Tag Archives: Skirt

of dots and bats…

13/03/2021 5:55 pm \ 13 Comments \

I made a swishy new skirt…

this beautiful rayon challis fabric was generously given to me by Minerva in the UK in return for a blog post for their site, which can be read here.. however because of course I am in the habit of documenting my makes here on my own personal blog too, then here we are!

For sometime I’ve been wanting to make a maxi skirt, and just thought what the heck, no time like the present!  It’s very nearly zero waste, which I am quite proud of.  This is the very simple design:

I measured my waist and hips, and gave myself a bit of extra in the hips, and divided by six to get a rough dimensions for a six-gore skirt design, and the width at the bottom hem decided by subtracting my waist measurement from the total fabric width and then dividing by two, and the length of the skirt was determined by the length of fabric I had, divided by two obviously.  So first step was to draw up the one skirt piece.  Yes, I used the same pattern piece for all six gores!…  I planned to fit three of the gores onto each half of the fabric length I had, laid alternately up and down to make the most of the area.  This was possible because the print is non directional.  Actually, side note, but print-matching as a concept is actually the biggest fabric waster OF THEM ALL, I know, pretty controversial thing to say, huh?  Or not, it’s actually quite obvious of course, although no one wants to admit it!  🙂

Initially I thought I’d try to be clever and cut a waistband and pockets from that bit of scrap off the sides, but I quickly realised that pockets and/or a waistband were going to be, respectively; ugly and/or unnecessary.  So this skirt has neither in the end.

some progress shots…

when making a skirt of a delicate fabric and bias side seams, I’ve found it a good idea to hang the pieces up for a day or so to let some of that bias drop out before seaming.  Otherwise I’ve sometimes noticed that over time, the fabric can grow a slightly “gathered” look either side of that stable side seam stitching.

After under stitching the waist seam I didn’t feel like it was sitting very smooth and neat, so I topstitched around the top edge.  Hangs much nicer now I think!

I used a black invisible zip because that’s what I had!

  

Hemline before and after trimming…

  

I hemmed using the triple stitched skinny hem, as described here…

I gave it a half lining, because swishy skirts have a tendency to be clingy skirts if they do not have a lining, to disastrous effect. Fortunately I had some yellow lining fabric leftover from when I made my yellow Mundaring raincoat.  A lining doesn’t need to be super long to be effective for a main skirt, but now it’s done and I’ve worn it I’ve retrospectively decided I would prefer a big swishy lining too.  I may or may not add a doughnut shape to the bottom some time, to get one.

Anyway, it’s still gorgeously swishy!  I’m wearing it here with my little hand stitched Alabama Chanin tank top, which is my favourite tank top.  I really should make myself another, because I could literally wear this two hundred times a year, easily!  I mean, I don’t, but I could, I love it that much… Hmmm  *wanders off to the fabric room in search of white cotton jersey…*

this is how I wore it to bookclub…

In non sewing news; we are nicely settled into our house at last.  I still have a lot of cleaning out and sorting out to do to get our “family of five”possessions whittled down to be better suited to “empty nesters” state of things *sob* but you know… Work in progress, always!

Oh, one other, this time sewing related thing… Cassie needed a feeding cushion for baby Theo, so I made one using some batman themed cotton drill from spotlight and a European pillow insert.  It has a big border so as to use up the entire width of fabric #wastenotwantnot and I put snaps along the bottom to take the insert out for cleaning.  Look how cute he is on his cushion!  Yes, I made the “Tshirt” here which is actually a onesie, and the pants were a gift from another doting relative that happened to match perfectly  🙂

Until next time!

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separated Cissy… and it’s green

27/11/2020 11:14 am \ 8 Comments \

Seems like a bit of a non-sequitur, but kinda sums up the whole process actually.  Let me explain…

So I set out to make another Homer and Howells Cissy dress for myself because I was so pleased with the rust lace one that I’d made first off the block.  This is back in April by the way, back when we were in a lockdown of sorts here in Perth, when we were all terrified of the virus and didn’t know as yet that there was no community transmission here.  Yes, I do indeed know how very lucky we are! and it’s fantastic that everyone here is working hard to keep things that way too… but I digress!

