September is almost over! One of the biggest challenges in wearing something handmade every day has been that the weather this month was warmer than I expected. I should have taken the hint and made a couple of short-sleeved tops, instead of rushing to finish a sweater which hasn’t yet seen the light of day. So on Sunday I did some sewing and made a short-sleeved tee from some leftover fabric. Take that, Indian summer! And here is today’s outfit.

You’ll recognise the stripes. I made a long-sleeved top and happily had enough for a short-sleeved version. However, I wanted to try a different sleeve style, because I discovered that trying to match up stripes with a typical set-in sleeve is a big hassle (and I didn’t succeed in the end). So I drafted what I think is called a kimono sleeve, i.e. a sleeve which is cut as one piece with the bodice.

With this style of sleeve, you only have to match the stripes along the shoulder seam (up at the top) and the side seam. This is why, I suspect, many of the popular striped tees in the shops these days are also made this way. But I do think this style of sleeve turns out to have a flattering shape as well. Come summer I expect I’ll be making more from this pattern.

The skirt is another homemade item. I’ve had it so long I almost forget that fact. I made it with the intention that it would be a good season-spanning item. It’s lined, so it can be worn with tights (as here) without clinging to them or needing a slip, but it’s also a fairly summery cotton so doesn’t look out of place in warm weather. It’s a funny colour, kind of a light, dusty purple, which is almost a neutral shade. Probably its biggest claim to fame is all the buttons (twelve), which are covered with the same fabric. Definitely worth the trouble. Of this fabric, too, I have some left over, so you may yet see it again some day…