Sunday, August 28, 2016

Bank Holiday funfair skirt!

Hello sewers!

I've been doing some Bank Holiday sewing - in the grand British tradition of bank hols, today is rainy and gross, so I don't feel guilty about spending the morning inside sewing, hurrah! Although as soon as the sun comes out again I'll feel duty bound to get amongst it.

And when I do, I'll be wearing this stripy chap! I bought this fabric on sale from Miss Matatabi a few months ago, and the black colourway went to this dress - which has now gone to charity, having been yet another thing I just don't like, on second looks. But I'm hoping this skirt will be more successful. 


It's a self-drafted skirt - two rectangles, with the fronts cut to show a pocket shape - not sure what this kind of pocket is called? I pleated it by measuring the waistband then just moving them in and out till the measurements fit. 


After last week's Charlotte Skirt (which actually I've worn twice already - the weird bagging at the front hasn't bugged me much in the end and I really like it!) I've remembered how much I like skirts with belts. So I added loops to this, large enough to fit my favourite belt, and also sewed up a matching sash to go with it. 


It has a slightly weird baggy shape at the back, but apart from that I'm calling this skirt a success. I think it'll look nice with red tights for autumn.



I hope you're all having lovely weekends, wherever you are!

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Denim Charlotte Skirt


Hello sewers! Long time no post. I was away from my sewing machine for a month in Paris. Which was wonderful, but I definitely got out of the sewing habit and since coming back I've been unsure about which UFOs to tackle, or whether to start something new. So I eased myself back in by resurrecting this half-finished By Hand London Charlotte skirt.


I've made this pattern up twice before, but for one reason and another went off both those skirts very quickly, and they've gone off to charity. I had quite a lot of fitting issues with this one, and in the end got fed up and added belt loops and called it a day! I took a wedge of about 1cm out of the centre back seam, and I feel the back and sides fit well now... it's the front that's still bothering me!


Can you see the fabric bunching up between and just under the sets of darts? I just have no idea how to fix this. I tried lengthening the darts by 2cm, but that made no difference, just moved the baggy area downwards, so I brought them back to where they were. I'm not sure where to look for information about this problem!


Still, it's a comfy skirt with a belt, and the Goldhawk Road stretch denim makes it easy to wear. So I'll wear it out and about and see if the bagginess at the front bugs me or not! It's bugging me right now!!


Until soon!