Abstract Polka Dot Maxi Skirt with Hat

:) Today's photo theme for the Me-Made-May '13 is hat, and since I have pattern Vogue V8844 in the stash for months now, it's the perfect time and excuse to make it! :)

I suppose this is a refashion project, coz the main fabric used for the hat was what's left from the pants that I cut up firstly to up-size my linen blend jacket, while the contrast fabric was leftover from one of my sad skirt projects. (P/s: I made View A)

And, here worn for the first time my yoga waistband maxi skirt (a Simplicity pattern that I can't recall right now but will link later. Hey, it's Simplicity 1616!) done up in a bold print ITY knit called Urban Moon that I got from Marci Tilton's booth during the March 2013 Sew Expo in Puyallup. (They don't have it on their website in this color anymore, but there's one with black background with grays, taupes and teals which is quite lovely too). Mine is burnt orange with black, chocolate browns, beige, emerald green I think. :)

What do you think? Isn't it quite bold of me?

Really nice weather today. It was nice to walk a bit by the waterfront and then grab some shrimp and fries with the Bean. :)

Have a great weekend y'all! And happy sewing!

Far

Tardy Floral Skirt Vogue 1082 and a Red 1179

I'm back... Things were quite hazy the past couple of months but I recalled some skirt dramas, some quilting, really bad wrist pain probably of the carpal tunnel variety, a lot of tug of war and shouting matches with a 2-yr-old plus Bean, and thus culminating to an exasperated moi (and a lil depressed of the usual seasonal variety) decided to pack everything sewing related into the tiny sewing nook/closet and shut the door. Spent days and nights reading/escaping into tonnes of junk and otherwise on my phone (Kindle e-books) that made the hubby pretty worried - I was averaging 3 books per day at the very least and refused to go out other than the weekly grocery shopping with the familia.

As my wrist healed, and my reading frenzy finally cooled off, January 2013 is almost over! :) It felt like forever since the last time I sewed anything! So the best way to get back in the saddle is to cut my yummy red wool jersey (purchased during the local sewing meetup back in October) and made it into my most favorite but boring V1179 dress! :) I think it's my 5th iteration of the pattern, but why not???? At least I know for sure that this will be worn many many times (just as the other 4!), at least while it is still chilly, and it is going to be chilly for a few more months...

Red Wool Jersey: V1179 (no flash)

Red Wool Jersey: V1179 (with flash)

 I did made some adjustment on this version: added some room in the sleeves compared to my black ponte version, made a 3/4-ish roomy sleeves, and a tunic length. I haven't decided on the depth of the cowl I wanted, but now I'm thinking that due to the weight of the fabric (kinda heavy) I'm going to chop off the excess cowl and go with the pattern size as is and stitch it down then. 

The red V1179 done, it was then time to tackle the big elephant in the room: my tardy floral V 1082 skirt for the Carnival of Skirts Sew-a-long. [The piping were all done before I "paused" on the project for a breather and started to finish off a baby quilt for our newborn nephew (husband's side) and quilted placemats for the in laws (looking for pics of these projects, will put them up on the blog for Liz). Wrist pain intensified somewhere between these projects methinks.]

So probably on Friday I unpicked the topstitching I did on the skirt, inserted the invisible zipper (not my best one, but I'll live) and after a lot of basting, fitting, stitching, refitting and resizing a few times (whereby about 2 inches off each side were cut off) I'm finally okay with the skirt on me. I had to shorten the skirt to just covering my knee though and not like the pattern cover picture of mid-calf. Somehow in my head I fancied that I was taller and can carry a mid-calf length skirt, but I guess I'm not and with this floral fabric on my bottom half it further drives the point! :)

Front view: Floral V1082

Back view: Floral V1082

Tardy skirt project roundup:

Pattern: Vogue 1082 (Misses skirt straight or flared -made straight, View A-, mid-calf length -made knee length-, has shaped yoke with contour waist, side panel variations and invisible zipper. Optional piping trim -made with piping-. View A is a lined skirt with back vent. View B is unlined and has a faced yoke.

Fabric: Floral cotton purchased from my very much missed favorite thrift store back in Iowa...

Notions: Minty colored knit type lining material (also thrifted), 9" mustard zipper (thrifted), one 5/8" black square button (stash, purchased new), Talon basting tape (thrifted), black piping (purchased new and ready made from Joann's

To be honest, it is a pretty skirt (design-wise), and the instructions I found easy to follow enough eventhough I'm no pro. 

