New Skirts and Fitting Issues

I love skirts.  There.  I said it!  I could make skirts all day long and I have just completed another three - two have made it for this quick shoot.

The first up is a straight skirt that is slightly pegged at the hem (Simplicity 7623).  Rather than put a vent in the back, I extended the bottom hem and centre back seam (similar to a godet) which gives me the circumference I need for walking ease.  Oh, and it is flippy - and I love flippy hems!  The waistband is elasticated, the skirt is lined and has a lace trim to the hem.  The fabric is a super drapey crepe and is matt, no shine at all, and will see lots of wear!

Next up is a fitted tartan skirt made from a length of Royal Stewart (I think) wool/poly fabric that I have had for a gazillion years.  I put in an invisible zip - in red, call me a rebel - and the skirt is lined with a lace hem.  I sewed the lining down along the vent so that it does not show through.

I matched up the checks up horizontally, and should have paid a little more attention to the vertical as well.  Ho hum.  Next time!  I wore this to work last week and received lots of lovely compliments.  Very nice indeed!

And so on to fitting.  Following on from yesterdays post about a muslin that I had sewn up that I thought did not look flattering, I received an offer of posting the photos so that suggestions could be made by the lovely Carolyn to improve the fit.  Well, who am I to turn down that kind of offer?  So here we are.

The pattern has already been adjusted to account for an FBA as well as a sway back.  From the underarm to the hem, there is no shaping - just a straight seam.

This side view (above) shows that my body does not actually go 'in' much more than the outline of the muslin.

I also thought that I would show you how much fabric that there is to 'pinch'.  Er, not very much!!!  And when I sat down, I kind of filled out the rest of the fabric . . . . just keeping it real!!

And finally - this is how a finished version could look with a cute RTW cashmere cardigan, which frankly, isn't bad!  The length, I would probably shorten it somewhat and I did not put a zip in this version as I can just about slip it over my head.  'Real' versions would certainly have an invisible zip!

Well, I would appreciate any comments - I think that the front view bothers me most.  And thanks, in anticipation!

One Pattern Many Looks - Sorbetto

See, one sew-a-long completed - now it is time for another!!  I am entering the Pattern Review 'One Pattern Many Looks' contest.  This runs for the month of January and is pretty straightforward:

The goal of this contest is to take one view of a pattern, and create multiple garments with distinct looks from that view, without needing pattern drafting skills.

I can do that!  As I mentioned here, I have wanted to make these tops for quite some time, and I was really pleased with my wearable muslin (black serger thread and all!!)

The skirt is my straight skirt version of Butterick 4877 and the orange cardigan is from McCalls  4466.  Both are from my Ikat Winter Collection.

 

The PR Review is here.

I love it!  So I thought I'd cut out another one or two or seven.  Ah yes.  Seven.  And why not???  I have decided to sew these next ones with more care and precision including french seams and self-made bias binding.  I picked up a bias-binder-maker-thingy at the weekend but couldn't get the foot for my Pfaff.  The lady in the sewing shop said that it was hard to get feet for my machine as it was so old (I bought it in 2004).  Cheeky madam.  I've ordered one from Etsy so we will see how that works out.  The other option was to clean up one of my vintage Singers as I have the attachment feet for them.  And a ruffler and lots of other whizzy, whizzy feet!

I am at the stage of attaching the binding, and as this will be a lot of work for 7 tops so I thought I'd take time out and audition some buttons.  This is what I have come up with:

I like the simplicity of the off white buttons (above) but I also like the wooden ones below.

Oh yes, and these grey buttons (below) looked good too!

As did these deep burgundy ones - but I have another shirt for those!!

Three mismatch buttons looked rather funky too.  I think I will just have to make a few plain white/cream shirts to showcase all the buttons!

 

 

I'm liking these dark brown wooden buttons (above).  Plain but effective.  This fabric is a cotton/lycra shirting and there is some texture to the fabric .  It is a pain to hold a crease though so I will probably have to sew the pleat along its length to hold it.

I love the contrast of the black (above) with the yellow - so I think that they are a keeper.  The last one I would like to show you this evening is the polka dot fabric below, with cotton trim and the burgundy button from above.

Finally, cut out a tartan skirt using my straight skirt version of Butterick 4877, using this gorgeous tartan fabric:

I bought the fabric about 10-12 years ago from a booth at the NEC Sewing Show.  I remember it was not cheap - possibly GBP 15-20, but it is a lovely fabric.  I've no idea how much wool it contains, but I hand-washed it gently and it seems good.  I did a bit of research and I believe that it is Stewart Dress Tartan.  I plan on using a red invisible zipper - the pull tab will show but I think it will look fun.  Oh, and of course it will be lined.

So there we have it - this should keep me busy this week (I am back to work tomorrow) so my sewing time will be limited.

How about you - what do you have planned for the week?