Last night we went for a picnic on the common near to where we live. It has been a hot and muggy week here in London and it seemed like we should be trying to enjoy the last vestiges of summer; I say ‘trying’ as I am an Autumn/Winter girl and am keenly anticipating October and the fresh chilly mornings now.

We’d had a storm the night before and so the earth was slightly damp and nice and cool and the smell of freshness around us was beautiful as the long grass and been cut down and left, all in all it was the perfect antidote for the airless warmth that September has brought to us city dwellers. We took peach and apricot beer (yum!), our books, Kacey Musgraves songs, blankets and of course our four legged little buddy, Gatsby.

Back in July I had made up this Gypsy skirt from Liberty tana lawn, I loved the soft warm colours of this print as they reminded me of fields of wheat. I drafted the skirt myself with a flat waistband at the front and elastic at the back for comfort. I put a zip in the side seam but later realised it was entirely unnecessary as the skirt can pull on and off without undoing it!- doh! I wanted the tiers to get nice and full at the bottom as I love gypsy skirts so much and wanted to make sure the style was nicely celebrated!

Other than lots of gathering (not my favourite sewing task) it was a quick and straightforward make. I lined the skirt with some £1.50 ($2.40) a metre cotton batiste from Goldhawk Road which was appropriately weightless and fine, I could most likely have got away without the lining but really don’t like there being any fear of my knickers showing! The lining is one straight piece without tiers which I was careful to make a-line enough so as not to limit walking and/or leaping around over piles of dead grass!

I am wearing the skirt with a new cami I made using the Sew Over It Silk Cami pattern and double weight silk crepe. This is my second Sew Over It pattern as I have also used their Ultimate Trouser Pattern which will feature in an upcoming post. I was keen to try the cami pattern out as I naturally veer towards binding rather then facings on tops like these so wanted to see how I liked the facing in this instance. It seems much quicker than binding and although in the ivory silk you can detect it through the blouse (something I am always a little fussy about) I am very fond of the crisp finish it gives to the neckline and armscyes.

I followed the very clear pattern instructions almost exactly but decided to over-lock my seams rather than use the french seams described in the instructions; this was only due to the  fact that the weight of this silk was borderline too heavy for frenchies and with the hem and facing thrown in I thought they were best avoided. The silk worked beautifully in the over-locker and I am pleased with the finish. I will absolutely be making more of thee camis- I think they will be invaluable over the cooler season for wearing under cosy cardigans. I love the neckline shape especially.

This whole outfit was so comfy and even when the evening got cooler was perfect with the edition of some big woolly cream socks and my old trusty denim shirt. Janny and I did joke that I looked slightly like I was about to burst into a verse of Jennifer Lopez’s Ain’t It Funny but hey, I love the gypsy look and don’t care who knows it! 😉

Thanks for reading