The Anorak made with FS Elizabeth Pink Faille Cotton

As summer winds down in the Northern Hemisphere and we collectively mosey (or for some of us, beeline) towards all things plaid and pumpkin, I decided instead to purchase what one friend called the “loudest” fabric I’ve ever picked to make the floral Fall pullover of my dreams.

Moving to a new city back in August has inspired such a shift in creative energy for me, and seeing all of the fun and funky sidewalk styles makes me want to experiment with my own wardrobe more. When I saw the Elisabeth faille and its bold, large scale floral pattern, I thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to try my hand at sewing with a strong print. Since working with faille last time, I knew I wanted to make something a bit more structured while also keeping the core of my aesthetic and the realities of my new climate in mind.

The Anorak made with FS Elizabeth Pink Faille Cotton

The Sew Sew’s low-waste pattern, The Anorak, fit the bill; the mix of whimsical print and utilitarian silhouette would be just tongue-and-cheek enough, and the last couple of chilly mornings have made me acutely aware that my closet lacks transitional pieces. And while faille is considered a lightweight fabric at 4.4 ounces a square yard, I knew that the ribbed texture of the fabric added enough heft to work with the pattern. 

The Anorak made with FS Elizabeth Pink Faille Cotton

I actually tested the Anorak for Cindy back when it was released, and Past Me did a huge favor to Present Me when she went ahead and made pattern pieces for everything, instead of drafting directly on the fabric as a lot of low- and zero-waste patterns have you do. I got off to a quick start, as the fabric needed next to no pressing even after being washed and dried. I made a size 2/4 based on recommended body measurements, and left off the two welt pockets to reduce bulk in the middle, though I think it would have been completely fine in this fabric. The more technical or fussy bits of construction, like the zippered kangaroo pocket, were relatively painless because of how easy the faille is to press and work with. I swapped out the grommets for buttonholes, and lucked out in finding green cord locks at Pendleton Woolen Mill that perfectly matched the secondhand zipper I scored at Scrap PDX last time I visited. 

The Anorak made with FS Elizabeth Pink Faille Cotton

Even though the suggested fabric for this kind of garment is mid- to heavyweight, the ribbing texture of faille adds a considerable amount of stability and structure when wearing. It’s light enough to add a little extra warmth without feeling cumbersome, and its hand is soft so that I feel comfortable wearing it as a standalone top. It’s the perfect piece to layer over a sweater for the chilly mornings that turn into warm afternoons. 

The Anorak made with FS Elizabeth Pink Faille Cotton

Heading into autumn, I wanted to bottle up that last month of golden sunshine (and roses everywhere!) for the greyer days ahead, extending the ubiquitous spring florals into another season. This make was such a fun experiment in dichotomous play, encouraging me to rethink the expectations ingrained in fabric and pattern types. And while it may not be groundbreaking enough for Miranda Priestly, I’ve already gotten several compliments from strangers while wearing it out, which is always a win in my book.