Kalle Inspiration – Sew My Style March 2018

Alright, guys – welcome to Month 3 of Project Sew My Style! This month, we will be focusing on the Kalle pattern by Closet Case Patterns. This pattern comes with a few different options for length, collar, placket, pockets, and back pleat detail – it’s a choose your own adventure garment! As a bonus, the long-sleeve add on was released not to long ago, adding another great element to accommodate your style preferences.

I’ll be leading this month, so today, I’ve rounded up a few inspiration photos and fabric suggestions that have caught my eye as I began planning out my own project. This pattern is a great canvas for a variety of woven fabrics, so it seems the fabric shop is your oyster here! Whether you are joining in from the Northern or Southern hemisphere, there is a perfect pattern and fabric combination out there to make your Kalle perfect for everyday wear straight off the sewing table.

So let’s get started! As I mentioned above, so many fabrics are appropriate for this top. However, three fabrics I’ve really been favoring for this pattern are cotton lawn, tencel, and linen. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites in each category (from some awesome fabric shops) and linked them below!

Cotton Lawn – if you are into prints, or light, crisp tops, this is going to be a great option for you.

1 – Cotton Shirting Lawn Pacific by Carolyn Friedlander
2 – Woven Spotty Cotton Lawn Dress Fabric Blue & White
3 –  Cotton Lawn – Tropical Leaves
4 – Marabou Mosaic Cotton Lawn – Navy
5 – Brushstroke Cotton Lawn – Dusk
6 – Morocco Bicycles Blue Lawn
7 – Liberty Leaf Print Cotton Lawn Dress Fabric Green
8 – AGF Cotton Voile – Limestone Feel Indigo
9 – Pin Dot Lawn Ivory 

Tencel – this fabric is having a real moment right now. A natural fiber often made from bamboo, the process used to make this fabric is super ecofriendly. If you want to know a little more about this substrate, Allie Olson did a great article in her Fabric Files on Indie Sew about a year ago! It is breathable and has a lovely drape, similar to rayon. I’ve seen a few beautiful Kalle shirt dresses already sewn up in this great fabric.

1 – Tencel Twill – Ivory
2 – Cupro & Tencel Jacquard – Olive
3 – Tencel Shirting Lilac
4 – Tencel Chambray – Indigo
5 – Cupro & Viscose Twill – Bronze
6 – Tencel Twill – Cedarwood
7 – Tencel Twill – Blush
8 – Tencel Twill Navy Blue
9 – Tencel Twill – Earth

And of course, linen – such a classic choice for a Kalle! 

1 – Chambray Linen Sky
2 – Brussels Washer Linen/Rayon – Lipstick
3 – Florence Linen – Olive
4 – Nevada Linen – Metallic – Grey/Gold
5 – Tuscany Pinstripe Chambray Linen – Black
6 – Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend in Pickle
7 – Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend in Malibu
8 – Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend in Berry
9 – Linen Double Stripe Blue and White

If you’re looking for a little style inspiration, I’ve got two great options for you! I’ve put together a little Kalle Pinspiration Board with a mix of ready to wear fashion, and a few handmade items. I’ve been very inspired by stripes, linen chambrays, and drapey earthtone colors. However, I think the best inspiration for the Kalle is simply to search the hashtag #kalleshirtdress on Instagram – this pattern has been so loved since Day 1, and there are some gorgeous Kalle’s to draw inspiration from!

I hope I’ve given you a boost as you get ready to start in on your Kalle this month. I have just started mine, and am so happy to answer any questions that you may have as you go – feel free to contact me here, on Instagram, or within the Sew My Style facebook page. I won’t be posting a sewalong, as Wonder Woman Heather Lou has already put one together through Closet Case! I’ll be following along with her there, and hope that you will, too. I plan to have mine finished up and posted sometime next week!

What do you have planned this month? Let me what you’re planning to make below – I’ve started in with a cropped Kalle in a cotton lawn. I can’t wait to see what you make!

• XX Elizabeth