This project has been an endurance sport. I feel like that little athlete from an unknown country who staggers into the Olympic stadium about 3 hours after the winner of the marathon has crossed the line. A little nobody with no energy but simply determined to finish.
GRIDLOCK POP
The original post from Tessuti was to “design an outfit incorporating this fabric. Make it up however you like but make it just for you! Our brief is simply to create something stylish and appropriate as day wear.” That later seemed to morph into ‘garment’ but I had this ‘outfit’ concept stuck in my head.
I spent ages looking at this fabric. It sat next to me on the lounge some nights and I draped it over myself quite a bit. I learnt about the fabric, how it draped and felt against my skin. This fabric is hot to wear – it’s 21% cotton, 77% poly and 2% polyurethane – there is no way I would make this to wear as a ‘daywear’ dress in my climate. I would ‘glisten’ terribly at any time of the year (that’s sweat in ladylike terms). It’s ‘breathing’ properties are limited. It’s a great jacket fabric though.
I chose my trusty Fashion Star jacket in the end. Like everyone I loved the Burda Crossover Blazer and Burda 7491 came in a close second (I even traced Burda 7491 and purchased the Crossover Blazer pattern). Those jackets are lovely but I don’t think Gridlock would have done them justice. Thank you Trish & Felicity for their advice.
The fabric had arrived wrapped in an old McCalls pattern – it seemed like fate.
The colour, while being a very beautiful blue, looked dead against the cream background. It needed a ‘pick-me-up’ so I decided a burst of colour was required.
My first choice was dusty pink but when I visited the fabric store this cerise cotton linen leapt from the pile of bolts, saying ‘Whattaboutme?’. It made the Gridlock POP so I found some matching lining and away I went.
Tessuti Gridlock – POP
I think the temptation with this competition is to clad yourself from head to toe in Gridlock. I decided to create a statement piece (the jacket) and a dress is to complement the statement piece. They complement each other without being ‘matchy-matchy’. The items can be worn by themselves or together as an ‘outfit’. I wore the jacket today with my jeans for a TV interview!
That was the EASY PART.
THE JACKET – MCCALLS 6611
The optional extras that I inflicted on myself:-
- Continuous bias binding
- Made-by-me piping
- Topstitching. Not just the jacket shell but also the lining – in contrasting thread (pink on blue and blue on pink)
- Covered buttons
THE DRESS – MCCALLS 6699
As I prefer to make my life as difficult as possible, I made up Fashion Star pattern (6699) to pair with the jacket. It’s got cute contrast pockets, skirt vent and waistband. The Gridlock fabric is quite bulky so I chose to add strips of it to the pocket lining.
To the dress I added:-
- Topstitching to the neckline and armhole.
- Piping to the waistband (self made as for the jacket). I’ve really proud of the zipper as the piping is pretty close to perfect.
- Underlined the skirt, I was concerned the pockets would show through the skirt.
I will write up a post later in the week about how I did a few things with this project – right now I’m too tired and over it to say much more (except I want to make a t-shirt for therapy).
There are some seriously awesome entrants now for this competition – which you would expect with $1000 on the line.
SHUT UP LIZZY & SHOW US THE PICTURES.
OK. Let the pictures speak for themselves. A little creased due to car travel – no ironing facilities at the lighthouse!
I can’t help but point out – how perfect are these shoes for this outfit!!?? The right colour and even a bit ‘Gridlocky’, it was pure luck, I’ve had these for years!
Even the ominous clouds seem to be the right colour. I have not colour altered these pictures at all.
TESSUTI GRIDLOCK
TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – alternate view
Tessuti Gridlock. The dress – Cerise with contrasting Gridlock elements
TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – sleeves rolled back.
TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – back view
Tessuti Gridlock – back view. Alas cotton linen is very ‘crushable’.
Some detail pictures…
Tessuti Gridlock: lapel, button, piping, topstitching
Tessuti Gridlock – pocket
Tessuti Gridlock – zipper
Tessuti Gridlock. Shell – construction
Tessuti Gridlock. Lining – construction. Please note I’ve top stitched the lining with contrasting thread!
THANK YOU!
Thank you in particular to Trish, she endured regular random emails from me – which I am sure made little or no sense some days – I even inflicted progress shots on her. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This stopped what was a hard project from also being a long & lonely project.
