Burgundy Corduroy Skirt

 This skirt was designed using the skirt block I made in Brooks Ann Camper's Skirt Skills class. Before starting her Smarty Pants, Brooks Ann suggested that students go back to their skirt blocks to check fit. Since we would be using the skirt block in the pants drafting class, it was a good time to make any changes that were needed. I made the same skirt design I had made a few week earlier including pockets and a side zipper. The fabric was a remnant from Pam's mom and there was just enough to make this skirt. 

Starting layout for skirt

Thread marking the hem line

Pocket is pieced due to fabric shortage

Construction went fairly quickly on my Bernina 1230. I had matching thread for the top-stitching. It was already too late in the season to wear a skirt outside without tights, but it layered well and I wore it work. Classes were already being conducted remotely by then and I had some free time between sessions to get a few pics.

Looking great for Zoom day of class

Hmmm, a bit wrinkly after a day of work

Definitely a visible zipper

Sitting in comfort

Blind hem and skirt innards

White Denim Wrap Skirt

The skirt and the butternut squash plant look great

My first go-around with this Simplicity 8699 pattern was last fall. I used a lightweight denim and have liked almost everything about how the skirt has worn this summer. The only quibble I had with the pattern is that there were no pockets. This is understandable though, given that it is a wrap skirt, and I don't think that has actually deterred me from wearing it regularly. Earlier this spring I was gifted 1 1/4 yards of white denim from my brother's mother-in-law, Lillian, when she was cleaning out her stash. I first toyed with the idea of making shorts, but eventually decided that I would probably wear a white skirt more often than white shorts.

White denim

I used the same view D as last fall and the only minimal changes I made were to the lining for the front flaps and the buttons. When cutting, I put the pieces that fold over to be the linings for the front right and left edges on the selvedge. That way I didn't have to finish the inside edges.

Selvedge along the left side will the finished edge of flap

There are only five pattern pieces for the fabric and four for the interfacing so the cutting proceeded smoothly. My earlier time-saving strategy of employing the selvedge, a good idea, was balanced out when I managed to iron the interfacing on the wrong sides of the left and right waistband pieces, a not-so-good idea. Now on the inside of the skirt the interfacing shows on the band. It's the same white as the fabric though and only visible when I'm not wearing the skirt, so I didn't bother to recut new pieces. I wonder if that will hold up in the wash?

The buttons are from one of the sewing boxes that accompanied the treadle sewing machine Willie and Janyce delivered earlier in July. The machine originally belonged to Janyce's grandmother and has been passed along in the family for a few generations. I don't know how old these buttons are or when they joined the collection, but they were perfect for the skirt. The buttons needed a larger buttonhole than I have made before though, so I had to read the instruction manual for adjusting the buttonhole attachment on the Singer 201. After several trial runs I felt confident in maneuvering the buttonholer mid-buttonhole to create holes of a consistent size. Button placement took awhile as I did not use the template suggested in the pattern. I wanted to use all five buttons but not fasten the whole flap closed.

Placing and marking buttons

I'm sure there's a better way to do this, but here's what I came up with for reinforcing the back of the buttons. They're a bit heavy and I didn't want them to tear through the fabric. The layers of little white squares remind me of trying to cover a shaving nick with tissue. Fortunately, none of this is visible when the skirt is being worn.

Reinforcing the buttons

Lastly, I put a hook and eye on the inside of the waistband above the dart on the right. This will help keep the lower flap from hanging below the waistband and take some of the stress off the buttonholes.
Pictures were taken on a sunny day in the garden. When I went to look for a top to complete the outfit, I found this white t-shirt at the top of the pile. It's one that I made while while trying to get the perfect fitting t-shirt. After seeing pictures I think all white is a bit much, so I'll probably wear a shirt with some color for future outings.

