Sarah from Pattern Union has released another element in the Phoebe collection and I was lucky enough to be asked to be a tester. This latest pattern is the Phoebe Flounce and it’s a top which goes with the Phoebe Maxi skirt and the Phoebe Pockets (trousers). It can be made as a top and worn with other coordinates, or added to the skirt to make a dress.

The blouse has a waistband which can be either elasticated or left flat with an opening at the front, it has rouleau loops with buttons and a very clever placket behind the buttons so that no gaping occurs. It can also be made with a very trendy bow – either skinny or hacked to be bigger. I was quite surprised at the amount of cleavage this blouse is showing and I think my underwear is responsible as I’ve worn it a few times and not noticed it before.

The flounce is also optional depending on personal preferences and fabrics. There are two body length options and cup sizes. The blouse is currently sized for 6 – 20. As with all Pattern Union patterns, there is a copy shop version available, print at home version, and the layers option, which is my favourite as I just print the sizes I want which makes tracing so much easier.

The top goes so well with the orange Veronika Maine jeans which I scored free at the Fibres West garage sale back in July. I had to completely remake them as they were several sizes too big and too short. The fit isn’t excellent, but they are very wearable and I adore the colour.

The pattern graphics highlight the different combinations

And I thought I’d show the entire collection, which makes this pattern so versatile. I always think that these are the cheapest patterns around.

My first Phoebe Flounce was made with the flounce and from fabric which I inherited from my friend Leonie’s mother. The fabric is from the 1970s and is some sort of natural fibre with a great deal of drape. Unfortunately it was only 90cms wide, although I had metres of it, but I didn’t have enough to make a tiered version of the Phoebe Maxi, so had to make the A-line version instead, but this is still a fabulous outfit.

I think I like the blouse best when teamed with the skirt. Of course I love the pockets, which are big!

I have the perfect sandals to wear with this outfit.

The buttons are French from the 1930s which I bought in Melbourne many years ago, so it’s great to have used a few of them. They are so perfect for this fabric.

I am really enjoying the silhouette this outfit gives me. The skirt is really comfortable and I feel quite dressed up in it.

I could have worn this for Perth Frocktails, but I had some really special fabric that I thought would be just the ticket. I bought a whole roll at the Fibres West garage sale (the gift that keeps on giving), and it cost me a massive $5. This is silk which has been hand tied and dyed and painted. On the left is another roll of Japanese silk I bought and which I had to use to line the pockets and waistband. 

The fabric is extremely narrow and I had to cut the Phoebe Maxi skirt in single layers and put in centre front and centre back seams.

I found the perfect buttons in my stash. This is obviously whilst I was auditioning buttons and hadn’t sewed them on yet.

I made the Phoebe Flounce with the open band at the bottom and no flounce as I was extremely short of fabric in spite of having a whole roll. I didn’t even have enough fabric to make the ties so Sarah from pattern Union found me the these frogs from her op shopped stash. They could not be more perfect and she’s so generous!

I wore my favourite gold “slippers” by Figini which are handmade in Milan, and which I’ve had for at least ten years. I think they are the perfect shoes for this fabric.

My Ida Clutch, made from green and brown leather, is also a perfect coordinate, although I made a brilliant tassel which fell off before I even got inside the door. An easy fix though. 

There was no chance of pattern matching, but I think the way the flowers fell is quite pleasing to the eye. I left side splits in the seams to give a bit more visual interest to the skirt.

This is me, waiting to leave for Perth Frocktails. It was such a good night and I had a lovely time fondling fabric and talking all things sewing.  You can see that we currently have the red wreath on the wall, but we intend to swap them over at some point. 

The Phoebe Flounce is currently on sale for $10 and the Phoebe Maxi is still on sale for $6. A whole outfit with several variations for $16 Australian, and I can really recommend it. Have a look at Sarah’s outfit with the flounce and peasant skirt, which is on the website.