Thank you also to the Tweeples who checked on my progress and cheered me on, especially Bimble&Pimble with her derby cheers and pom poms.
Good Luck Tessuti Gridlock contestants…
Sew Busy Lizzy 
WELL DONE LIZZY! Combining it with the pink was an awesome idea, as it would’ve been kinda blue blah and boring otherwise. The jacket is a great shape and look at all those matching seams! Good luck! 🙂
Thank you so much Jacinta. It was such a long project and I seemed to make it more difficult for myself. I’m really happy I’m done and I think it looks OK! IMHO
It looks AMAZING! I love how the dress incorporates the fabric but doesn’t look matchy-matchy. well worth the effort!
A lot of the other entries have used both sides of the fabric in dresses – I thought about doing this but in the end the inside of the fabric looked like… well the inside of the fabric, not really the reverse as the pattern is not as raised.
What a lovely suit – love the special details and that kick pleat rocks.
The kick pleat was one of the hardest things to sew believe it or not! LOL
Oh, Lizzy, this is truly inspired. I totally agree that ‘head to toe Gridlock’ would have been way too much…not to mention shveaty! But you’ve done it with the hot pink sheath! Both pieces play off each other perfectly…I also very much love the vent in the skirt (tres creative!). All the best of luck to you Lizzy…you’ll always get my vote! 🙂 You deserve a nice glassa something…
Thank you Kat… I feel like I need a bottle of something, perhaps without the headache afterwards though.
It was a hard project but I’m glad I made myself complete it. I fell in and out of love with it all through the process. It was weird.
Whether or not you win, that ensemble is a winner. It looks fantastic. And, OMG, the precision of those joins and the quality of the topstitching. Wow. Lovely, lovely work.
I must say I am quite proud of myself – wheneer I felt the urge to be sloppy I stopped work for the day or night. Came back when I felt more ‘able’!
That sounds eminently sensible and it obviously paid off.
‘Sensible’ is not a trait I’m famed for but it does surface when I sew!
Wow! Great outfit! the jacket really takes advantage of the double sided fabric and the piping really makes it pop! I wish I could have made something awesome like this, but my fabric is still sitting uncut on the pile 😦
I thought mine might too – but I thought if I did not sew something for this I might not make anything at all. That said – I think it would also make an excellent Minoru. I find it hot to wear and I think it would be a good ‘miserable winter day’ jacket lined with the right fabric. I suspect the blend makes it a little water resistant.
Love the pink with the Gridlock! That piping is gorgeous, and look how perfectly everything meets at the zipper. No mean feat! You’ve really interpreted this fabric fantastically. Now, you can go and sleep!
I needed a good sleep after this project. Thank you for your lovely words it really made my day. You know I still think this is an awesome choice for a Minoru – it’s warm enough where I live during the day to make a suitable winter jacket. Are you comign to the meet up? Would love to meet you! I’m going to explore Walthamstow – unfortunately not on a Saturday as all my Saturdays are taken up. Except for my last one but I might feel bad skipping out on my BF on my last day in London – we don’t see each other very often these days!
Lizzy, you know how to speak my language. DETAILS!!! Apart from totally loving that jacket pattern (that cheeky little pleated peplum at the back is fierce) I love how you’ve worked it into an entire outfit, yet have somehow avoided looking too twin-set (that’s where I would have failed). The dress is glorious, as are those little pink buttons and topstitching. I love it!
I love details too – such fun – although exhausting when you are facing down a deadline! Twin-set that’s exactly the phrase I was looking for – I think a fully ensemble is a bit mother-of-the-bride on me – and that’s a way off… I was inspired looking at fashion collections where they don’t use one fabric for a whole collection if that makes sense?
Lovely outfit lizzy. Great combo of patterns and colour. I am sure you will get lots of wear out of both pieces. Congrats!
Yes, the jacket is perfect with jeans. A little rock n roll! The dress is lovely, simple but has nice details – I hope to make another for work one day… the pockets are very useful!
Wow – you really nailed it. While I kinda like the fabric, like you (and others) I also thought a whole garment, let alone outfit, is a bit meh. You really made it sing! Fantastic work … I won’t even start on all the perfect little details 😀 It’s well worth the time you spent on it.
