August 11, 2005
Look, Ma! I made a flouncy skirt!
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P.S. Captain Destructo took the shot. [Awww!]*
My latest sewing efforts have rendered a flouncy skirt using McCall's pattern M4875 and about three meters of flowery fabric purchased in La Croix Rousse. The pattern is classified as "easy" and the front envelope even proclaims "Suddenly You're Sewing!", and that is no lie, my friends. I put the skirt together over a couple of afternoons and suffered no boneheaded moments. I'm dying to put on a pair of sandals and a ballet tank so I can wear this skirt out, but I can't because the weather is being all fickle and cloudy. (Where's my summer, man?) I guess I have no choice but to dive into my wee stash of Fall fabric that I got a few weeks ago before La Maison des Tissus closed for the month of August.
I've also finished the petite sundress I had cut out and started sewing before I left on my trip to the Loire Valley, and I'm pleased with how the dress came out. However, I don't want to wear it out yet because I don't like how the back closure looks with the way the instructions called for it to be sewn in (with apparent stitching and a regular dress zipper), so I'm going to buy an invisible zipper and sew it in using a special zipper foot. That means I have to rip out this zipper, and do the whole entire zipper dance all over again without making a mess of it. Lucky me!Speaking of stash, I've cleaned out enough of my stash during my MAJOR HOUSECLEANING to justify a couple of stash acquisitions for Fall projects. First up:
A nice little batch of Rowan All Season's Cotton in deep denim blue, traded with my friend Sarah W. (via Rowan supplier Kangaroo...thank you!) that wants me to make it into a cardigan to wear this Fall. Which cardigan? Oh, the suspense!
And because I am like to remain faithful to my local market, I bought the fixins' for yet another back-to-school jacket for yours truly:
One of my new rules of stash acquisition is that I won't dawdle anymore and that I will knit any and all new stash acquisitions in a somewhat timely manner. [Yeah, right!] In order to comply with that rule I will be taking these yarns with me to the country for an extended weekend starting this Saturday so I can get a headstart on my Fall projects. I feel my needles clicking already. Click, click, click!
*When Daddy's at work Mommy shall employ the photography services of four-soon-to-be-five-year-old Captain Destructo for taking mannequin shots. Of the five shots he took, this is the one shot that wasn't angled, blurry or chopped off. I would have included customary dancing shots, but i) there was no music, and ii) Captain Destructo wanted to get back to his morning cartoons. Whaddaya gonna do?
68 comments to this entry:
Thank you! These sewing patterns really are quite easy, though. They help me to learn as I sew :-)
I adore your garden floral skirt and sundress! They'll look so cute with your handknit tops and cardis and wraps! Happy Almost Birthday, Capt. Destructo!
That skirt is soooooooooo pretty and so is the sundress (pink!)... you're so talented! With everything :-)
My sewing machine has been calling me from the dark recesses of my fiber room. I might have to do some sewing after seeing your latest and very cute creations.
The Captain did a great job with your photo. I'm not sure I could have done as good a job :)
Tanya
You are inspiring me to get out the Kenmore! Actually, I did and I have finished a couple of pairs of pajama bottoms to lounge around in. The dress and skirt look great! Have fun on your weekend away.
I second Vickie; is there anything you can't do (and beautifully to boot)? I requested and received a nice sewing machine for Christmas last year. Unfotunately I'm too frightened of it to use it for anything but pocket hole repair for the DH's pants. Argh! What's a girl to do? (Get some gumption, maybe?) ;)
mmmmmAllSeasonsCotton.
What a pretty skirt! I've been itching to sew something but first I need a sewing machine - tee hee! Great job!
The skirt is so beautiful! Wish you beautiful weather soon to wear it to garden party!
Many professional photographers have to take hundreds of shots to get one good one ... so Captain Destructo was quite good to get one in five! ;)
You're amazing. That skirt and dress are really cute. Love the dress actually.
I am making a sweater for my little one right now in all seasons cotton. I like the yarn, it is really nice.
Very nice sewing. Mentions of fall knitting are freaking me out. Noooo!
Lovely job on both skirt and dress... they are both so pretty and summery. And I love the look of the charcoal gray ASC - can't wait to see what you'll use it for. And I'm also looking forward to seeing how you're doing on that Rebecca 29 ribbed/cabled cardi - how's that going?
You look beautiful in both that skirt and the dress. I really like the fabric for the skirt...
