Anne of Green Gables is an all-time comfort to me… I love the books, and I love the made for TV Canadian mini-series. I remember catching it on PBS as a child, immediately wanting to be Anne, and quickly adding kindred spirit and bosom friend to my vocabulary. As it’s been a while since I’ve sent a newsletter out, I wanted to lean on this old favored comfort, and make myself something comfy too.
Anne of Green Gables is a beloved childhood classic, the first book in an 8 book series that introduces the audience to the precocious redheaded orphan, Anne. She is longwinded, talkative, imaginative and full of dreams. She’s not the boy the elderly siblings intended to adopt for help on the farm, but they, reluctantly at first, keep the child who’s spirit quickly wins hearts. And so, we follow Anne in her new home of Green Gables as she stirs up trouble with her sharp tongue and whimsical antics. If you know, you know, and if you don’t know, I hope you watch this, just to know me a little better.
The film is set in the early 19th century, and features the styles of that time— I am thinking of Marilla in her skirts and “shirtwaists”, an early blouse style that began separating dresses into two pieces, and Anne gleefully donning the puffiest “leg of mutton” sleeves. In this watching, however, I gravitated to the simpler looks of a younger Anne in plaid and pinafores. I especially liked the idea of a sleeve shape that had more volume near the wrist than the shoulder.
I knew I wanted to make a blouse, as that category is currently lacking in my winter wardrobe. It was important to me that the fabric have a warm hand-feel, meaning that it be soft not crisp, and not feel cold when I first put it on. A lot of my tops have a cooler hand, silks and cotton poplins, and I don’t reach for them in the winter because of this, even if they look most suited to this season! Luckily the cotton plaid pictured above is just right! Flannels are a brushed cotton, and this fabric feels slightly brushed, or going in that direction at least, and lends it that warmth. To facilitate the ease of this project I decided to use a vintage pattern I had in my stash, using style 1 of Simplicity Pattern 3438, because it had the gorgeous voluminous sleeve that gathers at the bottom. This pattern is from the 50s, and has volume in the bodice that slims down over the hips to facilitate low-bulk for tucking in, which reminded me of the shirt-waist Edwardian blouse style, another nod to the movie. I made some alterations to it as I went, primarily changing the neckline to be plain as opposed to collared or bowed. I also used smaller buttons placed closer together, which makes it slightly annoying to take on and off, but I do adore how it looks. Feels special to take some extra time with it, buttons are simple adornment.
I have loved wearing this blouse for the past week, with many repeats. I love topping a vest over it so the sleeve shape shines, tucking it in or leaving it out, and adding a lacy collar to it (see photo at top!)… variations in wearing it galore. Feels good to have made myself a new closet staple!
No questions, this (1985) is the best adaptation of the cherished book… most especially due to Richard Farnsworth as Matthew Cuthbert, there is no equal!! Looking forward to hitting your inboxes again soon, with some reflections and new formats… til then, hope you enjoyed “the usual” and a personal fav :)
Love the color combination of this plaid flannel. And I love the button idea!