Thank you – I had moments of madness, frustration and I feel in and out of love with it more times than you can count. In the end we finished BFFs.
I confess I may be veering into a passionate affair with details…
Oh that is perfect, I think I’m in love… The best bit is by far the kick pleat on the skirt, it’s so unexpected but wow! Good luck in the comp!
the kick pleat is a real visual punch isn’t it!
Lizzy I love this! It’s perfect and the blue and pink compliment each other so well. Well worth the long slog.
thank you VK xox. The hens night still on?
Oooooo Lizzy they are both beautiful!! So much detail! The contrast colour is a win. Well done
it’s an eye popper but I love it. I think it stands out on the Tessuti pinterest board… in a good way I hope!
Stellar! I think my favourite detail is the piping along the back of the jacket where the ‘pleats’ are.
Just beautiful 🙂
I had to literally beat them into submission. That fabric is note the most iron friendly beast is it!!??
Not really. I was surprised at how thick it was when in seams.
Oh I meant isn’t iron friendly. Wasn’t that I burnt it or got it too hot but it doesn’t like a sharp crease. The top stitching helped compress the seams and make the edges crisp on my jacket
Oh sorry my comment was vague. This is my brain before a coffee, and it isn’t pretty. I also found it horrid to get a good seam on, like you I top stitched, and stitched down every seam as the seams were so bulky and wouldn’t press. It would roll out lining at every opportunity.
Goodness – no wonder you’re tired! I recently saw a dress made from this fabric in a high end department store and thought of you and the Tessuti competition. Your color combination is beautiful and very flattering – beautiful sewing details too. Good luck!
It’s a gorgeous print but I realised I couldn’t wear it from head to toe. It’s too hot for me and the brief was to create ‘something you would wear’ and I will wear this!
Love it! You did an awesome job!! The pink goes so well with the tessuti fabric and it looks so well made!! I love the detail especially at the back. Very unique! 🙂
I got a few comments on it over the weekend which was nice! People were amazed I had made it!
Well what is there to say that hasn’t already been said by the above commenters… this is gorgeous! The pink and the gridlock fabric look like they were made for each other, and I love the little details you put in there. Very, very nice!!
thank you x
So worth the effort, dear. What incredible details–pink piping, killer kickpleat. I swoon. I wanna be you when I grow up. And I want your shoes. Well done!!
I wouldn’t recommend being me. I’m waaay to busy for a ‘normal’ person 🙂 I used to have a killer shoe collection – now it’s my fabric stash that rocks!
WOW !! Taking the long road is what makes this outfit. All those glorious details just. Tessuti take note…
thank you Anna! I’m hoping it stands out in a good way on the Pinterest board! I was inspired by fashion collections which don’t just use one colour throughout a collection, rather there are accents and contrasts. Makes for a more interesting wear and wardrobe.
Dam hit Post Comment button to quickly. Either remove the ‘just’ or add ‘pop’ after it 🙂
LOL happens to me all the time!
Oh, this is just so smart and lovely! I think it really shows that you took the time to consider the fabric, the pattern, and the practicalities. This is a show stopper; I love it!
‘Show stopper’ I like that! considering I work at a theatre!
Omg! I live this outfit. You know I love the jacket but with that fabric out looks soooooo cool! And the details are just perfect. Lovibg it all to pieces.
Shucks you are so kind! I adore that jacket pattern, tis perfect.
No words for how awesome this whole ensemble is! My fave part is the vent treatment on the dress–so freakin’ awesome!! 🙂
the kick pleat is a killer ain’t it!
WOW! I can see why it took so long! I love the piping and contrast buttons! Well done!
so much harder than my first sewing dare – however that swimsuit is taking forever – I need to find a pattern LOL! I’m too picky!
Love, love this! All the little matching pops of detail are perfect, perfect for a nice brunch or an Easter dinner!
It’s had an outing already! Just have to wait for it to cool down as it’s HOT to wear!
super love the gridlock with the pink fabric! great choice. love all the details, the little back pleat on the jacket (and piping!) is probably my favorite detail. good luck with the contest!
I love the black pleat peplum thing on the jacket – it provides shape without being a full flappy thing! (that’s a technical sewing term LOL)
Wow! That is an amazing outfit! The details are absolutely terrific – the skirt vent, the contrast stitching – and you look absolutely terrific wearing it. GoodJobLizzie!!
