Skip to main content

Itch to Stitch Gobi Culottes For Fall!

 So what do you do when the temperature starts dropping, but you aren't ready to drop your hemline yet?
The solution is easy: Culottes. If you never thought of culottes as a trans-seasonal garment, you are missing out! They have the style of a skirt, with the ease of shorts (or pants). Itch to Stitch is releasing Gobi Culottes today and I couldn't be more excited! I particularly love the button fly and top stitching details. And, if I'm being honest, the retro 80's shape coupled with the 90's styling I've done here really makes my later-half Gen X heart sing!

Pattern Details

Itch to Stitch Gobi Culottes is reminiscent of the popular pleated shorts of the 1980's, but updated with modern details that make the style sleek and relevant. The contoured yoke/waistband is fitted with pretty seams that line up with the front pleats. The back uses a center leg seam for shaping instead of a yoke or darts to keep that minimal skirt feel. There is a Shorten/Lengthen line on Gobi so you can choose to make them as short or as long as you want. Check out the other tester patterns HERE to see how some when traditional Fall with their length and styling. My favorite part is that 7-button fly. Very easy to construct, and you can use regular sew-on buttons OR the denim post type.

Design Features

-High rise, contoured waistband
-7 button fly closure
-Front pleats with top stitching details
-Slanted front pockets
-Back seam shaping
-YOU choose the hem line!

Muslin Work

One of the best things about culottes and wide-leg pants is how EASY they are to fit! I made my first muslin in a waist size 10, blending to a 12 for the hip per my measurements and the pattern size chart.
 Aside from the default pattern length not being at all flattering for me (though to be fair, I'm only 5ft tall) I'm plagued by Hungry Front, Hungry Butt yet again. Same ol' song and dance... but NOW, I know what to do about it!

I added to the crotch extension, and played around with shortening the hem. I love culottes because I can get away with something super short: A skirt length I would never feel comfortable in. I brought my Gobi Culottes up to a 3 inch inseam.
**It is worth noting here, that the final pattern release was refined to include additional crotch extension length. Be sure you make a muslin to check fit before making a pattern with your treasured fabric!**

Construction Notes

I've been seeing lots of "Suit Shorts" in my Pinterest feeds lately, and so I decided I wanted my super short Gobi Culottes to be a little dressed up too. I don't actually wear suits, or go to an office, but I think "suit shorts" are easier to style with tights and boots as the weather gets cool, which is totally what I want to do!
I selected this light weight grey wool suiting from my stash. This fabric was a gift from one of my Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests members. I don't know where it comes from, but I know it's very good quality. Smooth, not itchy, very wide... and I only had 1 yard!

Just coming off making my Hermosa Shorts, I was VERY excited about these and didn't find any of the construction difficult or intimidating.
This is why you need to sew ALL THE PATTERNS. It's skill building! 
But don't despair. It's still OK to jump in where you are. 
Fortunately, Itch to Stitch instructions never assume the sewer is experienced. If you follow along each step, you will be guided easily to a beautiful finish!

Finished Photos

I plan to wear my Gobi Culottes several different ways. In fact, they are a big base of the Fall wardrobe I'm planning.
 While it's still warm, they work nicely with Tee Shirts...
Both the casual knit and silk woven types.

As the weather cools down, I'll add tights and cardigans
 
 

 Be sure to join us in the Itch to Stitch Facebook Group to share your makes, get help and find inspiration for all things Itch to Stitch!


You can get a copy of Gobi Culottes for yourself for 20% off through September 4th, 2019 HERE


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meet My New BFFF: Breaking Ground With Mountain View Pull On Jeans From Itch-To-Stitch

Finding perfect jeans is like finding a unicorn....  Do YOU have unicorn in your back yard?  Yeah. Me either. What I DO have is the newest Itch-To-Stitch Designs pattern release: Mountain View Pull On Jeans , and they are my new BFFF! They MIGHT even be unicorn jeans... Breaking Ground is mostly about trying new-to-you designers,  but you can also twist it to be a new-to-you technique, style or other such personal challenge.  Obviously, Itch-to-Stitch is NOT new to me, but the concept of pull on pants as everyday wear is, and it's a trend I've tried to avoid for a long time! Pull on pants are for yoga and sleeping, right? My personal rule is no lounge pants outside the house, unless I'm ACTUALLY going somewhere to exercise. (SNORT)  Wearing pull on pants or leggings as real pants (that look terrific) is how I'm Breaking Ground for myself! Pattern Details Mountain View Pull On Jeans gives you just about everything you find in a tr...
30 comments
Read more

My Perfect Vacation Pants, The Itch-To-Stitch Sequoia Cargos

I'm back at it with the pants again! Itch-To-Stitch has a new pattern this week: Sequoia Cargos & Shorts . It's still winter here, so I'm sharing the long pants option today. I'm taking a long weekend trip this March, and I need to start sewing a vacation capsule to pack. For the last 15 years or so, my friend has taken a casino bus trip with a few dozen of her teaching colleages. A few years back, her husband decided he no longer wanted to go, and I've volunteered to be her Plus One for the third year in a row. We will be getting on a bus super early on a Saturday and driving 6 hours or so over the Mackinac Bridge to the U.P. The ride up is filled with chatter and drinking and games, and we all have loads of fun. Then the next two days are filled with more food & drink, card games & slots. I'm not much of a gambler; I'd rather spend my dollars on a Pina Colada than a pull of the slot handle, but I find plenty of ways to enjoy myself. N...
17 comments
Read more

When A Pattern Test Goes Pear Shaped: Saving My ITS Danube Jean Skirt

Every now and then, I have a project where every decision I make is wrong, and I have to battle tooth & nail to get to the end. Itch-To-Stitch recently released the Danube Jean Skirt . I love everything about the design of this skirt: slim fitting, DENIM, wind friendly, go-with-everything casual, sits at the natural waist, side slits for something fun and less formal. I was very excited to jump into the testing phase. I had a couple heavier non stretch twill fabrics in my stash suitable for muslins... and exactly 1 piece of non stretch denim which I earmarked for my final skirt. In The Beginning The first muslin revealed the need for some fine tuning, something that should be expected during the testing phase. V2 for the pattern was distributed and my second muslin came together quickly. I got exactly what I expected. A pretty well-fitting skirt except for my prominent full seat which was pulling all my fabric out of whack. No big deal, right? I've had this issue for...
9 comments
Read more