o hey! Spring is definitely springing around here at last! but we did recently have one last gasp-y blast of winter in the last week which inspired me to make just one last little winter-y thing… I haven’t actually worn this new mini yet as per se, apart from taking these pictures! but well, you know, it’s nice to have a brand new thing waiting in the wings for when the next season doth roll back in.
Pattern; ye old fave, Vogue 1247, modified so that nearly all the interesting bits and style lines are removed and leaving it with a bare bones one piece front and two backs… Boooooring! I know, sorry, but honestly, even without the famous waitress pockets, which I LOVE, the core shape of this skirt is what makes it a great basic pattern… for me, it is the perfect winter-mini silhouette. Also, the fabric is quite thick, so pockets would have made it all too bulky really 🙂
extreme pattern matching is my kinda sport…
Also, the usual lengthening by 12cm and full lining.
Fabric; I bought this lovely, pure woollen tartan in Japan of all places… I know! not really a place you associate with tartan, I mean, it really seems like the kind of thing you’d wait for a trip to Scotland to buy. But I saw it, in a divine little shop called Check & Stripe, instantly fell in love and thought a little mini skirt would be nice. It was a little price-y, so I only bought 80cm, which is just enough length so I could cut the waistband and then the mini with a substantial hem, just in case I should ever want to add some length back one day.
At first I thought I’d make it unlined and make a separate slip, for versatility in case I should want to wear it without tights… but common sense prevailed, obviously it’s a winter skirt and I would always be wearing it with tights… so even though I went to the effort of HongKong seaming everything inside I still put in the lining after all. It is a rather nice lining; a thin, black silk charmeuse remnant I discovered in my stash, during a recent sort through… but I have absolutely zero memory where it came from, though I have a feeling it was a cast-off from Mum.
I used all my own skirt-lining tips, here.
the inside is quite fuzzy and a little felty…
I made the bias-cut binding for myHongKong seams using an olive green cotton poplin from Spotlight, and busted a gut getting all the plaids and everything lined up and matching to the nth degree… it’s funny, once upon a time I mightn’t have been too excessively obsessive about getting the most perfectest of perfect pattern matching that the naked human eye can detect, oh well OK. I have always been a bit like that! But I do think the advent of blogging and the thought that EVERYONE CAN SEEEEE!! has ramped it up some, so that even a couple of mm has me hauling out the seam ripper and redoing seams. THE PRESSURE!!!
Details:
Skirt; modified Vogue 1247, wool tartan and fully lined
Top; drape-y top a, from drape drape by Hisako Sato, linen knit, details here
Tights; voodoo
Boots; Roberto del Carlo, from Zomp shoes
OH! and I almost forgot about this dark blue hoodie… I actually made it months ago for our holiday to Alaska/Canada, but when packing I decided two fleece hoodies was overkill and I ended up only taking the hot pink one and leaving this one behind. I shoved it to the back of a drawer and immediately forgot all about it. Well, it’s pretty boring, so no wonder… Recently I found it again and was like O hey! this thing!! I’d already given the hot pink one to Cassie…well, she looks about a thousand times better in it! and so I’ll keep this one for the unglamorous things in my life like car- and dog-washing, gardening, camping etc…
Just like the hot pink one; this is made using Burda 8042, all materials from Spotlight. Differences, I made the pockets as patch pockets, and the only matching separating zip I could find was a bit short, so it only zips up about two thirds of the way up. I really like this partially-zipped look, so that’s ok with me.
The patch pockets; I overlocked the raw edges and then simply top-stitched them on, so there’s less bulk than the welt pockets I put in the pink one.
Here I’m wearing it on its very first outing, which also happens to be Clara’s very first outing to the beach! She was so cute; growling and pouncing upon the odd patch of old smelly seaweed, being all amazed by the surf, and very excited at the seagulls. She bravely got a little wet in the shallows and generally bounced about joyfully in her usual puppy way. I’ve got high hopes that she is going to love beach walking just as much as I do! Yay!!
Details:
Hoodie; Burda 8042, blue fleece
Tshirt; modified Nettie, Closet Case patterns, white cotton mix stretch, details here
Jeans; Closet Case patterns Ginger jeans, dark blue denim, details here
Socks; knitted by me, details here
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
location; Eagle Bay, Western Australia
Now that’s all very well, we all need basics blah blah blah, but I got my latest Vogue magazine the other day, which always gets me revved up to MAKETH YE NOT BORING STUFF BUT INTERESTING STUFF… and I’m like, well, how does Vogue magazine make boring things not-boring?
