Bibi Pinafore: So nice, I made it twice!
Hi! And a heartfelt thanks for stopping by my blog 💗. Today, I'm reviewing a pattern I recently made from the Tilly and the Buttons book: Stretch. Go ahead and scroll down to the bottom if you want to jump straight to the review. If you'd like to hear a little more about me, and why I chose this pattern (plus a mini-rant), keep reading ;)
I knew the book would have some great patterns in it, but I specifically bought it for this Bibi Pinafore. As soon as I saw it on Instagram, I knew I HAD to have it. There are so many features that I just love, love, love!🤗And beyond that, I had a feeling this would be a pattern that would flatter my figure (and from everything I've seen so far, it looks great on all kinds of body types). I happen to be a petite pear shape (5'1" with junk in the trunk if you know what I mean), and I often hear people advising pears to wear A-line skirts and dresses to "hide" our hips. I think some bridal shops even train their staff to pull A-line dresses for pear shaped brides. At least that's what happened to me back when I went wedding dress shopping. (I know what you're thinking, and no, I did not make my own wedding dress. I hadn't even learned to sew yet lol). But anyway, the sales lady pulled A-line after A-line for me to try on, and I felt frumpy in every. single. one. Finally, I asked her if I could pull my own dresses to try on, and she let me and my crew loose in the store. It didn't take long for us to find my perfect dress, and I'm pretty sure you can guess what it wasn't: Mmm hmm, A-line. So call me a rebel, but apparently I don't "dress right for my body type" 🤣. I don't have anything against A-line skirts in general, I think they look great on a lot of people, but on me, I most often prefer pencil skirts, or skirts that taper in at the knee and back out again (like the wedding dress I ultimately selected). Bottom line, dressing right for your body type means dressing in what makes YOU feel good, whether that's A-line, bodycon, or a big old baggy T-shirt. Just do you. Lol ok rant over.
Another reason I fell in love with this pattern is the back view 😍It's rare that I find a pattern that looks as good (if not better) from the back than it does from the front. I absolutely ADORE the way the straps criss-cross in the back and that button detail 😍. I also knew that I would have less fitting issues because I generally have a harder time fitting the back of my body than I do the front, and this pattern didn't require a back bodice, so I was golden!
Version 1:
The Tilly and the Buttons Stretch book calls for "low stretch" knits to be used with this pattern. I followed those instructions for my first version and used a tan and brown checkered knit that had only a little stretch. I wish I could tell you the fiber content, but I honestly don't know because I purchased the fabric at an annual yard sale put on by a local business called the City Sewing Room in Saint Louis. I got so many great fabrics at that sale!! Not all the fabrics have descriptions/care instructions etc., but for those steep discounts, I'm not complaining!
Version 2:
For my second version I decided that if a "low stretch" knit could work, why not a stretch woven? Those have "low stretch" too, don't they??🤣
I opted for a stretch corduroy. I had 3 yards on hand that I had purchased at Savers for $4 USD. I still have about a yard left, so this was such an inexpensive make! I do love a good bargain :) And I absolutely love how version 2 came out. The color is so vibrant! I've also been practicing fashion sketching and as someone who chose music instead of art as an elective in school, I know my drawing is very rudimentary, but I'm proud of it because I had a vision and I executed it!
Fitting Note:
I put both the woven AND the knit versions on OVER MY HEAD. There's not enough room in the waistband to get it on over the hips without serious amounts of wriggling, so if that's something that bothers you, you may want to add a center back zipper. That seems easy enough to do, and I might try that if I make it again, but I usually just tie a scarf around my head so I don't mess up my hair and slip it on over my head (no big deal). If you use a stretchier knit, I imagine it would stretch over your hips, no problem 👍🏾
FULL REVIEW BELOW...
Pattern Description:
Stretch Knit Pencil Skirt or Pinafore
Pattern Sizing:
Standard, but NOT sized like big 4 patterns. My measurements put me in a size 6 for this pattern. With Big 4, I'm usually a 14 or 16. Also, note that since this is a knit pattern, it is designed with NEGATIVE ease.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yaaaaaaasssss!
Were the instructions easy to follow?
They really were, however, this pattern comes with lots of hacks or add-ons (the pinafore bib being one of them) so if you're someone who often runs on autopilot like myself, I recommend putting a post-it note or something in your book letting you know where to stop and/or skip ahead because otherwise you may realize you've gone a step too far. On my first version, I accidentally assembled the entire waistband and then realized I should have STOPPED to attach the bib first 🤦🏾♀️ I almost left it as a skirt, but then ultimately decided to get my seam ripper and execute my original vision.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I really like the design of the seam lines on the skirt and the clever way it's put together. I love the criss-cross back, the button detail and the overall shape.
Fabric Used:
I made the first one in a low stretch knit (fiber content unknown, but likely a polyester blend). The second version is in a stretch corduroy.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I only made 2 small changes to the pattern. First, since the skirt panels are all the same size, there is the same amount of fabric in the back and front. I found that it fit well in the back, but there was excess fabric in the front. I simply tapered it in a bit toward the waist on the two front seams to fix this. The second change was to the bib. I had quite a bit of gaping at the front, so I re-cut the bib in a smaller size. It still doesn't lay completely flat, but it's much better👍🏾
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I will absolutely sew this again. There are other hacking options in the book I haven't tried yet. I think the waist tabs are super cute. I can also see myself hacking this pattern further and perhaps mashing it up with another pattern. It's such a great pattern for beginners!
Conclusion:
Such a great beginner friendly pattern with tons of possibilities! I see new versions on instagram all the time and I keep thinking.....oooh I wanna make THAT!!😍