Second Skirt - Same as the First

Back in December, I showed you the first variation on Simplicity 5914. I love this skirt and have several versions. Until recently it's always fit me well - now it gaps at the back.

For this version - I laid the center front and the side front next to each other on the seam lines and traced the pieces as one. I did however - trace a front with the protruding abdomen alteration as well as a separate back with a sway back adjustment. I did not however, take big enough darts in the back.

I put an invisible zipper in the side seam and used facings.

The skirt was a bit boring and brown, so I added three rows of tucks around the hem. To do this - I pressed the (already hemmed) skirt up 5" all around and then used a foot with a side rudder and stitched 1/4" from the fold just made. Then I pressed up 4" from the bottom and finally 3". It's an interesting addition that rather reminds me of adding "growth" tucks into a garment for a child.

Last - see me new Danskos? I realize they aren't the most fashionable shoes to be wearing with a skirt - but my hip and knee have been bothering me again and I can wear these shoes all day without any pain. And they are a bit dressier than my red dansko clogs.

So - my sewing friends - what do you think? Was I able to make it work?

Carolyn Skirt - Variation on a Theme

The pattern for this skirt started life as Simplicity 5914. I have had this pattern for years and made it several times. Always right from the envelope. The first time I made it The Princess was still in high school, she's been out now for 5 years. Last week Bonnie posted a super cute skirt that she made. I loved it. Had to have one. And since reading your comments about jeans, I decided maybe the way to go was to make some casual skirts for work. (And I swear I wore hose, but they were shredded and I ditched them when I got to knitting.) Anyway. The fabric is a stretch twill with a huge amount of stretch. I cut the skirt on the lengthwise grain so the stretch went up and down rather than around. I quit literally made this skirt 4 times on Sunday. Just this one - there aren't 3 other versions. Sad, no? I started with the simplicity pattern, traced the pattern taking about 2" of flare out of the seams surrounding the front and back pieces. I now you can't see it, but this is a standard a-line, 6-gored skirt. 2 pieces, center front/back cut twice on fold and side piece cute 4 times. So I only took the flare out of the front/back and one side of the side panel. I put a lime green zipper in it and tried it on. Too much flare on side/side seams. Took it off, took about 4" off the bottom of the side seams. Tried it on again, not too bad. I used a lime green gross grain ribbon to face the zipper and sewed it to the bottom to give the hem some weight. Went outside to show JB - he thought the green was hideous! Went back in the house - took skirt off, threw it on the ironing board and went to cook dinner. Sunday I decided to try again. I stated by ripping. All the ribbon had to come off, the the zipper. Then I had to press everything, dig around for a different zipper and start over. Put in the brown separating zipper. Tried it on - still too much flare - seriously?! Took out just a smidge more flare at the bottom and took the seams in at the waist about an inch and a half. Good! Dug through my cottons stash and found a print with a brown background. Cut 5" strips that I seamed to make long enough. Faced the zipper and hem with the cotton print. I also cut the facings from the same print. Very happy with the skirt. Not so happy with how the photos look. Plus can I just say - I tried this one several times in the process, when I got dressed for work on Wednesday with my control top hose - it was too big. A good 2" extra at the back waste. Dang!!

This Has Got to be My Favorite

A couple of years ago I had a vision. I wanted a black and white skirt with handmade lace peeking out from the hem. I had originally thought that I would crochet the lace so I made a lining from white muslin, starched the heck out of it and hemmed it with a wing needle which created little holes so I could crochet lace directly to the lining.

I knew the skirt would be from my favorite Kwik Sew skirt pattern (I think I've made 12 skirts from this pattern over the last 2 years). I tried several different crocheted lace samples on a sample of the lining. Nothing looked right. So I set it aside and made other things. Then I found the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Debbie Bliss magazine. There was a pattern for knit lace shown on the edge of a shelf. That was it! I knew it instantly.

I spent a couple of evenings knitting the lace, then I washed it in hot water - twice. Drying it in the dryer.

I have worn this skirt twice and I love it. It is fun and flirty. Wednesday I work it to knitting group and everyone had to lift my skirt and look at the lace. Today it was ASG - again several people had to lift my skirt to look at the lace. Then when I was in the grocery store, some man walking past me said "You look great in that skirt!"

It's a winner!

Look - Sewing!