All white is a great backdrop to showcase garden flowers

I like to see all the bees and butterflies that visit these coneflowers

Radiant petunias

I don't think I have to worry about this fabric being see-through, but I won't push my luck with dark colors of underwear. 

Checking on tomato plants

Kneeling close up

Even when sitting down, the five buttons keep this skirt from unwrapping.

Watch out for grass stains

Seriously, I am so pleased with these buttons.

The extra time spent measuring and remeasuring for placement paid off

Never get it right when setting the phone timer for a jump

And here are a few visitors I had in the garden. Take note, no one else is wearing all white.

Denim Skirt, Simplicity 8699

Denim wrap skirt

The fabric is a lightweight denim I picked up when I was visiting City Sewing Room in St. Louis this summer. The pattern for this wrap skirt, Simplicity 8699 view D, was purchased at Joann's. I was looking for a skirt that could be created in a variety of lengths using a range of fabrics. A wrap skirt would lend itself to fitting over both my ample hips and fitted waist and button placement for the closures could be repositioned as needed. This one looked promising as far as fit. 

For some reason, I didn't take a single picture of the skirt during its construction. Apparently, I was completely absorbed in the process. I traced a size 20 and cut out the pattern last weekend and then spent today sewing the skirt together. Except for when I sewed the right and left yoke pieces on backwards, I was able to follow the directions without problems. That error was completely mine, and it was easily corrected when I figured out what I had done. The last couple steps were to sew on the buttons and the snap closures. For the buttons I wanted to use something out of my vintage collection.

Auditioning buttons

I think I would have been happy with any one of these options, but I decided to go with the smaller brown ones shown on the left. Hopefully, this will make the skirt more likely to work with a variety of tops.

Buttons chosen

The buttonholes were done on my Bernina 1230 using the #3 foot. I don't think they're the best buttonholes I have ever made, but they will work very well and I will continue to develop my skills in this area. I may have modified the button placement as I just tried on the skirt several times to see where they felt most comfortable. I didn't go back to see how similar the final placement was to the pattern, but I would bet its fairly close.

Buttonholes and buttons

One hidden snap on waistband

The inside of the skirt is not lined. Depending on what fabric I use next time I will probably need to add a lining, but for now it works perfectly fine.

Inside of skirt

Today is a cloudy, overcast day that doesn't lend itself to outdoor pictures, but I went ahead and did the best I could.

Front view

I didn't make any changes to the finished length and I like that it hits right above my knees.

I love the curve on the hemline

Back view, maybe could have used a bit more ironing

Yoke finished well

Pairs well with a Lark tee

Very comfy

I will definitely use this pattern again and try out the longer version as some point. It's the tail end of skirt season as we head into fall, but I'll be ready for warmer weather next spring.

Sewing Month Project #2

We are over half way through National Sewing Month.  Here's one sewing project I have been working on in the last couple weeks and a good reminder that not every refashion goes as planned. You think you're going to make one thing and the sewing gods have other plans. This skirt started out as a very large shirt that I bought at the Goodwill last summer.

I took the sleeve cuffs and collar off and then ripped the sleeve and side seams.  I planned to make a dress using the same pattern as I had used for an earlier blue and white polka-dot dress.  I decided not to line the dress and that left me just enough fabric to cut out all the pieces. 

Here are the pieces I had to work with after disassembling the shirt.

A sleeve becomes bodice pieces

I did not follow the grainline when laying out the pieces.  I was just trying to fit them onto the fabric. When I got them all cut out, I spent about 2 hours trying to put the bodice together.  When I finally tried it on, the armholes were too small, there was not enough fabric to put a zipper in the back, and there was puckering in the yoke.  I didn't have any extra fabric to make changes or start over,  so I scrapped the top and just sewed the bottom into a skirt.  I had worked the original shirt front buttons into the front of the skirt, but I needed to add bias tape for the waist and then a fastener for the waist. It's not what I set out to make, but it was a good learning project.  How are your sewing projects coming along?

Finished skirt