2 Skirts

I have been doing some sewing recently, just haven't been getting around to the photographing. Am I getting over the need to photograph everything I sew? No I think I should keep doing it - it's so important for us stay-at-home moms to feel we accomplish "stuff" and I like it to be on record too.

This first skirt I made a couple months ago but then forgot about and wore for the first time on our day trip to Stratford. It was made from a dress that I made that didn't turn out. And it wasn't made well. The seams are all skewif, I used just the serger (and with white thread), and didn't redo the hem after taking in the sides. And all those things make it look terrible when you've just sewn it and are very aware of them. But a few months later they're not noticeable. And it turns out a skirt in a knit material is super comfy. I would like to make another one that I am more proud of one of these days. I used the waist band from a pair of shorts that I began taking apart for material about a year ago (I think only the pockets are left from them). I love this solution for waistbands, especially when it's with this awesome print.

And I just finished this denim skirt a week or so ago. I had wanted a denim skirt for a while but I wanted it to be a bit flowy (that's how I like my skirts). So to fit this requirement I had to make it myself. And I finally did it after finding a denim table cloth in a thrift store (a denim tablecloth!). I based the pattern off another skirt that I've had for years and love (the one I am wearing in this post). It has 4 panels and I cut it on the bias hoping to add to the flowiness. Of course I added pockets and did an elastic waist (one of these days I will graduate from the elastic waist but not yet). It turned out pretty perfect I think.

Summer Outfit

I sewed up this summer outfit from Heather Ross` Weekend Sewing last week. I am pretty happy with it, probably shouldn't wear the pieces together though - there are limits to my frumpiness.

Apart is better. This is the summer blouse. It feels and looks a bit like I am wearing a sheet I think. Could be to do with the fact that it is made from an old sheet. But it was easy to make and I am happy to consider it a practice version - I have plans to make a couple more before summer.

The skirt I love. I made it from a table cloth. But it was quite a bit more work than my table cloth circle skirt. Still I got to reuse the finished edge on the bottom and save myself from hemming. And it`s a really nice drapey linen type material. Think it will feel really nice to wear in the summer. And I stuck to my resolution and added a pocket to the skirt, just in one of the seams. I took the advice from Heather Ross` website and added one extra panel (that was all I had enough material for) and I think it is enough.

Winter Skirt #2

I made a second winter skirt last week. I still like winter skirt #1 but this one is a bit more wearable without all that fabric, the circle skirt actually makes me feel too hot sometimes! And so you know I did try to iron the skirt but wrinkles just weren't coming out. I swear!


I was digging through my fabric stash and found these old pants and I just thought: I've never tried making a skirt from pants. For someone who loves making clothes from other clothes, it seemed like an important thing to try. And these pants were a lovely 100% wool material - perfect for adding to my winter skirt collection.

I was lucky that these were oversized and pleated so I didn't have to add a panel or anything (like here). I really just undid both inner leg seams and then sewed them together the other way, making a front seam and a back seam, leaving a little slit in the back for walking ease. And they already have pockets! 4 pockets to be exact! Skirts with pockets are even better than pants with pockets because putting your hands in skirt pockets just makes you feel really cool and hipster somehow. Or at least it does me.

I got Kevin to take a picture of me wearing my new skirt and decided I wanted to take more interesting pictures of me doing romantic things in the skirt a la Soulemama. I really wanted to be holding a baby and stirring a pot of soup while wearing the skirt but without a lot of setup this is what we came up with, not totally Soulemama but a little more interesting I think.

PS - I hope that didn't come out snarky, I really do love Soulemama. Even though I usually don't like 'life is great, look at all the simple wonders around us' type prose I just eat it up when Soulemama does it.

And this picture doesn't actually show the skirt but I am wearing it and I think it is totally Soulemama-worthy! Aren't we sweet.