I needed a sewing project!

I had some khaki-olive-blue-grey, slightly crinkly cotton in my stash  that Mum had chucked my way, when she cleaned out her own stash, and it was just enough to cut out the Cissy pieces.  Awesome!  It was meant to be!  However when I put it together I was just like…. blah.  I think when you’re feeling anxious and depressed then your soul cries out for cheer and vibrancy, or even just strength, even in colour form; and drab colours just kinda drag you down … however at the time I determined a waist was what was needed.  So I proceeded to cut a straight waistband from the scant remains of fabric, miraculously I had a strip just long enough! I took off the bodice and skinny-hemmed it, making a cute little loose crop top.  I the sliced up the centre back of the skirt and inserted an invisible zip, re-folded the skirt pleats into my new waistband, and stitched on a button.  Ok! I thought.  This is going to be great!

ORIGINAL COLOUR… yeah it’s not awful, I guess

 

It lay in my wardrobe during winter and I was anticipating a lot of wear once the warm weather hit… and when I did my rainbow week mini-challenge I thought it would be my “green” ensemble…  I frocked up and took a few photos, a sample of which is below, and man, at that moment the not-greenness of the whole thing just killed me, so it did not feature in that week after all.  I still thought the ensemble had promise and I was on a mission to save it now!  I wanted GREEN!   I had to wait until Spotlight had restocked its dye supplies but finally they came in.   And into the spa dye-pot it went!

looked terrible in this light!…

I used a whole pack of Rit Kelly green, and I very happy with it now, I think the strong colour is just what it, or maybe I – needed!  The crop top is very cropped, and I have to be careful about lifting my arms up too high, and I’m planning next to make some pretty little lace camisoles to wear underneath.
Watch this space!

Details:

Top and skirt; from the Homer & Howells Cissy pattern, old cotton, overdyed by me
Caramel sandals; super old, originally from an op shop.  I need to replace these, desperately!

Green turtleneck: modified Closet Core pattern Nettie in green merino
Black tights; my own design, black stretch poly
Black booties, from Zomp boutique

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an exciting need for maternity gear!

15/08/2020 7:43 pm \ 15 Comments \

so, I have some very exciting news!  I’m going to be a granny again!  Well of course I’m already a granny to darling little Arthur, but I am going to be granny to TWO.  That’s cause for celebration, I think!  Especially if by celebration, I mean celebratory sewing … which is specifically the kind of celebration this blog recognises, hehe.

Cassie is quite early on in her pregnancy but is already uncomfortable and in need of maternity clothes. Kelly passed on to her one or two of the things I made for her last year, but they are different sizes and so Cassie needed some things of her own, too.

Exhibit A!

I printed out another Closet Core patterns Ebony pattern to cut out Cassie’s size… now I know it’s not technically maternity, but in my opinion this makes a really good maternity option!  And there are so few! Honestly, you  go and check out the maternity range around at the moment and it’s quite shocking how few there are on offer.  Quite disgraceful, to be honest!  There used to be lots of options back when I was sewing for my own pregnancies, but those options seem to have sadly dwindled…  today’s pregnant ladies who sew for themselves have to be resourceful because there is practically nothing at all being designed specifically for the expectant figure.  And even less that’s very interesting.

Anyway.

The first thing I made is the above cotton jersey floral dress for Cassie… she absolutely loves it, which is great because I was initially not a fan of the fabric she chose!  However, once I’d made it and she put it on I could see she looks lovely in these fresh, bright, pretty springy colours.  She wanted something that could work for just about everything, casual and comfortable for both at home and out, she can wear it to work, and even to a formal event if she wants with the appropriate shoes.  Specifically, she has a friend’s wedding coming up, to which she is planning to wear this; and with her high heeled black booties I think it’s going to be lovely.  Plus, it’s stretchy fabric, so it’s very comfortable too, she can curl up on the couch in it just fine.  Pretty? and comfortable too?!!  win win!

