Tie Dye and Summer seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly- they’re just kind of a pair. Looking back, I seem to get a hankering to sew up some tie dye duds right around this time every year- I’ve done shibori family tees, a blue tie dye Havana dress, a bamboo dolman, even a tie dye tie back tank (say that three times fast!).
But this year, what has really been catching my eye are the tie dye leggings- the ones that sell for over $100 in Lululemon. Right now, I’d rather be putting that $100 into home renovation projects (like a floor to walk on….), so I went looking for some fabric to make my own. And came up empty. There’s quite a bit of tie dyed waffle knit and double brushed poly out there, even some tie dye rayon spandex, but I had a heck of a time finding any tie dye activewear knit.
So, I did what any sensible sewist would do, and asked my good friends over at the Fabric Fairy if they might design some. Being the absolutely wonderful human she is, Meg said yes, and this beautiful blue tie dye athletic fabric was born. The Olympus base is just perfect for activewear- thick enough to be “squat proof”, quick drying in the summer heat, and with 25% spandex, the recovery and stretch are more than sufficient for even the most compressive patterns.
I chose the Super G leggings from Greenstyle (sewalong HERE), and whipped up what is probably my favorite thing in my whole closet right now- which is really saying something, because I’ve made some good things lately.
I did pay some attention in cutting to make sure I didn’t end up with symmetrical starbursts on my butt, but apart from that, I really didn’t worry too much about lining things up anywhere, which was a relaxing change from cutting stripes and directional prints.
I decided that a new favorite pair of leggings needed a new favorite tank to match, so I took out the Muscle Up Tank that I bought when it was released (but hadn’t sewn up because of the move) and got to work.
The blue mesh (also from Fabric Fairy) happens to match the leggings perfectly, and the smallest size was spot on for fit after I cropped off about 4″ in length from the bottom.
In fact, I love these so much that I’m going back to snag the rest of the Tie Dye colors– each has a coordinating Olympus solid, and I think they’d be amazing as Cavallo tights (pattern review here)
Bonus: Tie Dye Calgary Cardigan
Oh, and I snuck in this tie dye Calgary cardigan, because I was in the mood…
You can check out my review of that pattern here– it’s really become a favorite when I need a quick and cozy sew.
This one is made from Tie Dye waffle knit from Pretty Posh Prints, and its nice and lightweight- perfect for those cool nights (or that trip to the ocean I’m hoping we get to do this summer). There is this Olympus print that is pretty much the activewear version of this fabric, and I think I need to make that set happen.
Home Renovation Advice!
Now…for home renovation advice. I bought but returned this dining room chandelier because it was too big for our space, and hubby didn’t like how it obstructed our view out the window.
I’m thinking of getting something like this,
or this:
to go above our dining table instead, but I’m feeling indecisive, so I’d love your input!
Forgive the terrible night time photo, but this is our dining area currently:
I don’t know how people ever build houses from scratch- if it takes me weeks to find the right light, it would take me YEARS to get through the simplest design process. So please, offer your suggestions!
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