And of course… dramatic pose! Hoodie equals kinda sporty, so; random piece of sporting equipment! Socks with heels!! now that’s more like it… ha!
what would Vogue do?? #wwvd
Wearing it here with my “she wears the pants” trousers, hand-knitted sockies and Pedro Miralles heels… what’s that? am I actually gonna leave the house like this?? I’ll never tell… 😉
Both garments are lovely, I adore the skirt!! It’s stunning.
thank you! 🙂
plaid matching as sport – Yes Please, my kind of sport! very cute skirt. and something I would wear at Christmastime but that probably won’t work for you 🙂
thanks Beth! “extreme plaid matching” should definitely be a “thing” don’t you think? 😉
Olympic level plaid matching, I’d say! All your makes are perfection. Also adorable puppy!
thank you so much Louisa! 🙂
Both are great, but that mini skirt – I’m in love with it!!! And your skills are amazing!
thank you so much Carmela! xx 🙂
You obviously have many talents and gifts.. not only gold-medal level sewing but apparently the ability to know that as I started reading this I would think to myself “Oh, I wish I knew where to find her tips for sewing linings in skirts”! And you were kind enough to post the link! Happy Day!! Hand clapping and all!
thank you so much Angela! I’m so glad you found the tips helpful, thank you for letting me know 🙂
You’ve got a bit of a Vivienne Westwood vibe going on with that outfit lady, I like it! And I love your vogue pose!
thank you so much Sarah! ooh, Vivienne Westwood, how did you know she was one of my design superheroes? 🙂
I think you have a future in fashion editorials–nailed the look! (All that’s missing are some artsy paint splatters on the background wall!). That, and your attention to detail are quite impressive!
thanks so much K, hehe you are so right, edgy graffiti is SO where it’s at. Kicking myself at the missed opportunity to splatter some paint… 😉
Ah yes, very VOGUE!! Makes me sort of think of the Madonna song too, in a very nice, flattering sort of way. Love them both! Nothing boring about either one. And little Clara is the most adorable! So glad to hear she loves the beach as much as you do. You’ve got a great friend there. 🙂
thank you so much Lisa! She’s getting to be more and more of a “friend” every day, which is so heart warming to me 🙂
Love the look(s) and all the attention to detail. Beautiful sewin. Just a pity your future posts will highlight long warm days just as we hunker down for another British winter.
Have looked at Drape Drape before but I have now ordered it so will definitely try something even if it needs modification.
thank you so much Lis! we’ve had an unusually cold and wet spring so I am DYING for some warmer weather too. Come on summer! 🙂
I m in love with your skirt….
thank you so much Liochka! xx
I’ve gotta tell you that your last photo is my favourite, although it’s hotly contested by the Clara photo! Love the skirt – natch!
thank you so much Sue! I’m thinking I should always consider wwvd 🙂
I can totally get behind plaid matching as a sport! And your description of Clara on the beach is too adorable.
thank you Becky! it’s so important to me that she love the beach so I’m thrilled that she does 🙂
Red plaid is a neutral, right? Love the skirt. And love the blue hoodie, especially the way you did the pocket. And of course the last photo. I can’t see you going out like that but I wish you would! Those shoes are smashing.
thank you so much Barbara! I could be persuaded to go out like that if I was meeting you lovely Vancouver ladies for mimosas more often. SO much fun! Perth ladies do NOT dress for fun like this 🙂
Dramatic pose for the win! Both garments are great, and I love the “plaid matching as sport” comment. Can totally relate!
thank you so much Lisa! xx
Ah! Plaid pattern perfection! It is so much easier on the eyes. On mismatched ready to wear, I am continually trying to make the lines match up visually! It’s almost a vibration thing. Oh, the perils of a sewing enthusiast!
The Hoodie looks so comfortable! I hadn’t thought about using a shorter zip. I love it on the beach while walking with Clara as well as the ultra-sporty Vogue pose! (Big smiles for both).
thank youPencil Girl! yes unmatched plaid is pretty distressing, and if it’s only a few mm it can be even worse. As you say, the perils of sewing! we’ve been ruined and can never go back to unmatched stripes or plaids! Aaaagh!
Who doesn’t like a tartan mini – it is fab. I am also taking great joy in pattern matching of late but I can’t always get it spot on if I need to make a later size tweek. Jo xxx
thanks so much Jo! Pattern matching can be such a joy, but a hair-pulling one at the same time. Aaaagh!
With the title of the post, I was expecting to see the hoodie paired with the tartan skirt. Casual casual style. I grew up in a beach town in Florida, USA. I think the blue in the jacket would pull out the blue in the plaid.
thanks Maggie B! You are right, they would look ok together. I’ll have to give it a go! 🙂
Such styling! Vogue needs you.
haha, thanks K-Line! 🙂
i almost guffawed aloud on the train when I saw your socks/heels/skateboard shot!
I’m glad it gave you a laugh Melanie! 🙂
Your last photo has made me smile on a rather heads down day at work. A hoodie is the perfect thing for dog walking on those cool mornings and nights that we are still experiencing.
Your little tartan mini is gorgeous, and pattern matching is one of the things us sewers can achieve to perfection not like the big dollars RTW expects you to pay and it is not matched even kind of. Llike you I love this vogue pattern it is so good that I don’t think I will be giving it up any time soon.
thanks Sharon! I’m glad it gave you a smile! Plaid matching is kinda essential to us sewists, but can be pretty stressful, yes? Though not nearly as stressful as seeing a completely unmatched plaid in rtw (nails on chalkboard shudder)