But I'm still struggling with fit issues, fitting my body shape that is, and making skirt and any type of bottoms will be the bane of my existence for years to come... So I would still recommend this pattern esp for those with fuller hips. For those with narrower hips (I have those :( ), I think the middle panel should be made smaller rather than taking off at the side seams. If you take off at the side seams like I did (because there's no way I'm unpicking the piping after all the work) and have a narrow hip, the piping might end up making you look straight and narrower  (which I didn't want). It might take a long time before I ever attempt to make another version of this skirt though... It is pretty involved...

But anyhow, I'm back in my sewing groove.... :) I might tackle a circle skirt next for the Carnival, since it is apparently the most basic skirt there is even though it's a fabric eater. I had my hubby make a fabric calculator for a circle skirt, and that was what he came out with. It's a work in progress right now, pretty much just as my sewing is!

So, more later!

Time is running out!!!

... for me to finish my 3rd installment of the Carnival of Skirts sew-a-long ending tonite...

To recap, this is the pattern I'm working on (a wearable muslin of V1082, of the fitted version).

I was feeling kinda blah with my skirt sewing, and going slow with this one. I wanted to make my own piping too, have the fabric to use, and the cording, but each  time I put the fabric down on the floor to mark it for continuous bias, the Bean proceeded to sit on it, jump on it and so on... Really makes it even tougher to proceed with the project... The prospect of having to make yards and yards of the piping.....

:) But, this recent Saturday I was at this sewing meetup (brunch and fabric shops crawl, which was super great!) and I picked up 4 packs of black piping (among other thingsss...) which was the best decision for me at this stage! I felt quite rejuvenated coming back from the meetup with other sewing ladies so I was pinning and basting as much as I can.

So this is where I am. Front side all pieced together. Just needed to be topstitched. 

Still have to finish piecing the back part...

And then of course there's the lining to tackle.. :) But I think it's shaping up okay donchathink?

I shall press on, at snail's pace, as usual... :)

Skirt Sorrows

Skirt sorrow #1

Completed my first knit skirt from "designing" my own pattern to choosing fabric and sewing it up in about 2 days. I wanted to make a simple foldover knit skirt (after being inspired by Narda wearing her foldover skirt recently) but I do not have a pattern for it. The two patterns below were my starting point (read the instructions to get an inkling on how to move forward). I also eyeballed a couple of purchased exercise pants and jersey skirts I have before proceeding with my skirt.

Being that it is my first knit skirt, I am very hesitant to cut into my ponte knits, but none of the larger scraps I have are going to be enough to make a skirt (unless I use different colors for the waistband, and so on). Luckily I found this caramel-ly brown t-shirt knit (but thick enough) in my stash, that I think was from my last thrift haul in Iowa.

Tadaaa.... Basically the pattern is 3 pieces for the skirt part (one front piece, and 2 back pieces) and then one piece for the foldover waistband (left pic is folded waistband, and on the right is when the waistband is unfolded). I followed my pattern for the skirt pieces in which I added this wedge thing on the back side.... but I also added a wedge to the front side pattern (my logic is that if people add the wedge to make room for a fuller seat to their skirt, in my case I would need both ways!)

I've worn it the whole day (next day after finishing). This is the most comfortable skirt I ever worn. Ever. I don't feel like it's gonna cut my circulation!

The sad part is that I have a feeling the fabric stretch recovery is not going to be good. So I might end up sooner rather than later with a big skirt with no more stretch. I hope I am mistaken. But this is a test skirt, giving me an idea on how I can construct a foldover knit skirt. I will definitely be making more. This is more of a stay-at-home skirt... So no pics of me wearing it. Yet.

Skirt sorrow #2
This is a HUGE dud. It left me incapacitated for days. Yep. That much drama.

The fabric is a linen-backed velvet. Red. I purchased it not knowing that there's velvet stuff stuck to it. I could have sworn I only saw that it was advertised as linen. Red linen. And I purchased perhaps 4 yards of it!!! Thinking that I can take this back home to Malaysia and give it as a present to my mom who loves to wear linen pants. But it is not to be so.... It still stink a bit even after wash. However the velvet part is really nice and bright. Too bright for my liking, but it's okay to test this pattern on me i think.