Fall knits?! Man, I need to start thinking like that too.. There were two tanks I wanted to still knit, but I think they are going to have to wait...
Gosh. Your clothes came out well. I liked sewing (by hand only), but my clothing looked amateur. I just couldn't consistently pull off the nice finishing that makes the difference between something looking hand made and something looking professional.
Can I just tell you that if I go out and buy a sewing machine, I'm going to blame it all on you. Sheesh! It's been two months since you started sewing?!
Nice yarn acquisition! Can't wait to see what you knit up with it.
BTW, you sound like Felicia (sweetgeorgia) and I in terms of attempting to knit up all of our yarn. My goal is to knit it up as soon as I receive it in the mail. I'm really just hoping my hands can knit as fast as my eyes can spot my next project. :)
Enjoy your vacation!
Love the skirt and the sundress! The yarn looks yummy as well!
Amazing sewing skills, your skirt and dress do really look professional! I lovethe colour of the all seasons yarn and the Auteuil yarn. What are going to knit with that, gilet number one or...?
OMG! You make me so jealous of your skills! The dress and the skirt are AWESOME! They look great. I have wedding to go to next weekend and I wonder if I'll have enough time to go get the pattern and make that skirt.. hrmmmm.... GREAT JOB!
Wow! That skirt and the dress look lovely, and the Captain is a much better photographer than I was at that age (I didn't know how to use a camera at all, heh!)!
You make me wish I could sew and had my own sewing machine . . . *sigh* :)
The skirt is so cute and I LOVE the sundress. So pretty and feminine. You are so talented :)
Pretty, pretty pretty fabrics! You're inspiring some of us "closet" sewers to re-start again. And, thanks to the Capt. for his photos! Happy knitting and sewing - thanks for the posts!
Great projects! Don't you just hate those zippers? Everyting I make something with zippers I'm totally tearing my hair out!!
oooo, i love the flouncy skirt! the dress, too! you look so lovely in them.
You can make anything! I love love love the skirt and dress.
I may have to get my hands on a sewing machine. A friend of mine just took it up and has already made some cute-as-all-get-out skirts. I'm impressed by how quickly you've gotten so good.
Hmmmmmm....
Lovely, lovely. Captain is much more talented at photography than my just-turned-five-year-old, and likely more so than myself, too!!
I can't believe how quickly you pick skills up. Your sewing looks fantastic. I'm still figuring out forward and reverse on my machine, I think.
Congrats on the small stash acquisition. I need to take a lesson from you in stash management. But what you did get, both in yarn and fabric, looks beautiful! Can't wait to see the projects!
Woman of many talents! I love both the skirt and the dress. I would love to start sewing some things, even have this cute pattern for a Bohemian skirt, but I've decided to wait until after I have my baby (three more months) to see if I can actually get back to my normal size in a reasonable amount of time. But seeing your creations makes me antsy to get started.
Oh! I love seing pics of your sewing projects, it inspires me to dust off the machine and make some cute clothes. Not that I have actually done that step yet, but inspiration is the beginning!
And that skirt is so cute, reminds me of those perfect Doris day outfits from "Please Don't Eat the Daisies." Tres chic!
She knits. She sews. She is a domestic goddess. And she created a photographer prodigy. You are amazing. I can't wait to see more of your sewing. The most recent dresses have been amazing.
i love that skirt! it looks fabulous on you...and i would be tempted to try and make it for myself but i fear you are much more svelte then i am.
You are multi-talented! have had my eye on that skirt pattern myself, but I thnk you've convinced me :)
I love both your sewing projects. It makes me want to dust my sewing machine...
Goodness you're a talented girl! I love that skirt. It looks very 1920s ish.
Your skirt and dress look fabulous!
That's a cute skirt as well as the sundress.
Fluffie!!! I love the dress!!! and the skirt is just great, very RETRO!! The Captain is really a budding "artiste" : ) Cannot wait to see what you have planned for fall!!
that is a great sundress. i love love love it!!
Dude, you're a natural. Skirt and sundress are fab-U-lous! Nice work!!!!!
what a crafty mama! love the skirt :O) and rec'd my phildar femme yesterday...what were they thinking with those awful hideous boots?!
You are The Amazing Fluffa!!!
How cute are you in your darling dress and skirt??? Well...so very cute!
Amazing!
