Sewing For Two : The 2011 Edition

I finished something yesterday.

It feels really good because I have several projects going on at the same time and I feel like I am suffering from ADD.

I used Craftzine's Reversible Wrap Skirt pattern, which is free and a fine pattern if you are not printing it in Europe on A4 paper. There is a bit more on my blog where I also talk about my brand new shoes.

Patternless Grey Wrap Skirt

I'm not entirely sure I'm allowed to post this on here, since it isn't from a vintage pattern or anything, but wrap skirts are very 70s, so I thought I'd make a wee little post.

I've just sewed this wrap skirt, using snippets from tutorials and etc., and largely just making it up as I go along. It's a very simple and quick process, with an enormous margin for error, so there's basically no way that a wrap skirt can turn out wrong. I like that. I blogged it here, so check that out for more pictures and info. Thanks!

Two skirts for the price of one

Simplicity 7876 wrap skirt. I'm utterly delighted with the results. More details on my blog, Make it til you Fake It.

Gotta go and make another one, now...

wrap-and-go skirt

i'm determined not to buy any more fabric this summer (wishful thinking?). i've got a huge rubbermaid bin overflowing with fabric that has been neglected for too long. this is the second time i've made this skirt. (you can peek at the first one over on my blog) i used a cotton/linen blend that has been languishing in the bin since last summer. i love this pattern, it's very versatile. the previous skirt i made was sort of hippy-ish, this one is a little classier. it was a cinch to throw together and the only alteration i had to make was, as always, to shorten the hem. i always have the most success with 70's patterns. wow, i seriously need a tan... ;)

Simplicity 8126 - The Hopscotch Skirt

Simplicity 8126

From the moment I saw Simplicity 8126 over at Out of the Ashes I was excited. More so than for any lovely poofy 50's silhouetted gown. Probably because I could see myself actually wearing this skirt, that it could fit into my life easily. I also like how young and "flirty" it looked. For some reason it really makes me think of hopscotch, bike riding or some other outside activity I did as a kid.

As a long-time crafter I'm also a big fan of functional pockets in clothes and I could see the denim version of the skirt as a great work-outfit for crafting. So that's why a denim version was the first one I made.

I found a great Lycra-infused denim at Jo-Anns on sale. I followed the instruction to the T except for the pockets. Using the pattern's layout, the pockets ended up being too effected by the stretch in the denim and stretched out of shape. Eventually I'll cut another set out and put them on the skirt.



I love this skirt, I love how it doesn't even look like a typical wrap skirt. The center pleat fools you into thinking it's a regular skirt while the gathered back almost completely camouflages the wrap portion. (Especially if this was made in a floral pattern) And, about the "wrap factor?" Very good! There is basically a double layer of skirt there in the back so there is no lack of coverage. Also in a fabric with heft like this denim the lower layer sort of serves as a petticoat. I think this skirt would be quite fetching in a silk shantung or taffeta. Affordable yet lovely skirts for bridesmaids, perhaps?

The only (small) problems I had was with the pattern itself. The pattern is just four pieces and the two main portions of the skirt are fashioned so that their seam is visible through the center pleat. I'm not a fan of that but yes, it's a small quibble.

I hope to make quite a few of these. I already have a gorgeous purple linen ready for making another one of these, so I think I will change the pattern accordingly. This was an easy sew, the only time-consuming detail was the hand sewing of the hem.

Wrap Skirt

I have not had much time for personal sewing lately, but I did manage to get this wrap skirt finished on Friday (and then wore it out that night!).



It's from a 1950s McCall pattern, I made a dress from this same pattern several months ago.

I'm hoping it helps me get through the next month or two of pregnancy before I'm really ready for maternity clothes.