The Stellar Tunic/Dress by Figgy's Patterns.

I'm continuing sewing my way through Figgy's Patterns' Heavenly Bundled Collection and today I'm showing you The Stellar Tunic/Dress.

And no, I'm not an affiliate or paid in any way by Figgy's - just a fan who is a liiiiiittle behind and is now trying to catch up by sewing it all at once, ha.

The Stellar Tunic is a good example of great design. 

It's a simple style and yet it looks 'different' and sophisticated.

The bodice is for knit fabric and the sleeves are for woven.

This version above is made with this thin baby pink/nude French Terry from Girl Charlee for the bodice (I'm sorry it is already sold out...how do I know? Because I tried to buy more, argh) and the sleeves are made with fabric from the Cookie Book collection by Kimberly Kight from Cotton & Steel.

I love this fabric combination SO much. I had originally cut the woven sleeves together with the navy knit bodice that I'm showing in the next combination but didn't sew it because I was just not sure that I totally loved it. Then I bought the French terry and it all made sense and I cut some new sleeves for the navy knit. And that's when things started to get out of control and I ended up making 4 Stellar Tunics total. I'm showing 3 today. E was not in the photographing mood to show her's off.

I used my new Janome CoverPro to stitch the knit to the sleeve pieces plus for the neck rib and hemming. Man, that thing is nifty.

Here is the navy knit version with the stripy woven poplin.

This version I have made the sleeve like the original pattern where front and back is cut into 4 equal sizes. This gives you the chance to play with patchwork, color block and like here stripes.

I kind of wish the pattern came with both a solid and patchwork option but hey, at least it is easy to tape the pieces together (overlap the SA) and make solid sleeves (like the first version in this post).

I also kind of wish there was no fluffy cat in this photo but again....hey, if that is what makes the 7 year old want to model for me then okay okay, you can hold kitty.

The navy knit fabric is the Laguna Cotton Jersey from Robert Kaufman bought at Imagine Gnats Shop. It's a really great quality knit.

I think the stripe poplin is from Fabric.com but I'm not sure. Sorry!

The red and white knit rib is one of the few things I brought with me from Denmark. From a tiny shop smack in the center of Copenhagen called Skipper Stoffer. It's insanely expensive and an insanely nice quality so at least there is some sort of balance there, ha.

The pattern is not mentioning to line the sleeves like I did here but you totally can. Simply cut 4 front and 4 back sleeve pieces instead of 2 and 2. Close up the inner and outer sleeve (instead of hemming) before you sew the neck rib, and now you can make a little contrast fold up like I did here.

Then you don't have to finish all those seams either. Score!

This was the first Stellar Tunic I made and the reason I lined this one was because I was worried she would find the linen slightly scratchy.

The beautiful linen is from Miss Matatabi, the lining is French blue cotton voile (from ??) and then again Laguna Jersey this time in heather grey.

This time I overlocked my rib knit on and then I simply used my coverstitch to sew a chainstitch to hold down the seam.

I don't have much to say about the pattern. It's simple, it's great. It does not gives you full sewing lessons but shows enough photos and tell you the order of things.

I made my 7 year old daughter a size 6/7 and I think I added a bit of length but arghhh I can't really remember. Duh.

Okay, that's it!

Get your own Stellar Tunic/Dress pattern HERE.

Thank you!

The Seraphic Pants by Figgy's Patterns.

I have sewed another Figgy's pattern. Actually I have sewed two more since I fell in love with the Sunki Dress and ended up buying the Heavenly Bundled Collection that contains 7 Figgy's patterns (which is on sale btw - and no, I'm not an affiliate, just a fan.)

I have made two Stellar Tunics and you will see them as soon as I'm getting around to taking some photos of them - preferably worn by my kids, said kids that would much rather play in the garden now that it is finally spring than standing still and posing for Mommy and her camera. Can't blame them!

And then I have made a pair of Seraphic Pants.

It's a style made for knit fabrics with seams center front and back for fun color block opportunities (you know I never turn those down), a slight dropped crotch together with slight tapered legs creates a great cool vibe and then lovely side pockets.

Overall an insanely comfortable pair of pants that my daughter wore for a full weekend after I finished them - including sleeping in them, ha.

I didn't even mean to make a blog post. We just went to a park that weekend and I brought my camera. While I was sitting at a nearby bench I could see that this might work so I shot like 10 photos of her and 4 of them are in this post. 

Together with a few spring flower photos just as a service for those of you that lives places where spring is just starting now or for those that live places where fall is starting now. You are welcome, ha.

The fabrics are both oh so lovely - AND environmental friendly.

The grey dot is a bamboo knit from Hart's Fabric. I'm giving you a link to all their bamboo knits because really you need to see them all. The drape is peeerfect, it is super soft and it is medium weight so easier to work with (than light weight) but not see-through. I guess the only downside is the price but at least you get value for your money!

The black fabric is something new to me. It is my first time working with fabric made from hemp (and 45% organic cotton) and it is from Organic Cotton Plus. The texture is much different than from the bamboo. More coarse but still soft and drapey. A bit like a linen blend. It's super easy to work with because of the non-slippery texture. And I could see myself using it for tons of things.

I made no changes to the pattern size-wise. This is a size 6/7 on my 7 year old daughter. I think it is the first time I have not had to lengthen a pair of pants for her, woohoo. I originally rolled them up for her because it is already warm outside and it added some extra cool vibes to the pants but the roll-ups did not survive the sandbox. Well, one half roll did as you can see on some of the other photos, ha.

I did make some changes to which sewing techniques I used compared to the ones suggested in the tutorial.

I know many knit patterns are made so everyone can make them - also people who does not have a serger. And that seems like a nice gesture.

But I did not agree with the waistband tutorial. The pattern is giving two alternatives. One will most likely give you quite a lot of troubles because of suggesting to stitch down the knit waistband from the front with a visible stitch (if only it was in the ditch) and the other is leaving a raw seam visible from the outside of the waistband.

So I simply folded the waistband (I did make it a bit smaller since I used rib) and sewed it on with 1 cm seam allowance and then overlocked the raw edge on the inside. This is the most basic and foolproof way to do it I would say.

I also did quite a lot more stitching as you can see but that is totally extras on my account.

Janome America have borrowed me the CoverPro 1000CPX until their new Cover Pro 2000 comes out and I just had to try it out right away. So I played with the overstitch and the chain stitch (at the elastic). SO fun! And I promise I will tell you much more about it at a later time!

And one last thing that I will add under the photo of these random flowers is that I was missing notches since the pattern didn't have any. Especially one VERY important notch that indicates the CF (center front) of the pants. It's kind of hard sewing a zip fly (faux or real) without that. 

BUT the conclusion is clear. My daughter LOVES her Seraphic Pants and I think they look super cool on her. And I will definitely make many more. Maybe try to put elastic at the bottom of the pant legs? Or make them cropped for summer. 

Even my pants-hating youngest daughter requested some but added...."when it is cold again"...which will be in like 6 months. We will see where she stands by then!?

Get your Heavenly Bundled Collection HERE.

or the Seraphic Pants Pattern HERE.

Thank you!