I used the aforementioned Ebony pattern, of course, with the set-in sleeve.  The swing of the skirt is a little less than the pattern, because the fabric I had wasn’t as wide as needed.

Exhibits B! and C!

This top is another Ebony, naturally, in the tunic length and with the raglan sleeves.  This spotty cotton jersey is absolutely lovely! such a pretty print.  Oh, both of these fabrics, the spots, and the green, plus the previous blue/pink floral, were all from Spotlight.

please excuse the lumpy look, there’s a cushion doing baby stand-in duties in there and it’s not doing a very good job…

The skirt is Burda 7023, one I made several times previously for Kelly, so we know it’s a fantastic little pattern.  Thanks again to my lovely reader Graca, who very kindly sent this to me!  xx

I did the same thing I did before for Kelly’s skirts, with a self-drawstring in the front band coming out through little eyelets on the inside, so she can tie the front up tighter during these earlier days before she’s very big.

Exhibit D! and sorta E? though I’ve shown this little top here before so it shouldn’t really count actually.  Cassie made the skirt herself, using the Megan Nielsen Axel skirt pattern, and a pretty embroidered and pleated organza that she bought from Megan Nielsen store too actually.  It has a stretch jersey waistband, and is lined with lightweight cotton jersey too.  The little top is one I made for Kelly, and is a streamlined Closet Core patterns Ebony, first blogged here.  I made it using the same oatmeal-coloured, lightweight cotton jersey Cassie used for the waistband and lining of her skirt…  I originally bought this gorgeous stuff at Homecraft Textiles.

 

I just wanted to add pictures here of two other me-made clothes that Cassie is finding very useful in her pregnancy, a sort of pregnancy-appropriate, pattern round-up, if you like.  Both these dresses are getting worn a LOT.

Exhibit F: this Megan Nielsen patterns Sudley dress that I made for her in 2017, in a gorgeous spotty rayon from Spotlight, originally blogged here.

and also Exhibit G: this Burda dress also from a few years ago, made using a really beautiful, Amalfi coast printed crepe from Fabulous Fabrics, and Burda 02/2015/107, and originally blogged here.  This was my Christmas present to her from 2015, so I’m thrilled she’s got so many years of great wear out of it!

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golden yellow Jade skirt

11/08/2020 12:34 pm \ 3 Comments \

… sooo, while I was knitting up my new blue-flecked jumper I was all the time envisioning it worn with a brightly little coloured little skirt.  Only problem was that I currently did not have such a thing in my wardrobe.

Ta da!!  Problem solved.

I got out one of my favourite little winter skirt patterns, the Paprika patterns Jade skirt, and bought a length of cotton jersey from Spotlight in the most perfect shade of bright golden yellow.  I’m having a bit of a thing for this colour at the moment actually, since I also bought a few new cushions for our couch in this exact same colour too, and turfed out a few of the old, drab, neutral ones.  I’m in the mood for BRIGHT! and FUN! and CHEERFUL!  I think my new skirt hits the spot beautifully!

This is my fourth time making up this little pattern, I love it so much.  This time, I added a gold coloured jeans zip to the centre back seam… it was a pity I couldn’t find one with a gold coloured tape too but you know, options are severely limited here in Perth.  NYC we are not!

I’ve always thought the only downside to this otherwise perfect pattern was the lack of pockets, and to be fair it’s damn near impossible to add them “nicely”.  I took a punt with this skirt and stitched some patch pockets onto the back.  I’m pretty sure they’re going to bag out and look terrible very quickly, especially if I actually use them?! lol, but I figure that when that happens I’ll just take them off.  Maybe I’ll substitute pockets made of more sturdy fabric, we’ll see.  Actually, to be honest, this cotton jersey, while it is indeed the most perfect colour! is none too stable full stop, and so I’m not sure how long the skirt’s going to last.  In retrospect I should have used a different lining fabric, so it’s my fault.  I’m hoping it will be good for at least this winter and spring, and I’ll be on the lookout for better fabric to make up another!

