different brain cells

After I finished the ruffle skirt, my brain cells kept pondering another skirt.  So I headed to my stash again to see what I could find.  This green piece of corduroy was it.

I have been wearing some of my older dresses and realized that I really like the shape of the skirt.  But I wanted the option of changing the tops.  And pockets.  I took the skirt pattern I had made for those dresses and made a skirt.  The major thing was I needed a waistband that was not elastic but not too tight.  Especially when sitting.

I used India Flint's idea of a piece of string to measure what you and took it from there.  Buttons from my button tin.  Buttonholes.  The skirt was made.

I really like how it lays over my body.  The waist is not too tight.  It goes to my ankles but does not drag on the floor.  I like it a lot with my hiking boots.  I can wear it with a t-shirt or shirt.  I can easily put a sweater over it.  I may be making another.

Making another is always a bit problematic for me.  I am not a big clothes buyer but I do like making items for myself.  My homemade garments take much longer to wear out then store bought.  Which is a good thing.  But it does mean my closet is full.  I have clothes that are ten years old.  And in fine repair.  I have a few things where the fabric is starting to go but not the craftsmanship.  I rarely make anything anymore that I do not like.  And if I do not like it, I make it into something else.  The garment does not end up at the thrift store or the landfill.  Oh well.  I will just try not to make too much!

ruffles

I had this skirt in my head from before I went traveling.  An old fashioned skirt with ruffles and tiers.  Made in cotton prints.  I decided I needed it to have a drawstring waistband like I used to make 35 years ago.    I went through my stash and had Koda Bear help me chose.  Then I cut a lot of rectangles and strips.  I stitched them all together.   I made my life hard.

Now I have a new skirt like the one that was in my head.  I am thinking about changing the waist to a true waistband.  Which means I would need to play with the pockets a bit because I would want a placket and not a zipper.  And all the things to bother me, the middle tier hits my knees in an irritating spot.  I could easily shorten the skirt just a tad when I change the waistband.  That may change where those seams sit.  I also wish to see how it feels once it has been washed a few times.  But it was fun to wear.  

I do have enough of the background fabric to make a similar skirt without any tiers.  Which would mean no stripes.  Which I am good with.  I am wanting to wear more the clothes I did many years ago.  Just drawn to long skirts.  I need to make a few shirts and I have fabrics that I can do that with. Whether they are true shirts or more of a t-shirt but out of woven fabrics instead of knits.  When I dress for Serenity Knives I actually have a work shirt with their name on it.  I think that is where some of this is coming from.  

I also cycle through the clothes I like to wear.  Currently, everything has to go with hiking boots and Birkenstock type sandals.  That is where my feet are the happiest.  But I can walk!  Which makes me happy.

changing a skirt

I was busy today.  I created a chef's roll. Which there will be pictures of soon but I came away feeling wiped.  I should have felt accomplished but it really felt like something was missing.  I just gave it my all.  

When I am like this, there is always a pile of mending.  Yes, I have other works in progress but I am usually making something without a pattern.  Mending does not really.  So I can do it when I have nothing left.

I had made this skirt a while back. I followed the directions which was probably a mistake.  The waistband was a fold over elastic.  It was uncomfortable so I did not wear this skirt.  Which was just disappointing because of the time I put into it.  

But after realizing why I was not wearing it, I altered it.  I removed the original elastic.  I then rolled over the top and inserted a wider piece of elastic.  I also made the waist a little bit tighter.  I got of the uncomfortable and I shortened the length just enough so the skirt did not drag on the floor.  Dragging it through puddles was not working for me.  Now, I can wear it.  I may wear it on my travels next week or take it with me.  I am still trying to figure out how to put my camping gear and clothes in the same bag for the flight.  Something will come to mind!

for the wedding I am going too

I am going to a family wedding at the end of this month.  Beginning of next month.  I was taught well by my Grandmother so I know how to dress for a wedding.  Same Grandmother for the groom.  The does and do nots.  This is the first invitation I have ever seen with a dress code.  The invitation was a bit odd so I should not be surprised.

I made myself a new skirt.  I will be wearing this with a silk blouse.  It should work in the field the wedding is being held in.

A full circle.  Pockets.  To the floor.  Twirls!  I could actually wear this everyday.  I was thinking that maybe I wanted a more structured waistband instead of elastic.  But I have lost a few pounds over the recent months and I appear to be losing a few more.  I want to be able to continue to wear this skirt.  I did not stitch the hole for the elastic closed even! 

I can always come back and change the waistband.  I have enough fabric leftover to make a sheath dress.  I cut the skirt on purpose to create that.  I could probably eek out enough for another waistband if I could not use the one that came off the skirt.  Being frugal here.  Which I do a lot of!  My mending pile does not go down even when I took two things off of it, like I did yesterday.

ballgown style skirt

It has been a week where the computer and myself have not been kind to each other.  I hope I now have everything sorted.  But is funny how a first world problem can seem like such a big deal when I am in the midst of it.  But, when I look back it did not mean anyone was hungry, unclothed, or unsheltered.  I was just having technology issues.  Bleah!  It is done.  I can hope it does not come up again for a long time.

I have a family wedding to go to this summer.  With requested dress for each event.  One of those is Dress to Impress.  Not that I really need anything new if I did not wish but I have been looking at ballgown style skirts for years.  I love the idea of long and swirl.  Especially with a white shirt.  It is an idea that has played in the back of my head for many years.

I bought some black twill to try it with.  Took cotton out of my stash for pockets.  Cut the fabric.  I used all day Friday for myself and made myself a skirt.  It really did not take all day but I double seamed everything.

I ended the day early with a long black skirt.  Which I love.  Especially with my hiking boots.

The pockets are not as deep as some others I have made in the past.  But I realized that means I cannot put so much stuff in my pockets that I drag the skirt down.  Thought I made it in a fashion that it will not go over my hips, even with an elastic waistband.  I did take it in a bit later.

This pattern added fullness but four deep pleats.  So the skirt still lies very flat but is very full.  It did not have to be cut in such deep wedges.

I love it!  It twirls!  Especially with my arms full of Blue.  I wear it with hiking boots.  I could wear it every day.  I have another in the works.