Hi everyone!

Today I’m so excited to welcome guest blogger and self-taught home-sewist Allison of @sowingwithstitches!  Allison is going to share her experience working with a new pattern and the Cotton Batiste fabric from the Lush Collection by Juliet Meeks!


I think that one of the very best things about sewing your own clothes are the little just-for-you touches that you are able to include in the creative process. For me, this organic cotton Daisy Lattice Batiste was one of those things! I recently tested the newly released Victory Tank from Chalk and Notch Patterns, and after reading through the fabric recommendations, noticed that I would need to work with a new-to-me fabric: either a bemberg, batiste or a similarly weighted fabric, easy to turn and light-handed. Searching through Cottoneer’s website late one night, I was thrilled to come across this organic cotton Daisy Lattice Batiste for my lining! I am a sucker for anything floral, and the bright, tangerine centers of the daisies were the exact same shade of orange as the thrifted mid-weight linen I had chosen for my main fabric. Heavier than lawn or voile, I knew this batiste would be the perfect compliment weight-wise with the mid-weight of the linen. I also appreciated the fact that unlike a poly or rayon batiste, this organic cotton will be incredibly eco-friendly once it is no longer worn. 

When I first opened my package from Cottoneer, I was wonderfully surprised by the subtle blush highlights that the petals on the daisies have! Not only this, but the texture of this particular batiste was super soft and luxurious against my skin – perfectly suited for lining my tank. Sheer against light, the batiste turned opaque against my linen. I washed the batiste on a cold, delicate cycle and let it air dry flat before ironing it on the regular cotton setting. Admittedly, I was initially a little nervous to sew with the batiste. Would it fray? Would it be too slippery to cut and stitch well? I am happy to report that I had no problems with any of these things, thanks to the high quality of the natural fibers. The batiste proved to be quite strong throughout sewing, so much so that I made my tank reversible! 

With the summer temperatures really starting to heat up, this tank is the one of the first things I have found myself reaching for in my closet, especially when I see the cheery daisies peeking out at me. My tank with the beautifully contrasting daisy lattice batiste lining will be a cherished addition to my summer wardrobe for years to come.


Allison Nance is a self-taught home-sewist with a passion for community. Find her on Instagram at @sowingwithstitches.

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