Remember that big box I got from Cami last week? Well it also had fabric in it. I had seen this beautiful Denyse Schmidt leaf print at the Expo. But there were a couple of problems with it. First - the original one I saw was a mustardy gold with brown leaves. Second it was $23/yard! It's a lightweight home deck fabric but I wasn't about to pay that much for a funky skirt. Third, I had just decided that I needed to dress my age. God love Cami, Carolyn, Channon, Jessica, Yvonne, Sue, Marjie and everyone else who said that dressing your age is overrated. Cami mentioned that she had that same leaf print in the pink colorway in the shop, on sale. The checks in the mail I said. Why you're cutting it, why don't you look for something that will look great with it for pipping. So that pretty little brown micro dot is what she sent.

Thursday after getting JB settled and napping I went down to the studio and cut out this skirt. I cut strips on a slight bias for pipping, turned on my iron and headed upstairs to the new machine. Seriously there is a reason everything is in one place. This is the quickest skirt I ever make - there are 4 seams and a zipper. It goes together so quickly.

I did sew the two front seams twice. Originally I thought I'd add the contrast flat, but it was getting lost. So I ripped those seams and added cording to the trim and stitched them up again. Just a reminder - when you are adding pipping to a seam that needs more work done to it, ie: a hem, taped the pipping out at the hem line and there will be a ton less bulk to try and turn, press and stitch. This is one of my favorite skirts ever. I love this pattern. It quick to make and easy to wear. I had thought that the pipping might be uncomfortable, but it's not anywhere on the body that I'm sitting on. It's out of the way.

Mojo Rising

This is the first thing I have ever made from Burda World of Fashion. It's 02/2009 #121. I did not cut the dress on the bias, the fabric is printed on the bias - deliberately. I bought 5 yards of this rayon fabric 3+ years ago at Pacific Fabrics when I was attending the Everett Neighborhood Group Meetings of my local ASG. I do not remember how much I paid for it. There are a few things I could have done differently on this dress, but it fits and not too snugly. I have a pretty floral knit to make another and I think for that one I will use the 2 piece sleeve. I the future - I need to grade up through the hips on WOF - I would be more comfortable if there were more room. Also, I didn't understand the directions on inserting the elastic in the neckline casing. There isn't suppose to be elastic all the way around, just the sleeves and the center front neckline. I traced a straight 44 (now I can't remember and I don't have time to go look) as it was as big as the pattern went. According to my measurements, that's big enough for my bust, but my waist needed to be a size bigger and my hips 2. Like I said it fits - but . . . I did add width to the sleeve. So far I haven't added elastic at the sleeve hems and I don't believe I'm going to. With elastic the sleeves would fall at a really funny place. Now they aren't so bad but in the future - length as well as width would be good. Hoping to hem it this week then I'll get modeled shots.

Can I?

So, I took the Amy Butler Sun Surf Halter and lengthened it. After making the version for Miss C I kept thinking that I really liked it. But the length was weird, more tunicy than I like and way too full for a shorter top. I didn't try the version on that I made before mailing it off. So, I wasn't sure how it was going to fit me. Last weekend I was digging around in the cotton cupboard and found the left over Amy Butler pink floral print. I really liked this fabric but there was only enough for the back. Well that wouldn't work, so I kept pulling things out. I finally settled on this red mottled cotton which pulls the red from the pink. I used the pink print for the border and tie. I added 6" originally to the halter pattern, but then ended up taking 4 inches off before I added the border which finished at about 4." My belly is still smaller than my chest and hips. Looking at the photos, I think I could have straighted the side seams a bit rather than left the a-line shape. I wore it to dinner tonight with a little ivory cardi. I got one compliment from one of the other wives. And I asked her to tell me truthfully if it was a flattering style. I'm still not sure so I'm asking you - just because it fits, is it a style I can wear?

In the Mail

Not to me this time, but from me to Camilla as a shop sample for Clementine's Dry Goods. This was a super easy top to make. Only the front is lined. All the shaping comes from the drawstring in the front and the elastic across the back I don't quite understand this type of top. I mean - what do you wear with it? It's so full at the bottom that I'm thinking you need something slim. So would you pair it with skinny jeans, shorts, or a straight skirt? Also - looking at the photo - it would appear that I lucked out with the placement of the large circles in the print. It felt so good to get back into the sewing room. Miss C - going out in the mail to you today. Hope it fits. If not, bring more fabric and we'll do it again :)