Details:

Jumper; the raglan sparkle sweater pattern by Krysten Ritter via We Are Knitters, in 100% merino superwash, details here
Skirt; the Paprika patterns Jade skirt pattern, cotton jersey from Spotlight
Tights; my own design, made in black stretch poly, details here
Boots; Roberto del Carlo, from Zomp boutique
Striped sweater below; my own design, made using a yarn advent calendar by Dingo Dyeworks, details here

this is how I wore it yesterday… I’m pretty happy it looks really nice with my striped jumper too!

 

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I made a turquoise skirt

01/08/2020 11:43 pm \ 6 Comments \

Enough said!

Well actually, I guess I can say a little more… so I bought this turquoise denim in New York City during my holiday in the United States with Yoshimi last year…. and who could have guessed how much the world would change during this short short time??  Crazy… I’m still reeling to be honest! Anyway, I did have such a wonderful time and am very happy to have made up my first thing from some of the fabric that I bought.  Don’t worry, there’s lots more!  I got this in a little shop whose name now escapes me, sadly; though I’m forgiving myself for forgetting since it was kind of an overwhelming day.  Honestly I’ve never seen as much fabric in my entire life as I did on that day of fabric-shopping in NYC!

have a squizz at those pockets!!!

The fabric was cut wildly off-grain, which meant I had a bit less than I thought, but fortunately I had enough to make this skirt using mostly Burda 2/2015; 109.  This is a pattern I’ve attempted once before; I made it up using yellow linen which was quickly deemed a giant fail and converted into a top, and I must say it’s been a great little top!  Anyway, I still had faith the pattern had great skirt bones.  And I’m glad I gave it another chance since this little skirt is fantastic and I love it!

I did make a few mods though… namely, the wrap nature of the skirt is gone, because I felt the denim would be too stiff to make a nice wrap and tie belt; also I didn’t have enough of the denim for something like that anyway.  Instead I made the skirt to have a fixed waistband and a centre back zip closure; a pretty straightforward mod.  I also stitched down some of the pleats to make it a little more fitted.  I wondered if I’d have a matching zip in my stash, and you know what? I did!  Miraculous!!  It was from a large bag of colourful zips that Mum had tossed my way, once upon a time.  I’ve used up quite a lot of them over the years!  This one is really very “vintage”, so much so that I zip it up and down quite carefully.

I used white thread for all the topstitching; I really love how subtle this looks.  And I cut the contrasting inside waistband and bias to finish the hemline from an old shirt of Craig’s.  I’ve harvested from this very same shirt previously, to bind the quilt that his Mum made for Arthur, here.

That shirt still has quite a bit of fabric leftover still to use for other things, which is fabulous; because it’s beautiful quality stuff!

This is thing 6, from the collection of 12 I tasked for myself at the beginning of the year.  Yay, I’m halfway through!!

  

Details:

Skirt; Burda 02/2015; 109, turquoise denim
Top; Burda 04/2014; 111, in a slightly stretchy bobbly stuff, details here
Tights, made by me to my own design
Boots; Roberto del Carlo, from Zomp boutique

(below)
Jumper; hand knit by me, my own design
Raincoat; made by me, new and not yet blogged!  eeep!  I’m so behind!

… nothing to do with sewing, but lately I feel like I have so few good hair days I reckon it’s worth documenting when I do have one, even if it’s courtesy of the salon and not my own doing at all!  I’ve been trying to grow my hair out all natural, a whole year later and I think I almost like my hair again.  Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel!

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adding the almighty pocket

05/07/2020 8:53 pm \ 2 Comments \

So, recently I’ve been on a bit of a pocket binge.  You see, one has a phone which has rapidly become the ruler of one’s Life, and one has decided that this little autocrat needs to be on one’s person at all times.  So if something doesn’t have a pocket?  BAM! it’s getting one, like it or not!  Take that you pocketless fiends you!  Picture, if you will; pockets raining down upon Le Wardrobe, with lightning bolts and attendant thunderous cracks and booms as they attach themselves fiercely and fearlessly to the offending garments cowering on their hangers… ahem, my apologies.  Maybe I’ve been isolating too long.

