When I see buffalo plaid, the first thing I think of is flannel lumberjack shirts. Come on, I can’t be the only one! So my first idea was to go super girly with a ruffled coat and full gathered skirt with lace. Originally, I wanted to stick to a black and white palette and maybe add interest with stripes. V does the most fun pattern mixing and I wanted to play with that. However, when we went to Mood Fabrics, she spotted a blue buffalo plaid that she had to have. I went with color mixing and scale variations within the same pattern instead.
I drafted the skirt first. It’s a simple gathered skirt with a flat front and elastic back. I used buttonhole elastic to make it adjustable. I drafted a curved yoke for the front and outlined it with piping. Lace at the hem for extra fanciness. I’m so happy with my plaid matching. The side seams are completely invisible!
I also made a T-shirt to be worn with the skirt. It’s a basic Jalie 2805 with sleeves modified to be puffed and gathered at the sleeve with foldover elastic. The bottom is finished with black stretch lace trim.
And uh, I just had to add a little buffalo appliqué. Made out of buffalo plaid. It’s a buffalo plaid buffalo! I couldn’t find thin black ribbon to make a bow so I crocheted one to put on the buffalo.
I had this flower appliqué that was originally going to go on the coat but then, I thought it would be too busy so I moved it to the T-shirt. I think it’s perfect there, giving the back some interest and just peaking over the shoulder.
And finally, the coat. Now, that was a labor of love. It’s based on the Oliver + S Sunday Brunch jacket. I kept the sleeves but shortened them to remove the cuff. I then added a ruffle. The collar is unchanged. The front and back were extended and I skipped the skirt part. I made it A-line.
The back was split into three pieces in order to insert ruffles.
The seams are curved because I thought it was more elegant, like princess seams. And then, I did such a good job matching the plaid that I realized you couldn’t even see the curves! So I topstitched them to make them more visible. (And I just realized I didn’t get a picture close enough to see the topstitching.)
Everything is perfectly matched. I’m so proud of that! Plaid matching scares me and I usually get around it by playing with print direction, alternating bias and straight grain pieces. It would have been way too messy here though, what with the ruffles and the two different scales I was using. Besides, the challenge with plaid is pattern matching across seams and finding a way around that difficulty felt like cheating.
The main coat is a large black and white flannel plaid. The ruffles and facings are the smaller black and white flannel plaid, all cut on the bias. And the lining is the same blue as the skirt. Facing and hem were finished with white bias tape.
We took pictures in Prospect Park, on Lookout Hill. Almost no one comes here and the greenery grows quite wild. I was hoping for more colorful trees but there’s no rushing nature, is there?
I’m so very proud of this look. It’s some of my best work ever.
Creative mommy at home to two wonderful little girls, trying to juggle family, sewing, exercise, family, knitting, photography, and did I mention family?
Deux souriceaux 
You almost lost me in la-la land when you said you went to Mood. Someday …… But then I saw that super cute crochet bow and I was back! Good job. The jacket is my favourite.
LikeLike
You’ll just have to come visit me someday! I haven’t actually explored the garment district as much as I would like because I always blow so much money on my first stops (Mood and Pacific Trimming).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m realizing I’m well on my way to having a sewing friend in every state!! I will definitely come find you if I ever get the opportunity to actually do Mood!!
LikeLike
Wouaou!!!! quel look….. C’est génial, depuis les chaussures et la jupe, la petite veste est juste à “croquer “, quelle patience pour réussir aussi bien le dos du vêtement, c’est époustoufflant de créativité. Bravo Raphaëlle et félicitations à Valérie , comme elle a l’air content et heureux!!!!!Quelle belle complicité entre les filles et leur maman. Joëlle > Message du 24/10/17 14:02 > De : “Deux souriceaux” > A : herve_lelievre@orange.fr > Copie à : > Objet : [New post] Buffalo Lace and Frills > >WordPress.com
deuxsouriceaux posted: “When I see buffalo plaid, the first thing I think of is flannel lumberjack shirts. Come on, I can’t be the only one! So my first idea was to go super girly with a ruffled coat and full gathered skirt with lace. Originally, I wanted to stick to a black and”
LikeLike
Merci! J’ai été très nerveuse au moment de couper le tissu et si fière quand j’ai vu que j’avais réussi!
LikeLike
That jacket! And the skirt and shirt! I love all and now want an adult size version.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m very proud of it all.
LikeLike
I really like your jacket…and the ruffles in the back are off the chart! I can see the qualityof your sewing with the construction of the jacket on the inside!!! Lovely outfit!
LikeLike
Thank you! Proper finishing is very important to me even if most people don’t notice it. To me, it’s the mark of quality. In fact, I had to force myself to calm down with the finishing. I used to finish even the enclosed seam allowances!
LikeLike
That jacket is fantastic! I love the scale of the plaids, and the ruffles.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m hoping the flannel makes it a little bit warm even if it’s just cotton. (I have a thing where the only fabric I trust to be warm is wool.)
LikeLike
Love everything about this outfit, especially the blue plaid! Blue is my favorite color. The jacket is my favorite! Those ruffles! I want one in my size! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you! It’s my favorite color too. V saw the fabric and she had to have it…
LikeLike
It is such a beautifully done outfit, on both the inside and outside! I think the buffalo and flowers on the shirt are really fun, too.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m very happy with my work on this project.
LikeLike
Such lovely work! I’d have voted for this… I also voted for you the first week and was so disappointed at the results! Oh well…
LikeLike
Thank you! I think this was my favorite outfit that I made for the competition (it was done and photographed before I found out I was eliminated.)
LikeLike