First Skirt In Ages

Honestly, I can't even believe it myself. An actual finished wearable project. **With pockets!
I totally forgot how hard it is to crawl around on the floor cutting out a clothing pattern though. I'm pretty sure that was the hardest part of the whole process. I've already worn it a couple of times.

Here's the pattern in case you're curious, Butterick 6305. Nothing exciting, except for the fabric of course.

70's Flashback

This fabulous Alexander Henry print reminded me too strongly of my favorite designs of the 70's. It is going to be made up into a skirt, a simple one with pockets. Any details would be lost in the face of this exuberant print. I briefly considered making a tunic top, but the print is a little too crazy for that.
I haven't done any garment sewing in quite a while, so it will be interesting to see if I remember to not do a 1/4" seam, etc.

A New Fall Skirt

I recently found these two fabrics on the sale table at my local fabric store. They were marked down to $3 a yard. I thought they'd make a nice new skirt for fall having the brownish plum colors that I like to wear so much.I thought I'd try a different pattern that I'd never used, one with pockets this time around. The Park Bench pattern is quite simple, but when I tried it on the first time, ooh, it was just a little bit too tight. The pattern is mostly recommended for knits, it probably would have fit if I'd done it up in a knit. So I undid one of the side seams and added an insert of the contrast fabric. I think I like how it turned out. I missed having pockets on the other skirts I've made recently.

Skirting the Issue

Oh hahaha right? Onto the next skirt project. One that has also been staring at me accusingly for a year from the Fabric I'm Not Putting Away Yet Because Then I'll Forget Why The Heck I Bought It Pile. Don't you have one of those fabric piles? No? Uhmm. Just me then I guess. Anyways.
I have this idea for a hem treatment on the next skirt. Should the measuring tape fabric be used vertically?
Or horizontally? Please note that it is NOT used as a waistband treatment (hardyharhar).

Here is a detail of what I ended up doing. Please note the ass-kicking job I did on adding some red piping. Oh yes I did, I not only did a hemline treatment innovation on this very simple skirt, but I stuck some piping in there. And it did not kill me. And it didn't take as long as I thought. Or turn out in a manner that makes me embarrassed to be wearing the skirt. I'm really pleased with it. So pleased that I'm going on and on about it here to you. Because no one I know around here could really give two cans of beans about the topic!
And here is the very smugly satisfied sewist wearing her new creation. As long as I stand there by the red roses and green tree background, it is almost a chamelon camo effect..
I can't find the measuring tape fabric, but equilter has a slightly different one available.

A Skirt Per Week

I'm embarking on a new quest, to actually sew the skirts I've bought fabric and patterns for. What a concept eh?
I'm getting tired of all the room this stuff is taking up in my studio as well as on my mental to-do/shame/regret list. I also am still not buying new clothing as part of my wardrobe refashion pledge. I want a bunch of lightweight, easy-care, comfortable skirts that I can wear this summer instead of all my very worn-out shorts.
Because of the progression of my disease/condition I can't tolerate a lot of binding tight stuff around my middle. So I don't think that I can make anything that is really structured with a constructed waistband. Maybe if it is set low enough I can. But I'm not sure how flattering that would be, since I do still just barely have a defined waist, I ought to emphasize it, right?

I used fabric that I blogged about just over a year ago. One of my long-term half-baked plans was finally ready, hooray! This vintage fabric was found in Goodwill for a couple of bucks. I really like all the browns in it with a bit of contrasting blue, and the allover patterning is great for hiding wrinkles. And I have a shirt that goes with it, even better, right? One less thing to have to make...
So this elastic-waistbanded skirt was made with a pattern I drew myself from the fun, clearly written, beginner book Sew What Skirts. I've never sewn anything for myself to wear without using a store-bought pattern, so this was kind of thrilling in a small personal way. Instead of taking a pattern and altering it to fit me, I made a pattern from my measurements (what a thought, right!). And lo, and behold it fits, hey I can follow directions sometimes. The skirt is perfect, not too tight, not too loose, waistband just right, and I like the length. Now I can't get too cocky because this is not like sewing pants or something, but I'm still pretty chuffed about it all.
Now to choose the next one to work on for the upcoming week. I think it will be the embroidered purple cotton gauze using the Park Bench Patterns swirly circle skirt Griffith Park.