Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Last of my Summer Sewing : Tania culottes




Pattern: Tania culottes by Megan Nielsen

Size: size M

Alterations: lengthened about 10cm

Fabric: inexpensive dark blue viscose with mini white flowers, purchased locally and absolutely perfect for the job.



You know how last summer everyone went crazy for Megan Nielsen's Tania culottes?
Well, I didn't.
I was lucky enough to be a tester for this pattern, but when Megan sent it to me, we had spoken of something completely different, so I was a bit set back. I liked the idea of wearable, modern culottes that look like a skirt, but I was somehow perplexed by the actual pattern. Very full at the hips and very short... features I usually stay away from.
When I made my culottes in the fabric I always use for muslins (a lightweight plaid cotton, because I have a bolt of that stuff and "real" muslin doesn't exist here), it looked absolutely horrible on me. It made me look extremely wide and it was much MUCH too short for my own comfort.
So I wrote back my notes to Megan, telling her that everything went great with the construction (because they were very well designed), but this just wasn't the pattern for me. I was a bit heart broken, too, because it was the first time one of her patterns didn't really work for me.

But anyway, the pattern was released and many cute versions started to pop up (like Lauren'sAndrea'sNette's and Sophie's, among others). Everyone adored this pattern and girls and women of all shape and sizes all looked great in these culottes.
Could it be that I was wrong?

Well, yes, I was. Oh, I was wrong BIG TIME.
It turns out I only needed to lengthen the pattern and use a fabric with much more drape!

I'm so happy I gave this pattern a second chance, because this is the garment I wore the most this Summer (together with my Bleuet dresses).
I especially loved it with sleeveless button-ups, but it worked perfectly with tank tops and t-shirts as well.

Of course the best thing about these culottes is that when someone tells you "Ooh! What a cute skirt!" (and someone WILL tell you), you get to to this:

It's so much fun, I think I did it to at least ten people.

A few notes on this pattern that many other people already made:

- These culottes give you more modesty than a skirt in most situations, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to flash A LOT of leg. Beware of wind... I speak from experience.

- Constructing these culottes is extremely quick, but leave them hanging overnight before you hem them, because the bias will cause a lot of distortion. You can see from the side shots that the hem of my culottes is not perfectly even, but I did what I could with this fabric.

- If you have a serger, a rolled hem will save your life. Seriously. I was so grateful I didn't have to hem those giant panels!


And that's (finally) it for my Summer projects!
In the next photos, you'll see cloudy weather, leaves on the ground and, of course, that tan is completely gone and I'm back to my pale old self. Yay, Autumn!

28 comments:

  1. These are really cute. Love the drape!

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  2. It looks great! I understand you hesitation with the shorter version. I am very aware of my hiparea as well, we don't want that part accentueted, won't we!

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  3. Oh, Anna, these are absolutely fantastic! I've stayed away from the Tania culottes for the exact same reasons - the length, especially, terrified me - but you might have made me change my mind. These look amazing on you! I would never get tired of surprising people who comment them. So, so cute!

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  4. I love these, they look great! I have the pattern, but am yet to find a suitable drapey fabric for them. I may have to go for some winter culottes now though...

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  5. Gorgeous! Such a great pattern on everyone! So glad you gave this one another shot - because these are perfection!

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  6. super cute! i used to have a pair of short electric blue culottes back in my teen days, and i loved wearing them.. maybe it's time for me to make a new pair

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  7. Those look gorgeous on you!! I'm so glad you gave them a second chance!! That happens to me with about half the clothes I make or buy.. I always second guess until the second time around.


    I must ask you... where are your shoes from? They are so cute, but add some height with that platform - just the shoe I've been searching for for fall! Are they Sven? Anyway, I'm love with your whole outfit... I might have to give those culottes a chance myself!!!

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  8. i haven't jumped on this bandwagon yet, but everyone's versions look so awesome! still can't believe i'm saying that about culottes...

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  9. !!! Alright that's it, I'm so making these. I have been so hesitant because the whole, uhh are they pants or a skirt with a wedgie thing, but these! Oh my gosh I love, the fabric, the draping, the length, everything is just perfect.

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  10. I can't believe I missed these last summer, I only discovered them maybe 2 weeks ago! And I am so making some for this coming summer. Love your version - it's nice to see them a bit longer and the drape is perfect!

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  11. Oh wow, they look fantastic on you! Lucky you gave them another shot :)

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  12. I like this look of you Anna. I'm drooling on that coluttes...and opps! your sandal!

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  13. Ahaha, I'm laughing so hard at the wedgie thing!
    You'll see, you'll be glad you gave them a second chance!

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  14. I know, right? Yet, when you have them on, you realize it's no nice to be wrong!

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  15. They're Lotta from Stockholm (http://www.lottafromstockholm.co.uk/). I love SO MUCH how they look, but to be honest, they're not the most comfortable sandals. The wooden sole is also extremely noisy, which annoys me quite a bit. I wanted to buy a second pair, before the end of summer, but I'm waiting until next year to make a decision.

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  16. Thanks, Anna, that helps with my decision! I'm leaning towards getting a pair of Sven sandals that look like this, but you can buy them with a bendable base which, supposedly is more comfortable. They sell shoes to doctors and nurses who are on their feet all day, and since I do a lot of walking around my office I wanted something more comfortable.


    Anyway, that whole outfit is so cute. Pair it with a sweater and you've got some good transition-into-fall pieces!! How is the weather in Italy now? Is it starting to get cold yet? I used to live in Madrid and loved how we got a break from summer as soon as September came. I miss those seasons here in Texas!!

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  17. These look seriously cute! I've also been on the fence about these, but this longer length and that drapey fabric works so perfectly. Love them!

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  18. these are smashing and I love the long length. I know everyone has been doing them for summer but I'm thinking of an autumnal pair perfect for bike riding xxx

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  19. This looks so cute on you that you've sold me on buying this pattern!!!! You should get a commission! I'm going to make it for my daughter in a light wool for the winter -- I love this !

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  20. Pootleandmake.wordpress.comOctober 3, 2013 at 6:15 PM

    They look so flattering on you. I like culottes not to look like culottes and this just looks like you're wearing a skirt. Love the clogs too. Last time I wore culottes was in the 90's. I had a cotton mustard pair and wore them with blue tights. What was I thinking?
    pootleandmake.wordpress.com

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  21. Super cute and flattering! I never did get around to trying this pattern this summer! Oh well, maybe next year!

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  22. Glad you gave the pattern a second go. Looks great on you!

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  23. These are so gorgeous! I really like the longer length! I bypassed this pattern as I just couldn't see how I would wear or style these, but I love the longer length! I may have to try these next summer!

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  24. Culottes huh? I always thought they were super, super daggy, but yours look great and it really does look like a skirt! Can I also ask, I know it's dumb to assume every piece of clothing on a sewing website is handmade, but did you by any chance make your top? I only ask because i'm trying to find a simple sleeveless collared shirt pattern...

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  25. These are great and I totally did exactly the same as you! I really didn't think they'd suit me and so I passed them by... I think I will be ordering them now as I can wear them year round here! Thank you so much for the review - I hope mine look half as cool as yours do! :-)

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  26. These look great on you, it was so worth it to give them a second chance. I'm currently at work on sewing a pair of culottes from a 70s pattern and was surfing the net looking for pics of culottes to see how wide to make the legs and came across your post. The pattern I have does not have circles for the legs tho so think I will make them not as wide so they still resemble trousers.

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  27. So glad these worked out for you in the end! They do look fabulous :) And I guffawed out loud at your 'reveal' pic - heehee!

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