travels, I was madly sewing trousers so I could pack them. I want this second half of my sewing year to be calm and I want to be prepared before the season starts. Another part of my planning involved looking through all my patterns. I’m hoping to sew the unsewn patterns and to return to some which brings me to this Papercut Pattern classic, the Palisade Pants.
My first version of the Palisade Pants
I made these about 2 years ago when I collaborated with Maai Design for their Lyocell Twill fabric. I get a lot of wear and have always meant to return to sew them. The unique pockets are the highlight of the design, and it is a popular pattern in the sewing community. The pants taper elegantly down to the ankles and is a slim fit but made comfortable by the semi elasticised waistband.
This version of the Palisade Pants is made with suiting linen. What’s the difference between linen and suiting linen you ask? Suiting linen is thicker and the weave is tighter. I didn’t realise the difference and have made trousers in the past from what I thought was standard linen, but they tend to lose their shape sooner and it isn’t as hard wearing as pants need to be.
When I first sewed this pattern, I toiled it using the shorts pattern. In hindsight, it wasn’t a good idea because the shorts are wider at the thighs. The pants are quite narrow fitting with less ease so I should have used toiled using the actual pants pattern. I remember sewing the size 4 with the original version but had to narrow the inner leg seams to make everything fit. This time, I cut and sewed the Size 5 without any modifications except to shorten the pants by 2 inches. When I re-read my previous blog post about the Palisade Pants, I said I sewed the size 5 but when I looked at my pattern pieces, they were the size 4 so I must have mistakenly thought I made the size 5. I reprinted and used the size 5 this time for my measurements of 33-inch waist, 40-inch hips.
The pockets are not the only unique feature of this pattern. Instead of side seams, there are centre front and back seams. It’s an interesting feature and I think it works well in making a clean, slim silhouette. It also helps with the pocket feature. In past toiles, I would baste the side seams and inner leg seams so that adjustments are fast to make but following the pattern, I couldn’t use that same method. Luckily, the size 5 was true to size for me once I had made the length adjustment and the waistband was easily adjusted because of the elastic.
I have sewn a lot of Papercut Patterns for good reason. I feel that so many items match my style, and the instructions and fit are always spot on. I really felt good about this sew and happy to tick another item off my handmade spring capsule.
There has been a lot of chatter about Pattern Emporium patterns in my sewing circle, so I’ve been keen to try them out. When the Spill the Tea blouse was released, I loved the design and thought it would fit into my Spring Capsule Wardrobe. I’ve been thinking more about how to make my handmade wardrobe more cohesive, so I’ve been playing around with collages on Pinterest. I’ve picked some highlight colours that I’d like to feature in the capsule.
The Spill the Tea Top is a tie neck top with two back options, two sleeve options and two length options. I chose to make the gathered back with a yoke, the cap sleeves and tall length. I wanted the option of leaving the top out for a more casual look. It’s so impressive at the number of options available and best of all, printing it was made very logical and easy. I really liked that it wasn’t necessary to print every page, only the relevant ones which was a good paper saver.
Yoke construction on Spill the Tea Blouse
The pattern is made for woven fabric and is quite versatile. I had a piece of georgette fabric in my stash that I bought a while ago but was a bit afraid of sewing. I thought it was a good match for the pattern because of the high drape. Excitingly, there was enough of it for the top which required about two meters. I was making the size 12 for my measurements of 38-inch bust, 33-inch waist and 40-inch hips. I love the fine quality of georgette fabric, but it does add some difficulty to sewing. I tested the fabric on the overlocker and decided to use French seams because the fabric frays very easily.
Apart from the seams, I had to solve the issue of the yoke and how to finish it. I decided it would be best to cut two so that the yoke could line itself. I’ve tried to describe what I did in the steps below because I deviated from the instructions.
1. Finish the FRONT BODICE as instructed2. Attach FRONT BODICE to the YOKE (YOKE pieces are WRONG SIDES FACING)3. Attach the BACK BODICE piece to the OUTER YOKE4. On the Inside, cover the seam with the INNER YOKE
I also finished the sleeve seams with French seams, but I think it would have been thick enough for the overlocker. French seams do give a satisfyingly neat finish. The other tips I learnt when sewing with georgette fabric is to reduce the stitch length and changed the needle to a 70/10 gage. It was also handy to use the rotator cutter for the curves.
The Pattern Emporium instructions were very detailed. It is made for reading on a screen because the illustrations are photos. The bonus is that everything is clear with contrast fabric. The instruction booklet was like a mini magazine, and I love the inclusion of all the different people modelling the blouse. I like printing my instructions but at 50 pages, I limited my printing to the sewing instructions only. I found myself deferring to the photographs when I came to the attachment of the ties. The construction was very enjoyable with the precise pattern pieces and instructions.