I made a date dress (during the Valentine's season) from this M6518 pattern. I've used the pattern a couple of times as the base to more of my "editing/hackjobs" but for tops (i chopped and taped my patterns a lot. rather than trace them and then make alterations....). Namely, my spring gingham peplum-ed blouse (which was a refashion project).

This time I wanted to make a skirt out of it. I shouldn't bother. I sewn everything except for the zippers. Put it on. It looks horrendous. I look like a box. I felt bad for days. I realize how still very green I am at sewing. Can't even sew skirts yet. Okay, maybe I know how to "sew" it but I mean to fit it, to choose a pattern that will fit my altered shape. I will stick my experimentation on proper skirt pattern from now on. Until I find a flattering skirt shape on me... :(

Skirt sorrow #3

This was the first skirt I ever made from scratch, the original party crasher to Faye's Carnival of Skirts. It's from Simplicity 2766. I finally worn it out yesterday. It has quite a number of issues. Firstly, the length. I wanted a longer length for this but accidentally cut it shorter just before hemming. For this shape of a skirt, it's now at a weird length - just under the knee. 

Secondly, I am so used to wearing my top covering my tummy (because I imagine it will elongate my torso? LOL). Maybe this worked (in my head) when I was younger, but my tummy/waist isn't the smallest part of me anymore. This type of skirt cannot handle this look. Maybe I will find a better top, shorter top? I don't know...

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This is a carnival, a party. After a few days of sorrow where no sewing or blogging can be done (but spent running around, moping, touching patterns, pulling fabric stash and making a mess at it) I am determined to make another skirt. Different style now of course as per Faye's requirement. 

I bought this pattern (Today's Fit by Sandra Betzina V1082) many months ago I think during one of those BMV sale. My plan is to make View A (the pattern on the right, more fitted darker skirt). I've never made the skirt obviously but it has a lot of interesting element to it that it is calling to me. Go big or go bust you see...

The fabric (the brown, mint, cream, etc etc floral and earthy design, a thick cotton) I am going to test this pattern on is one of my treasured thrift find. I have 3 yards of it. I've been holding on to it forever. But it's time to sacrifice it for greater good...

The caramel brown, black and white cotton fabric above is my muslin for the upper skirt part as suggested by Sandra Betzina in her instruction.

Seems like I might need to have size G for the front portion, and then a smaller size (F) for the back... Can you have 2 different sizes for front and back? Of course you can right? That's the whole point of sewing for yourself... Makes me hesitant to cut into my fabric. Into any fabric...

And another question: Do you make your own piping? How do you make your own piping for apparel? What filler do you use? I've been using random strings I have in stash to use as piping filler. I'm not sure if this is advisable?

I really don't want another sorrowful skirt story....

Wearing my Me-Mades

I wore my me-made eyelet Vogue 1247 top and carried my new slouchy but clutch-esque bag this recent Sunday when we went out for lunch and run errands... I had my husband snap my picture before everything gets crumpled, and I like em! LOL!

Okay, I was playing around with Picasa, and can't remember what editing I did, so don't mind that the coloring and so on are different for the 3 pics okay. 

What's important here is that I have some pics of me wearing me-mades! That's rare.;)

So, this bag while cute and can fit a lot of stuff (and can also fit my small laptop and/or Ipad), it is not that practical if I use it for my everyday life (that may include bus rides with the Bean, and I have to hold my bag, his bag, our shopping bag/s, his folded stroller and him!). But it's okay for when going with the hubby who'd drive us, and can hold onto the wriggly Bean.

This top I do like and can wear all the time, especially over jeans. Notice how the top is boxy? That is totally my fault, not the fault of the pattern at all. You should go check out Carolyn's to see it's true potential! 

The pattern V1247 already informed you that it is a relaxed, loose fit top. But of course since all these pattern sizing befuddles me and I do like casual tops and I do need and love room in my clothes, I always add all these inches. And on a stiffer cotton eyelet fabric like mine, you can see how I make it boxier that it would have been (obvious in my 3rd picture there). I could shape it better I know, take it in a little around the bust and let it flow/taper out towards the bottom. :) Next time! I don't want to have to unpick all that french seams and whatnot! :)

Oh, and also, I changed the neckline of course. I don't like a wide neckline so I narrow it a bit, but I retained the depth of the neckline. I did raise the back neckline though.

