Flower Power Twinset

I love fabric that comes in and goes out just as quickly.  So here's a look at the Flower Power Twinset:

Fabric:
Rayon/lycra blend border print from Fabric Mart

Patterns:
Cardigan - Burda 8869 (OOP)
Tank - Sewing Workshop Mission Tank (OOP)

Notions:
5 - 20L 2-hole mother of pearl buttons
1/4 yard beige nylon tricot lining

Construction:
First the tank ~ this is a lightweight fabric.  Almost slinky like in fabrication so it needed special attention.  Because of that I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any sheerness issues so I lined the front of the top with a tricot nylon lining fabric.

Otherwise the construction was very straightforward and basic.  Turned under the hems and stitched them down.  I used this top because it would best showcase the fabric.

The cardigan is autopilot sewing now since I've made it so many times and it is a standard in my wardrobe.  The main concern was making sure that I utilized the border print creatively and matching it up so that the pattern flowed from front to back in a pleasing fashion. (Gigi I thought about you as I was laying it out!)

The back did end up with a little more white space at the bottom than the fronts but hemming solved the problem so that the back and front melded well.  I really like the fact that more of the black flowers flow further up the back of the cardigan...

...versus the front where there are more white spaces at the shoulder line.  I think it just wears better especially with the coordinating tank under the cardigan.

The final touch was to use a thinner white band on the front of the cardigan.  I've noticed that more RTW cardigans have a thinner band and smaller buttons than I've been using, so I've adapted my front band to reflect those changes.  I cut my white band from one of the sections that separated the border prints.  I liked the idea of not having to pick which section of the border print to use for the band and the white band does tie it all together.

I love the finished result.  My daughter thought it was a little loud!  So it will only be worn with black pieces and on days where there are no meetings in the office.  However, I did stop for a minute and consider making up a yellow pencil skirt from a wool crepe in the collection that coordinated with this fabric. *LOL*  But then decided that was just a little too colorful for my office!

Here is the SW Mission Tank under the black suit that I made using S3631 and my TNT 4-gore skirt.  Three years later and that suit is still a workhorse in my wardrobe.

I've started working on finishing up the Simplicity 2958 jacket.  It's been hanging waiting for me for too long!  Especially now that the weather is perfect jacket wearing weather, it needs to be completed so that it can have it's moment in the sun!

...as always, more later!