Anyway, meet the victims:

please note; The Eye…

Firstly, my plaid Delice dress

I’d already promised to myself that I would add pockets once I got around to it… it’s a loose-fitting little thing, and while the attempted side-seam pockets did not work I knew welt pockets would be fine.  I just needed to get onto it!  and finally, voila. I still had the pocket bags, and I cut welts on grain from the very tiny amount of fabric I had leftover.  Both welts and the opening area of the pocket were interfaced with iron-on interfacing for stability – this fabric is basically a brushed cotton flannelette and so it has pretty poor stability actually,  A pocket bag on a welt sans interfacing stood a good chance of becoming a gaping, saggy mess, so I used nice firm stiff stuff, and the pockets turned out a charm.  No I didn’t take any progress pictures.  Bad me.

Secondly, my rusty coloured Sabrina skirt…

 

this has always been a little on the baggy side for a pencil skirt, I think I might have selected the incorrect size in the first place because I’m slightly terrified of making a thing too small or too tight; a problem which is practically unfixable, and the fabric was kinda precious to me.  I mean, if you make something slightly too big, that is a problem that is eminently fixable down the track.  Except that “down the track” never seems to come… anyway, flash forward to a few days ago when I realised that same slight bagginess could easily accommodate some inseam pockets.  So I went for it!  I did remember to take some pictures of this one for posterity…

Firstly cut out the pockets lining at the size of pocket you want.  Stitch to the skirt front seam allowance at the place where you want your pocket to be in a skinny seam allowance, and press towards the skirt front.

Cut the pocket itself from the self-fabric, with an opening extension that covers the width of your side seam allowance once it’s laid over the pocket lining.  My side seam allowances for this skirt are actually quite huge, showing that I really truly overestimated how much wriggle room I needed; but since that mistake resulted in such a good prognosis for future pocket insertion, I forgive past-me.  Trim to fit, and finish the raw edge.  Stitch to the back seam allowance, right sides together in a skinny seam allowance, and leave it laying towards the front.  Check the pocket piece and pocket lining piece are aligned perfectly.

Now open the two pocket pieces apart and gently rip open the skirt side seam.  Leave at least 1cm closed at both top and bottom edge of the pocket pieces, and then reinforce the side-seam stitching at these points both top and bottom with some quick forward/backward stitching so the seam doesn’t open any further.

Now; open out the back skirt side seam allowance and as far as possible, stitch the skirt back and the pocket piece together, using the previous pressed seamline on the skirt back as a stitching guide.  Be sure to keep the skirt front free from this stitching!!

Lay the pocket pieces over each other again, and stitch them together around the curved edge, commencing and finished the seam at the skirt side seam, taking care to not go over it and into the skirt itself.  Finish the raw edges as far as possible on the overlocker.

Now open out the side seam allowances away from the skirt front and back, and at the top and bottom edges of the pocket, perpendicular to the side seam: stitch the pocket to the front skirt seam allowance up to the side seam line, and the pocket piece ONLY to the back skirt seam allowance up to the same seam line.  These short seams are indicated in white on the previous picture.

Ta da!

And, while I still had the machine threaded with chocolate brown thread… victim number three.  This is a great little corduroy skirt, very simple and plain and useful.  Except that it had no pockets!  Problem solved!  For this one, simple patch pockets were the go; but slanted at what I find to a optimal angle for my hands.  I used some of the leftover corduroy from which I made my wide-leg Sashas, and even though it doesn’t look like it I spent ages and aaaaaages aligning them to be perfectly symmetrical.  Yes they probably look a bit weird but I have pockets so I care not.

That’s it for now, until next time!

