It’s the summer of the two piece set! Well, that was last summer too, but this summer, we’re seeing two piece sets everywhere – and here are a few of my favorites, and tips for baring a little skin… or not!
If you look in Ready to Wear, two piece sets are everywhere – crop tops, wide leg pants, tube tops, breezy long skirts – the two piece set is having a moment. I even bought one made from sweater knit (I do knit but VERY SLOWLY. I’d still be knitting this top two years from now.) These are a few of the sets I’ve made in the last year.
Here are three of my favorites and a freebie, too!
Sleeved or tank top sets:
I picked up two of these Know Me patterns this spring, one, by Handmade Millennial, is the Wave set – a two piece top and pant that has color blocking on both. The top is slightly cropped, sleeved or sleeveless, with back-elastic-waist pants with a barrel shape leg. Knit or woven, which I love!
ME2033 – shown below in the light blue/seaglass print cotton and linen fabric, pants also in black/gray herringbone ponte knit.
The second set I got is also a Know Me pattern, and is a cropped but meet-and-greet top with a column skirt, both in knit. Know me is indie design by the Big 5 (as they’re calling themselves Simplicity Creative Group now.)
ME2013 – skirt and cropped top
Tube Top and Wide Leg Pants:
I own the OOP HotPatterns SugarBabe set – which is a wide leg pant with a blouson tube top. This is long OOP and doesn’t exist any more, but you can draft a simple tube top using these instructions, and wear with your favorite wide leg pants sewing pattern. The easiest of the three options I’m featuring by FAR, this is a “first time sewing clothing” type of outfit. You’ll need a stable-ish knit fabric – a medium weight t-shirt knit or cotton/lycra is a good first-time choice for knit fabrics. If you have experience, you can sew it in a drapier, softer stretchier knit like rayon/lycra or poly/lycra). You *might* be able to find this on Etsy or Ebay, used but last I checked, all the ones that appeared were already sold.
Never fear! You can make (most) of this set using patterns you have and a FREE blouson tube top pattern.
Download the pattern/instructions here for the tube top.
Grab your favorite elastic wide leg pants pattern. Need a basic pattern? Here are a few of my favorites that are available:
HotPatterns Marrakkesch Xpress pants: wide leg, drawstring, easy with the legendary HP L shaped crotch curve that works SO well in the back! The lovely goodness of the oft-made original Marrakkesch pants without the fly front.
Etsy: the Paula Set by Ukranian (now living in Germany) designer Julia Dudas, from Dudas Patterns. Great paperbag waist (which will be covered up by the tube top but that won’t matter.)
Indie: The Luna Jogger – just leave off the elastic cuffs for these slightly lower rise relaxed pants.
How to sew this August Blouson Tube top using WOVEN fabric. If you want woven fabrics, try a lightweight cotton lawn or a rayon or soft rayon/linen blend (like Essex.) The key thing is the fabric must drape a little for the blousing effect. For WOVEN fabrics, increase the width measurement to your hip measurement plus 8″ not 4″. Prewash and dry your fabric to soften it up first.
Want more choices? Try the Saguaro Set by Friday Pattern co. and the Saturday Skirt Set also by Friday Pattern company. Or, really, any top and bottom pattern you love, sewn in the same or coordinating fabric becomes a summer set too!