Work skirt

A couple years ago, I went shopping and tried on about $10,000 worth of clothes.  Nothing fit.  I do not think of myself as that difficult of a body but I must be.  I vowed then that I was going to make everything I wore.  I have actually been very true to that but not a hundred percent.  I do find that I am happier with the clothes that I make versus the clothes that I buy.  

I have been needing/wanting some more skirts to wear to work.  I admit to liking skirts that are to the floor and a full a-line style.  Something you would have seen in the Beatrice Potter movie starring Renee Zwellenger.  I actually started with a Talbots skirt that I really liked the fit on.

 

Then I modified it a bit more.  I needed to slim down the hips or I make myself feel twice as wide.  I then measure to the length of skirt I want and pin the shape I want in the fabric.  This was a wool remnant I found.  The length was enough to make two skirts.  I made the skirt forty inches long so you can see my feet barely.

 

And then the stitching begins.

 

I have actually gone from putting a zipper in to using buttons on the side.  I just prefer them even though I have come to not hate putting zippers in (huzzah to the invisible zipper!).  This skirt has already been worn to work and put into my bicycle bag to come home.  I also have made the same skirt with red buttons.

This style looks lovely with the Essential Jacket I made in pumpkin.  I need to make more of these and over time I will.  They take me about an hour and a half to sew and then I just have the buttons to put on.

A shirt for Russell

I make shirts for Russell.  Many years ago, he found a frontier shirt in a western store he loved.  He told me it was indestructible but it eventually began to die.  I took it apart before it was in shreds to use it as a pattern.

Russell really liked these two fabrics.  Both were very soft and he loved the colors.

I cut the body out of the printed fabric.

The front placket, collar, and cuffs are cut out of the dark burgundy batik print.

Let the stitching begin!  I have the collar, sleeves, cuffs, hem, and buttons left.  I cannot wait for Russell to try it on.  We are both very excited.

faerie top

I had this idea for a top going through my head for Danica after reading Carefree clothes for girls:  20 patterns for outdoor frocks, playdate dresses, and more by Junko Okawa.

http://www.worldcat.org/title/carefree-clothes-for-girls-20-patterns-for-outdoor-frocks-playdate-dresses-and-more/oclc/299708788&referer=brief_results

The clothes were for little girls but the so reminded me of the Faerie.

I sat down and did some drawing in my book with putting ideas next to it. 

I had a sage green china silk, a white cotton, and a natural muslin.  I decided to quilt the bodice out of those three and make the skirt out of two layers of the china silk.

I pieced the bodice together, leaving all the edges raw.

I tried to decide if I wanted to add any frills or ribbons to it and I decided all of it was too straight compared to the curved quilting.

I put the skirt on

and added a sparkly button.

 

I should have probably waited for her for the button placement so the bodice would have laid flatter.  But she liked it!  It is a very faerie top.  I plan for it to get washed in the washing machine and the skirt to get tattered but the bodice is very sturdy and will not fall apart.

A faerie top for the faerie.

while making gifts for others,

I put a new dish towel together for myself.

I had to piece the applique together but it turned out nicely.  And I can always use new dish towels.  I always forget to make some for myself when I am making them for others.  This one is covering sourdough starter that is bubbling away in preparation for making bread.

napkins finished

I was able to finish all the raw edges on the napkins yesterday and am putting on the applique strips.  It is really an easy process.  

Cut the strips the width you wish but make sure you have a seam allowance on each edge and the end.

Figure out where the strip should be appliqued.  I usually put it about two inches from the edge.  I then fold under the seam allowance on each edge and pin.

I stich around the edges, fairly close but not too close.

And there is a napkin.

Napkins have become a standard wedding and house warming gift for me.  As well as for any family members that have not received a set yet!  Takes a bit of fabric that I usually have left over from other projects and flour sack towels.  I am considering making the towels myself soon as well except the fabric is much cheaper this way.