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a pretty outfit (cielo and sixtine)

05/07/2020 12:38 am \ 7 Comments \

So I made an oh-so pretty, fluttery, flower-strewn outfit of the most perfectly spring-worthy persuasion! but wait…  am I not currently still on the downwards slope to the dark dank pit of winter?  well yes, so we are just barely into July, and I am OVER winter already.  *sigh*

Really I expect I’ll be making winter-y things soon but I just don’t feel like it right now, and I just want to think about fun summery things still.  Terrible, isn’t it?  Anyway, I bought this lovely rose-y rayon-linen in Spotlight, back when Perth was sort of half in isolation.  I’d been feeling very down, gone shopping for some essentials and just spontaneously decided buy something pretty and non-essential at the same time, to cheer myself up.  As it turned out, we had hardly any cases of the covid-19 virus in Perth, which is of course wonderful; but we were all as terribly worried at the time as if there were and buying something lovely lifted my spirits quite a lot at the time.

I cut out the ruffle-tastic new Sixtine skirt by Coralie Bijasson patterns and then had just enough left for a plain little top, which is the best counterpoint for all that ruffle anyway.  I’d recently had success making the Closet Case patterns Cielo top for Cassie so traced out the  next size up for me.  And I really love how they go together!  The Sixtine pattern is a simple, completely symmetric, true wrap skirt, with the most amazing ruffle and a half action going on.  Actually when I say ruffle and a half, that is quite literally what it is; there’s a ruffle, and then another half of that same ruffle on top.  Ruffle and a half! And my fabric worked out so nice! it is quite fluid and soft, which was just right for the ruffles; they have just exactly the right amount of body and zero limpness.The Cielo top is a great little basic, I can already tell I’m going to make stacks more.  Simple, but perfectly so.

I don’t really have much else to add, both these patterns are unambiguously straightforward designs with no tricks to speak of.  With the Sixtine skirt, I think you were supposed to place the buttonholes and buttons so the buttons popped out on the outside of the waistband when buttoned up, but I used very plain sheer flat ones from my stash, both ancient and inherited and not very pretty, so I positioned them so they button up on the inside of the skirt.

Oh, I also finished the lower hemline of both ruffles using the triple-stitched narrow hemline, explained in this post here.

I have one more sort of interesting thing I can say about sewing this; normally when you’re cutting things out from a print you carefully make sure all your pattern pieces are aligned with the “up” side in the same direction, yes?  Well I would definitely do that for fabric with a nap, but for a fabric with a print I’ve often preferred the look when I do not adhere strictly to this rule, but lay pieces so as to alternate up and down placement.  That way you avoid that “double-ing up” up of an identical motif that can look absolutely terrible and obvious when it occurs in a pieced garment.  Obviously this really only works if the print doesn’t have an obvious “right way up” design, but while it’s only a little thing it can make a noticeable difference.  As soon as I looked at my pictures here I could see a couple of instances where an upside-down motif is not too far away from a right-way-up motif, and if they’d been both oriented the same it would have looked strange.  So I’m glad!  I hope I explained that OK!

Anyway, I love this new ensemble and honestly can’t wait til the weather is hot again so I can actually wear it.  In the meantime perhaps I should start finally turning some attention towards more wintery projects  (sigh)

 

Details:

Top; the Cielo top by Closet Case patterns
Skirt; the Sixtine skirt by Coralie Bijasson patterns
Shoes; both super old now but still much loved

Later edit; so I added some pockets to this skirt! They’re patch pockets, with a slightly gathered top, drawn in by a little olive ribbon, which I happened to have in my stash.  They’re simple but of course useful.  Who doesn’t like a little bit pf practicality along with their floomph?!