🙂 I’m so excited it came together so well. I had moments of excessive doubt through the project!
What a stunning ensemble. All the little extras were worth it. You’ve created an original, fashionable, stylish jacket and dress. I love the mix of fabrics. As always, you wear it with flair and poise.
awww that’s a lovely thing to say – you have really put a smile on my face tonight!
Smiling is good!
OK, absolute truth here Lizzy, that’s hands down the best use of this material I’ve seen. When I first saw that fabric, I thought it was so busy, even for Lizzy, LOL But you have managed to turn it into a dream. Love the piping and the pendulum. Your rocking it with the perfect shoes. I would totally wear it inside out too……you have mad skills woman!
I think that’s why it took me so long to get started! I felt overwhelmed by it – however I’ve created something which I can wear – and do wear! I’m pretty pleased all the work ended in something worthwhile!
wow – brilliant job! i love the little details you’ve added – the contrast works so well. you’ve got a gorgeous ensemble there, but each piece is very wearable on its own (well, maybe not the jacket all by itself… 😉 ).
Yes LOL the jacket does look best pair with something! I love it with jeans, it’s not so bleu that it looks like ‘double denim’ with jeans!
This is amazing! Pairing it with the pink was a great choice. Love it!!
thank you! I’m made that bolt of fabric made its destiny so clear to me!
Brilliant all the way! You should be so proud of this “endurance” project – it is really stunning!
Some things are worth the work it seems (or seams!)
I have seen several of the Tessuti challenge entrants and enjoyed what everyone has done- I am especially enamored of yours- The combination you put together, (the pink looks perfect!)- all the special details, the fit and the style… I am super impressed! Well done! and Good Luck! ~Laurie
Thank you Laurie. I’m pleased with it – win or lose! I think that’s it’s got a point of difference on the other entries which is something!
I read this post while on the bus to work this morning and I was filled with complete envy. Like seething. So I will likely be ripping this look off on a project in my future.
Love the Fashion Star jacket. I did up one of their patterns and loved it. The details on the dress are to die for. I will steal the contrasting vent detail somewhere, somehow.
Just forewarning you. 🙂
I’m always delighted to be ripped off, after all my mother always taught me imitation is the highest form of flattery!
The Fashion Star range has some great patterns in it, nice details. I love this jacket, the envelope art is awful but it’s perfect made up. This is my second one!
Wow, Lizzie, just gorgeous!! I love your colour choice with the gridlock fabric. I have seen a few makes of this sewalong contest already and simply love yours! The little hints of gridlock fabric are JUST enough on the dress to make it come alive, but not so much that you are distracted by them. And, I love your jacket pattern, I think it was a good choice and it doesn’t overwhelm the dress. It’s soft enough to look complementary instead of like a severe business suit. Well done, my friend! Just counting the days (weeks, months, years??) till I am practiced enough to be able to sew like you and make something like this.
Thank you lovely! You will be pleased to know I only started seriously trying to sew just over a year ago. I had made lots of patchwork quilts before but dressmakign is new to me. And I love it.
Your ensemble is so together, even the shoes.
It was like it was meant to be. They have always been hard to match to anything due to the shade of blue. Looks like they were just waiting for the right outfit!
Love love love love LOVE this! It’s a fantastic ensemble! You’re absolutely right– the pink really sets off the Gridlock fabric and makes it pop. I love how smartly tailored and perfectly fitting the whole outfit it! Love! So glad you hung in there and finished it! This will be PERFECT for your trip to London!
And it’s SUPER fun to see a video of you! Your little Gridlock jacket is now immortalized on the silver screen (or something like that…)!
Thank you! It was an epic struggle in the sewing room, more for the length of time than the difficulty!
I hesitated putting up the TV link, I show so Australian!!! That’s what happens when the news people call you before 9am on a public holiday needing a wet weather story favour! LOL
Gorgeous! ’nuff said!
thanks x
Ooh la la Lizzy …. You’ve nailed it !
nails and gridlock sounds like they go together!
Oh wowowow! Look at the work and detail and thought that’s gone into this lovely lovely jacket and dress. Both are just beautiful and you look stunning. I’m so impressed. Sleep now? Then sew that tshirt lol.
tshirt is all sewn. A lovely Japanese rayon knit. So simple and satisfying!