Overall, it was easy to see why my sewing friends fully endorse Pattern Emporium patterns. It’s been a fantastic sewing experience and a good one to get my sewjo going again. I’ll hope to share more soon about my sewing plans for my handmade Spring Capsule Wardrobe.
I’m not much of a shopper when I travel. In fact, I hesitate to even buy souvenirs for myself because I worry about dusting around those knick knacks. However, I had some recommendations from a friend who had recently had success on her trip so I thought that I would try especially since Korean fabric is famous for its quality especially linen and cotton. With a little research, I found two markets that I wanted to visit which were Gwangjang Markets and Dongdaemun Market. The only difficulty I saw was that I was tied to the schedule of the tour which would limit the window to get to these markets.
We had a few market visits in the tour which were fantastic. The highlight was Jagalchi Market in Busan which was located on Nampo Port. It’s also right next to the Busan International Film Festival Square which also has shops and street food lining the roads. Alongside enjoying a great lunch and being fascinated by the fish market, I kept an eye out for fabric stores. I thought I might come across some small fabric stalls like you do in Southeast Asia but was surprised that there weren’t any. I’m sure that the locals might know of some, but I found an overwhelming number of Olive Young Stores but sadly no fabric shops in sight.
Jagalchi Market
I’m a pragmatic person so when I got back to my hotel, I got in touch with Linen Lab Co which I knew was based in Seoul and I have seen many people using their fabric especially their linen. I sent a DM asking them if it would be okay for me to order online and then get the fabric delivered to my hotel on the return leg of my trip to Seoul. I thought that if I couldn’t find a physical store, I might still be able to at least save on shipping. Also, when browsing the shops, I did find that prices for a lot of brands were better so I was keeping my fingers crossed that it would be the same for fabric. Linen Lab really came to the party and were so accommodating. Usually, their orders would be dispatched as the orders came in, but I had tricky timing because I couldn’t have anything delivered when I was travelling internally because the baggage allowance drops to 15kg on internal flights and I was only arriving back to Seoul on the weekend. I don’t know how they organised it. I was just told by them to have a great trip, and everything was waiting for me when I arrived back in Seoul. I was so happy with the beautiful fabric that arrived. I could never get the same where I live. I also felt so grateful with that I wasn’t charged shipping and for the great customer service I received.
From Seoul to Home
Even with the challenges of the Tour Schedule, I did get to both Gwangjang Markets and Dongdaemun Markets. We walked to Gwangjang Market from our hotel in Insadong. It was a Sunday, and we got there at about 3pm only to discover that the part of the market selling fabric was closed. I did go into a section I thought might be for fabric, but they were selling fabric for making Hanbok and I was looking for cotton or silk. Gwangjang Market is famous for being one the oldest and largest markets in South Korea. It’s worth a visit for the food section which was bustling and teeming with tourists on a Sunday afternoon. Sadly, after speaking to one of the shopkeepers selling Hanboks, and working our way through the maze of shops, we were empty handed from that venture. There was definitely a Fabric Mart quite close to the main entrance (opposite side of the Food Quarter) but the doors were firmly locked.
Gwangjang Market
On the last day of the tour, I had been talking to our lovely tour guide about the fabric in South Korea. I shared with her my interest in sewing and on the last day, she included the area of Dongdaemun Markets. I soon discovered that Dongdaemun is quite a big commercial area. There is huge modern shopping complex which we mistakenly went into at first but realised it wasn’t Dongdaemun Market. We then headed across to Pyounghwa Clothing Market which covered a whole city block but was more of a Flea Market containing all the knockoffs you could ever need. We realised then that we needed to cross the road to another building that could cover a city block which had the fabric. It didn’t have any signage or clear marking on the map so I couldn’t take a proper photo of a main entrance or anything. I’ll attach a photo below which is what you would see standing at the entrance of this building.
Not This OneView from the first entrance of the fabric buildingJust to give you an idea of the commercial scale of the shopsClosing TimeThe layout of the shopsGetting a bit lost in this huge buildingView from the fabric mart but don’t go into that one for fabric
Sadly, we were met with disappointment again as most of the shops had closed. Unlike the markets in South-East Asia, this market is mainly based on commercial trade. If you’re a designer wanting to pick out your fabric, then this is the premium destination. You can imagine the scale of things were quite overwhelming with about five floors of closely packed shop stands. The ones that were still open were brimming with fabric and samples. I felt that for the small amount I was buying, I didn’t think it would be fair to get the shop to go to the effort of sending a runner to get the fabric cut, then to bring it back and all within the half hour that was remaining on my tour. I decided it was enough to see the place. If I return, I will allow at least a day and arrive in the morning. This area didn’t seem to be walking distance from my hotel in Insadong, but I was a bit lost at this point.