Here’s a brief overview…

the pockets are cut to fit my mobile phone in, and are about 3cm wider at the top…

I snipped a little hole in the outer layer of the upper hem/casing..

the gathering ribbon emerges from this hole

align the raw ends of the ribbon inside with the raw edges of the upper pocket hem/casing

ensure the ribbon ends are stitched down firmly along with the pocket… gently pull up the excess pocket width at the top and tie off the ribbon…

camouflaged but not totally, and I think it looks kind of pretty when you do notice it   🙂

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knots and crosses

14/05/2020 8:55 pm \ 13 Comments \

I made this crazy outfit!  I know; it doesn’t “look” too crazy.. but it is, because it was a super-fiddly process and took aaaaaages.  Not content with just using what was actually very nice fabric as is; I, of course, made life more difficult for myself by instead cutting it up to make new fabric.  Crazy..  Yep.

But I’m getting ahead of myself…. this is actually my entrant into the Tessuti Sewing competition… the idea is that you get some of the nominated competition fabric and make something with it… pretty simple huh? but the kicker is that nothing else other than the competition fabric can be visible and you cannot dye it either.  Tessuti nominated a family of six fabrics, which was pretty awesome! three colour ways of two related eyelet fabrics; one is Knots, the other is, naturellement, Crosses.  I bought the Natural colour way of both fabrics and got to work!

My thought was to cut the fabrics up “creatively” to make a multi-layered, multi-textured sort of a thing, like a layered lace kind of a look…

For the top; I cut the fabric into 3 types of fabric strips; the knots fabric on the bias, snipping out the backing fabric to make the pretty embroidery design into an edging.   The crosses fabric I cut strips on both the bias and the straight; in each case snipping out the backing fabric carefully to leave the embroidery forming a pretty border.  I arranged these strips over a pale pink lining bodice and stitched them in place with double rows of stitching…

the sleeves are in the knots fabric, and I cut the edging “lace” like so; just the very edge of the crosses fabric cut on the straight made the outer, lace-like edging.  The neckline edge is made from two different cuts of the same Knots fabric, one on both the bias and one on the straight.  The eyelet with the “ribbon” thread through is one diagonal arm of the knots fabric, and the lace edging was the same fabric cut on the straight; the two were stitched together to make the neckline edging.  The blue “ribbon” threaded through the neckline edge; well you might be thinking, ah, but that’s not the competition fabric?  Fail!  But it IS the competition fabric!  The selvedge had these pretty blue striped borders printed along the edge… I carefully stitched very very close to the blue with tiny, 1mm stitches to stabilise and help prevent it from fraying, and cut off the excess to make a ribbon to thread through my created eyelet.

The skirt is relatively simple, sort of… I dug out a favourite old skirt pattern Vogue 7880, which has multiple, asymmetric layers.  It’s such a lovely pattern, I haven’t made it for ages but I think about it every now and then.  Now, as before; I lengthened the skirt stay pieces to make a full lining for the skirt, otherwise just made it up as normal.  The lining is the same pale pink lining fabric I used for the top.  I used a “natural”-coloured invisible zip in the left side seam.

 

It’s looking very pressed and neat in these pictures, but what I’m really looking forward to is washing it and letting it crease and rumple naturally, which I think will look really charming.  And better, I think…   I really should have done this before taking my pictures here but I literally forgot about the competition until the last minute and had to take my pictures here on the very last day.  Which is today.  Gah!  I hate being incompetent!!

So.  I actually do really like this outfit…

however!!  I purposely did not look at the tessuti pinterest board with everyone else’s entries in the lead-up to the competition, because I did not want to be influenced by anyone else’s design decisions.  I just wanted to come up with my own ideas purely unaided and unabetted – is that even a word? Never mind… stream of consciousness blogging!!  Well, as I was saying, I finished my outfit, quite oblivious; took a bunch of pictures and sent in my entry, THEN I went over and had a look at the pinterest board of entries.  And immediately saw that I had not the proverbial snowflake’s chance in hell.  There were SO MANY beautiful and fantastic entries!  It was wonderful to see so much creativity! even though mine is kinda ordinary, but I can live with that.  I think the top’s kinda pretty and as a whole it’s ok!

Details:

Top; kinda based upon New Look 6483, except completely different and with nothing of the original remaining.
Skirt; Vogue 7880
Tights, made by me, details here
Shoes; made by me, details here

 

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