cheater cheater

pumpkin eater

Beignet - photo from website

I spent a lot of time this weekend working on a muslin (yep, only a muslin) of this skirt.  I love it!  I think it will answer my desire for a straight skirt.  Monday morning - after not finding the answers in my fitting books and feeling ready to sell the entire studio - machines, fabric, patterns, notions - on ebay.  I finally walked up to my neighbors.  See her mother, lives with them, and used to draft her own patterns, sewed for a living and now does nothing.

It felt horrible and rude - since they've lived there for about 4 years and while we've met the "kids" we'd never me the mother.  But - nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

I went up and sat with A for about 45 minutes, she measured my waist and my hips and told me where I was "fullest."  Then she told me how to change the pattern and to sew it up in muslin again.  She asked that I keep her advised of how it turned out - so I will do just that.  I haven't made the (simple) alteration yet - but that's what football is for, right?  So if not tonight, Thursday for sure!

(oh and while I felt like a heel for finally introducing myself because I could use A's help and experience, she enjoyed herself, said it felt good to be needed and asked me to come back again.) 

I Might Have A Problem

Saturday - after tooling around the Edmonds Markets and ordering a new "vintage" necklace, JB and I slowly wound our way home.  JB was in the mood to putter when he saw a sign for an estate sale, he just started following it.

Well, no estate sale, apparently it was on Friday only.  But the neighbor across the house was having a yard sale.  It as a very sweet older couple who had been married 50 years and were starting to clear out their home in preparation of moving into senior housing.

They were selling their china!  It isn't a complete set with serving pieces, but it is a service for 12 with dinner, salad and bread plates as well as cups and saucers.  There is a silver rim and beautiful gold, silver and bronze leaves on the plates.  I love it.  JB asked if I wanted it without me even saying anything - so now I have 10 different sets of dishes - time to stop?

Beignet in Muslin

Front View

So - what's going on here?  The waist is too big, by maybe 2".
the at the hips?  What am I seeing? 
Those are folds of fabric going from the hip to the waist, not pulls.

But I don't know how to fix it!

Side Seams hang straight

Back View - Not Too Bad

This is my "true muslin" of Colette Patterns Beignet Skirt.  My hips need a size 18, but my waist was between a 16 and an 18, so I traced a straight 18. 
I will say the waist is a big big, but other than those strange fabric folds,
it fits pretty good - ideas?  Suggestions?  Please help
I want my sewing mojo to return.