Donna
SO beautiful, i'm very jealous. where do you find the time for all this stuff?? i had the same problem with a strapless top i sewed recently - the zipper looked hideous! luckily it was under one arm so easily disguised for us lazy people for whom ripping seams is too much effort.
Have a lovely weekend, you deserve it, you clever girl you
Thanks! And I'm happy to see that there are a few who want to dust off the sewing machine and/or try sewing out. I really recommend this skirt pattern; there's no zipper to sew in, just a sash and fasteners. Simple and quick, but cute.
Oooh, the skirt is so pretty I am tempted to try it out myself. I really like the vintage-y pattern, too.
I am soooo jealous of your skills! I knit too (on occasion) and I need to find the time to finish a project I've been working on for, well, for too long. I want to learn to sew too! I would love to make cute little dresses and skirts and things. Love the skirt!
your skirt and sundress look fab! Your inspiring me to get back to sewing. I finally have my sewing macine out of storage.
I absolutely love the skirt!! I'm going to be keeping my eyes open for that pattern. The sundress is gorgeous as well - invisible zippers can be a pain, but well worth the effort!
The flouncy skirt is cute. You are super woman. Sigh...Is there anything you don't know how to do? My father is a tailor and has a tailor shop, but my sewing skills are non-existent. His skills are amazing. Growing up, he always altered my clothing cause I am short. I am still short, but I have moved away.
Such pretty fabric! You did some nice sewing there!
You are master of your sewing universe!!!!!
so I'm just ditto-ing the rest of the world...but they are really gorgeous! love the fabrics and the patterns, they make me think of the old musicals my sister and i used to love. i wish i had one right now, but i think "down with love" is on cable this month, i may have to watch it again because of your pretty projects. :)
beautiful work!
Your sewing looks fab! I HATE sewing in zippers.
Could your clicky needles talk to my snoozing needles? I've got a small stash pile that's making me nutty.
Thank you.
Becky, once again I am humbled by your craftiness.
I am not worthy!!! I am not worthy!!
I knew it. When I saw that sewing machine first, I figured you'd take to sewing like a duck to water. I figured that within a year, you wouldn't be buying clothes at a store anymore. Maybe I was wrong with that, as it looks like you're ready to do that now. Nice work.
The dress and the skirt are absolutely gorgeus- you go girl! You really inspire me(and many others it seems from all the comments posted)!
Oh Becky the skirt looks great! I just decided that I should be making something to wear next month on hubby and my getaway to Florida! 4 days, no kids! I can't believe it!
I like the stash ideas. I don't want stuff languishing in my closet! I need to get knitting, just so I can justify buying more yarn!
LOVELY, LOVELY, LOVELY...you should really start your own buisness, I know I would be the first to buy a sundress and matching bolero =)
your skirt and dress are just fantastic! who would have thought that you just got you super crafty hands on that machine just a wee while back!
That skirt looks great on you. Very nice fabric! Loved your photos of the Loire. I used to holiday there as a child. It's such a beautiful part of France.
Doris Day, indeed! You do love those 50s retro prints, too, don't you!
And you have the perfect figure for a circle skirt--good pattern choice.
Good luck with the zipper--zippers are the one sewing thing that I still approach with trepidation.
Be sure to show us some close-ups when you get it just right, as I know you will!
Hi. Just wanted to say I love all the things you make (sew/knit). I am amazed that Capt Destructo can take such lovely photos. I've got my nearly 3 year old in training already.
You are so crafty!
I think that you need to knit a cute cardi for the skirt so on those cooler nights you can be 'tres chic' while sipping some wine at the local bistro.
Beautiful skirt! Lovely dress! Both looks good on you. So cute!
Love the dress! Going to see the Loire Valley post...I really enjoyed our trips to France.
That skirt is so cute! The fabric matches the style of the skirt so well too--love the vintage look ;)
I just made a skirt from the same McCalls pattern! Mine is still waiting to be hemmed though. Congrats-yours looks great.
Gorgeous work, everything! That layette is adorable & so are your dresses, skirt & bolero. How perfectly that bolero goes with your sundress! Love your style.
fabulous skirt! My sis was on the phone drooling over it and she was right! It's amazing! You are inspiring me to try my hand at sewing again....
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Oh rabbit, is there anything you can't do? :-) The skirt and sundress are beautiful...you're quite a seamstress for someone who just got a sewing machine. I'm impressed as always. Can't wait to see what that yarn is destined for...