Perfek 🙂
PS cool to see you on TV too! And wearing The Jacket. :o)
Oh wow I love this!! Love the pink with the gridlock. Very well done. It looks great!
I couldn’t resist the pink. Both are too much on their own but work well together – colours are weird like that!
LOVE IT! The pink is perfect with the blue print. Good luck! Also- very neat about the interview. The jacket looks great with jeans, too!
Fingers crossed!
Beautiful garment and painstaking construction, you deserve to win Lizzy, got my vote
I’m glad I stopped and started when I felt like it – otherwise it could have ended up a disaster!
Check you and your bad self out, Miss Lizzy! You are all over this like a boss- well worth the effort. And if I may say so that jacket is DIVINE with the sleeves rolled up. The piping and the lining? It’s melting my face with its awesomeness 😀
a face melting outfit – that’s a new one – even from you! I love it.
That is amazing work – you should be very proud as your techniques are fabulous. I would not have picked that fabric thinking that it would be too much in one block but you have made it work wonderfully well in the outfit you have put together.
Thank you. I was stumped for a while as I couldn’t picture myself head-to-toe in the fabric. I’m pleased with this solution. It pays homage to the fabric but it’s not a slave to it,
Oh my gracious–where do I even begin?? Choosing the fuchsia was genius. I love all those details on the jacket! I would not have even considered fuchsia topstitching, but it really works. And the vent on your dress?? Amazing. It’s all just amazing. Well done, you!
I did ponder the topstitching for ages but in the end I thought it helped deal with the busyness of the print and add shape to the jacket. Thank you!
Wow, that outfit looks amazing. Love all the details.
Thank you Marie!
Amazing! Everything looks great and so complementary. Well done!!
Thank you!
Absolutely stunning!
Thank you 🙂
Great combination! You look fabulous!
Thank you very much!
Holy freakin’ balls, woman! This is an amazing, drop dead gorgeous outfit! If you don’t win, I’ll eat my hat. Nicely done.
Alas I didn’t win. They announced the winner & high runners up last night & I didn’t even score a mention. Oh well! There were bigger, better & more impressive ones than mine.
It’s on the Tessuti blog
That’s gorgeous! Love the contrast of the pink with the blue! I have the pattern for the dress and have been putting it off (I’m very new to patterns) but you’ve just inspired me! And love the jacket, will be great for spring/ summer….thinking that may be next on (a somewhat long) list! Well done you!!!
Hot outfit…. I wish it was warmed in the UK so we could see it live on the meet up x are you packing warm..? I’m going back soon and not looking forward to winter clothes again
I’ll definitely pack warm as my version of a ‘cold’ winter day is 16 degrees! I suspect I will live in jackets, jeans & boots.
Oh Lizzy both your dress and jacket are simply stunning!!! You should be sooooo proud of both of these garments as they truly are a work of art and you have really shown off your amazing sewing skills. Well done… you are a WINNER in every way imaginable xxx
Thank you so much Chris. I was disappointed bit to get a mention in the competition so I came back to this post & read everyone’s comments &realised I don’t need Tessuti’s tick of approval. I’ve got lovely woolen who like what I do & it’s those opinions that really count 🙂
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Your outfit is ever so pretty….I love the colour combinations and the embelishments of both with contrasting prints/fabric, it’s really clever. The fact that you didn’t win or come in as a runner up? look at all the comments you’ve got!! Wow! You’re a winner definitely. Shall look forward to reading through your blog…I’m very new to all of this but some of the blogs I’ve discovered, including yours, are inspirational, Kate x
http://www.thepolkadotroom.wordpress.com
Thanks so much Kate 🙂
Lots of people talked about this outfit & competition while I was traveling, it was interesting how much interest it generated! I’m proud of it & that’s what counts.
Your blog was recommended for me by WordPress, SO GLAD I FOUND IT! I love your style! So many sewing blogs are just not my style, I love your taste! I think the jacket is amazing, I love it so much. I sew as well, and sometimes yea, I do fall in and out of love with a project. Perseverance and patience is key! Thanks so much for the inspiration, I can’t wait to look at more.
Thanks so much! I try to be a little different & true to myself – such a lovely thing to hear 🙂