I was surprised that I didn’t come across any small fabric shops amongst the many stores. Most shops sold k-beauty and there were local dress shops. Maybe I might have saved a little bit by being able to buy fabric at the markets, but I felt quite overwhelmed when I was in those markets and by having to communicate though my phone translator. I doubt I would have found the same quality fabric that I had ordered from Linen Lab Co in the short time that I had to look around. I would say that it really needs someone with more local knowledge and language to be successful. Saying that, I’m delighted by the experience of seeing the fabric markets. It was a wonderful country to visit with so many unique experiences. It was fun to add fabric hunting alongside photo taking on our trip.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to make recommendations. Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
The first thing that everyone asked me when I mentioned that I was heading to South Korea was, “Are you going to go see BTS?” and, “Do you love K-Drama?”. Although I do enjoy all those things about Korea, my husband and I were mainly interested in experiencing something culturally different and were looking forward to the amazing cuisine and indulging in a bit of photography. It didn’t disappoint and in fact, overdelivered in so many ways. For the first time, we decided to join an organised tour which was a great way to see more in the short time that we had available. There’s pros and cons with the tour set-up. The downside was the constant time pressure. We landed very late and were on the bus by 8am the next day for the first round of sightseeing which meant we did not have time to orientate ourselves with maps and e-sims which we figured out a bit late into the trip. Our tour started in Seoul and from there we flew to Jeju then from Jeju to Busan and then to the old capitol of Gyeongju and then back to Seoul. We did forgo the optional tour of the DMZ to have some free time just exploring Seoul on foot which we enjoyed immensely especially at our pace as photography enthusiasts.
Packing List
I’m sure there are a lot of travel blogs out there which are better for the sightseeing elements of travel so I thought I would focus on what I packed and found useful with clothing because those were the blogs I was searching for before leaving. I had come across a few general blogs about Korean weather, but I’ve never experienced the climate that we came across in Korea. It was explained to us that generally we can consider that Korea has 4 seasons but there are 24 traditional seasons based on the location of the sun. We were in Mangjong which meant that the mornings and evenings were cool, but the humidity and temperature were high from mid-morning to evening and we also hit the start of the rainy season. It’s basically summer which coincides with the monsoon season. It would rain and then the sun would come out and everything was humid and steamy.
So, here was my mostly me-made packing list:
Tops
Sewlala Alea TopTrue Bias Ogden Cami Uniqlo Cotton Shirt Uniqlo shelf-bra cami top x2 Swimstyle Velma Top Cashmerette Brattle Top x 2 H&M Sleeveless Top Ash Cami Top
Pants
True Bias Dani Pants x 3 Closetcore Pietra Pants Big W Shorts x 1
Dresses / Jumpsuits
Closetcore Amy Jumpsuit True Bias Darla Jumpsuit Sewing Therapy Tie Dress Sew To Grow Arcadia Dress Sew To Grow Lanti Swing Dress
Outerwear
Uniqlo White Cardigan K-mart Beige Cardigan Rain jacket
Shoes
White sandals Sneakers
Other
Swim wear
Outfits & Outings
Everything was worn except the shorts! All three of my Dani Pants were worn and the denim and drill versions were worn more than once.
Very versatile group of Dani Pants
I wore the linen version of my Dani Pants on a day when we hiked up Seongsan Sunrise Peak which was steep. It was extremely hot and humid which was intensified when it started to drizzle as we climbed to the top. I was thankful that I had layered a linen top over a cami which made the humidity more bearable.
Seongsan Sunrise Peak
This is also where you can see the Hae Nyeo Show which is the traditional female free divers of Jeju. We were lucky enough to try some sea squirt from a diver who is part of a new generation of Hae Nyeo.
Hae Nyeo Female Free Divers
South Korea is full of natural beauty and can be enjoyed by anyone who loves hiking. There are gardens and parks everywhere to enjoy. Jeju, in particular, was very beautiful with Oreums (extinct volcanoes and craters) scattered throughout the island.
Natural beauty of South Korea
I’m so glad that I packed my dresses and jumpsuits which I could again, layer with a thin cardigan. Surprisingly, in Busan, there is a fantastic beach under the skyscrapers and I actually went for a swim so it was worth packing the swimmers.
I felt that the shorts didn’t get any wear because it felt out of place in a city setting. The other consideration with shorts and tops is that there is generally a dress code for visiting the beautiful Buddhist temples. I especially enjoyed visiting Haedong Yonggungsa Buddhist temple which is by the sea. There was also Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju and we were lucky enough to see the Seokguram Grotto in the rain which made the experience exquisitely magical.