The skirt in the picture is not a me made. To date I've only made one skirt after being inspired, impelled by Faye's obsession ;) After many of us make some noise, she finally invited us to tag along on her skirts carnival! We are having a carnival of skirts 2012 sew-a-long that is starting today! Join in on the parade!

Now, I better go get going on my skirt...

p/s: Almost forgot to mention that I'm having a patterns stash busting giveaway! Check it out :)

First Skirt - Simplicity 2766

Been a little bit slow working on the skirt, but it's done now. I find myself feeling tired and wanting to fall asleep when working on it after dinner, and during the day the Bean didn't let me work on it continuously :)

So this is my finished skirt:

Now that it's hemmed, I realized that I must have mix up the measurement with the other things I wanted to do... I should've cut the bottom 3 inches before hemming rather than 6 inches! 6 inches is for another "alteration" project! Or is it 4 inches? I should re-measure before cutting that one....

I have this lovely red lining fabric in my stash. Thrifted in Iowa :) Glad to go shopping in my own stash.

More pics for this project was shared in my previous post.

As I mentioned in that post, I cut a size 18 for the project, and even added 3 inch for the middle panel piece that is cut on fold. Why? Because I thought that by adding all that inches, I will have a comfy skirt, and if it's too big I will attempt to put waist darts into it. However, it was wayyyyy too big.

With 3 inches added on fold for both front and back middle panel, that equates to 6 a total of 12additional inches of extra fabric there. For RTW, I wear pants/jeans size 14 comfortably (if  they have some sort of stretch of course). But I know not to cut a size 14 for my skirt patterns even if it's my first time attempting to make myself a "bottoms'. I decided to unpick (yes, by this time I've sewn all the panels together to see how it looks on me using the actual fabric, as I think, correctly, that it is quite hardy to take on the abuse) the middle panels (front & back) from the sides and then recut them back to just size 18. And then resew them back. Size is okay then. 

The pattern instruction is quite simple and short. I should have been done with the skirt a while ago. But as usual I cannot let things sit and just follow instructions A-Z. I decided to line it since I don't quite like the way the skirt fabric hang on me a bit stiffly (eventhough it's not as thick as regular denims). Found a nice red lining fabric in my stash that complements the red thread that is part of the "embroidery" on the main skirt fabric. So cut the lining fabric size 18 all the way. Sew the same way as skirt.

In the instruction, the way you are instructed to finish the skirt's waist is by sewing a twill tape on the top part of the right side of skirt, and then stitch it down the inside.

I attached the wrong side of the skirt and the wrong side of the lining together (at the top of skirt, as in the pic below/left), and handstitch down the lining to the zipper.

Doing my best to keep the inside neat...

Used leftover black twill from my fuchsia exposed zipper dress for my waist stay.

And then as in the instruction, sew the twill tape on the front of the skirt and fold it inside towards the lining and baste. And top stitch it down from the front side...

Then I made the erroneous cut of 6 inches off the bottom instead of 3, and just hem it - stitch, turn over and press, and stitch down. Same with the lining, except it's an inch shorter than the outside. Wanted to make one of those lining stay thingy, but I'm done with this for now. It's time to go to the carnival!!! Except..... I have nothing to wear on top. Typical! Nothing goes with anything. I will have to do something about that. Enough with sewing without much of a plan. I have to at least sew things that go together, no???

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p/s: Will I make this skirt again? I probably will. It's actually super easy. But I will have to address fit issues better, and must not cut the hem this short, and in a different type of fabric, and have a top in mind for it...

The making of my first skirt from scratch

in pictures...

Chosen pattern: Simplicity 2766, View D (the only skirt) size AA 10-18

Fabric: Gifted by parents, upon further inspection it's a light denim type fabric black with gold, and machine embroidered/stitched with green, red and goldy-yellow threads

There's only 2 main pattern pieces. Cut 4 pieces for the side panels front and back, and 2 on fold for the front and back middle panels. I cut size 18 straight, and added 3 inches on the fold for the middle panels. I know i'd have to adjust later, and will have to figure this out, but my sizing is weird post-Bean so that's where i'm starting...

New shears: Gingher! I love em!

Cutting all done. Sewing starts tomorrow!

 Hey Faye, I'm crashing your party! Wait for me!!! :)