Sew To Grow Lanti DressBuddhist Temples of South Korea
Often, Asian tours are synonymous with Temple Overload but I thought we had the perfect amount. There were a lot of cultural and historic areas to visit. It was hard to pick a favourite but I narrowed it down to two. Gamcheon Village in Busan was gorgeous and an engaging place to visit. I loved getting off the beaten track down narrow alleyways, visited the shops and we had our portrait drawn by a talented caricature artist!
The colourful alleyways of Gamcheon Cultural Village in Busan
Bukchon cultural village is worth a visit as well with the amazing group of traditional houses. It has a curfew and opens from 10am and closes at 5pm because there are residents who live in this village. I think that there is one street in particular made famous by social media which has created most of the headache for residents. Not sure why everyone crowds in the one street when you could get equally good or better photos in the street next to it. The best thing we did was going into the Bukchon Cultural Museum and Observatory. It’s at a high point so you can look out over the rooftops and get a nice cool iced tea which is free with entry.
Sewing Therapy Tie DressBeautiful Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul
There was such a variety of sights and activities in South Korea from the lively tourist hub of Myeong-dong where you can try street food and shop till you drop, to the narrow and charming alleyways of ikseong-dong crammed full of restaurants and trendy cafes.
I ended up with just over 700 photos because everything is so picturesque in South Korea. It’s definitely worth a visit or two or three.
Closetcore Amy Jumpsuit
Final note on a favourite memory was dressing up in the traditional Hanbok and I’m so glad that my husband joined me too. I can highly recommend Hanbok Day Rental which is just around the corner from Gyeongbokgung Palace where we went to see the changing of the guards and strolled through the palace grounds. We did this on the first day of our visit and it really set the tone for the rest of our stay.
Thanks for reading my extremely long blog post and happy sewing!
X Em
PS I will be following up with a blog post about fabric shopping in South Korea. There was too much to unpack in this one!
Me Made May has gone by in a flash this year! This year, I decided to record what I was wearing every day in a one take video which I shared to my Instagram Stories and saved in my Highlights. It is a very successful exercise which I use to review what I’m making every year. I realised that even though I am drawn to making dresses, my daily wear mainly consists of pants and shirts. Of all the pants that I was wearing, I found that I liked the True Bias Dani Pants for the style and the fit the best. So, for my upcoming travels, I decided to make three pairs. One in denim, one in a stretch drill and one in linen using Version D of the pattern.
First pair of Dani Pants
My very first pair which I made a couple of years ago was a linen version. I’ve worn it so much, but I felt that the linen I used was not the right weight and I can see some wear around the zip and seat area. This time, using version B again, I went for a 9oz weight denim which is lightweight enough to cope with the elasticised waistband but gave good structure to withstand the zip and button front. The buttons are jean buttons that were leftovers from making my Dawn Jeans.
Denim version of Dani Pants
This was also why I chose a khaki stretch drill for the second version. I love how soft this stretch drill feels. It was a real bargain find at my local spotlight store with only $10 per meter, the fabric only cost $30 which is pretty good for a pair of pants these days. Something I didn’t do with the stretch drill which might be a bit controversial is that I didn’t wash it before sewing. I only washed it after. I felt that the stretch in the drill, even though light, made the fabric less structured. I didn’t want to change the sizing for the pants, and I knew that I would be throwing these into the dryer with washing, so I didn’t mind if the fit was on a slight looser side to begin with. I’m not saying that it was a whole size bigger, but it was a loose size 12 and after washing and putting in the dryer, it has stiffened up to the perfect fit for me.
The final version was made with a drapey linen. This time I did wash the linen and popped it in the dryer before sewing. It really softened up the linen beautifully. I decided to make Version D which eliminates the button fly and zip. It has a full elasticated waistband. I thought that with travelling, it’s always good to have something you can pull on quickly that still looks smart. I loved adding the cuff and pockets to this.
When I first made the Dani Pants, I found the zip fly quite difficult. It’s nice to come back to a pattern after two years to find that I can now confidently install a zipper and the zip fly easily. I could understand the instructions a lot better now that I’ve had more experience sewing. Slowly and without me realising, my sewing skills have been improving. It’s a happy discovery. I feel so grateful to pattern makers like True Bias who have put so much detail and effort into their patterns which have helped self-taught sewers like me to gain these skills.
There’s nothing like a bit of last-minute sewing to add to the excitement for an upcoming trip. It’s funny how packing for a trip now includes a bit of last-minute makes. I should also mention that all my pants were made in the size 12, shortened by 2 inches for my measurements of 33-inch waist, 40-inch hips and 164cm height.
Em Sew Happy Blog 