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Hi everyone!
How are you? Is summer with you yet? I hope so- in Northern EnglandĀ its been half and half and I am trying to make the most of it. My two eldest are really enjoying not having much structure to their day: no music lessons, homework, scouts etc. I have to admit I am letting them watch a lot more TV ….which gives me a bit more time to sew :-).
I gotĀ into a mad panic this weekend havingĀ realised that there are only 4 weeks left till Autumn!!!! Where did the time go?? I haven’t finished half of myĀ summer sewing plans.Ā Do you feel like you are ready to think about Autumn sewing? I am not! Like an ostrich I will stick my head in the sand for a while longer yet š
And so onto something I just couldn’t wait to share with you guys! Remember my post about how I sometimes get random ideas that are not on the sewing queue (wrote about it in this post here)? Well pencil skirts is one of those. In my head I want to have about 5 pencil skirts in patterned fabrics. I got my sloper out and used Suzy Furer’s Craftsy class to draft the pencil skirt with a facing.
Drafting was easy and took less that 15 mins since it only involved pegging the skirt by an inch or so and drafting the kick pleat. Next Up I decided to buy a ponte fabric I had seen at Leeds Market for the skirt. I quite liked the spots.
Taking up only one meter I cut the skirt on the cross grain as suggested by Suzy Furrer (she is a pattern drafting goddess and everything she has advised to do has upped my sewing game and I love her classes for that! ) It sits perfectly lovely and I love it.
I did make a bohoo and tried to use a facing on a stretch fabric – it did not work! After serging on the (interfaced) facing it was clear that the waist needed to be elastic. I had doh! moment. Needless to say the elastic went in smoothly. I was going to turn the elastic under – something I learnt when I made my V1440 leggings. However I rather liked the little waistband š
I Used a simple zig zag for the hem. All other seams were on my overlocker.
Overall I am very happy with this skirt. I finished it Friday night and I spent all of Saturday wearing it. The feeling of comfort in this skirt is amazing! It uses less than 1 meter of fabric. Its very quick to make up. Score! Liking this skirt and there will be more in bright and bold colours!
Thanks for stopping by and happy sewing everyone!
Hila
xox
PS My kids wont even let me anywhere near the computer during the day so most of my posts will be late night ones in the foreseeable future. Right am off to sleep now….
Abigail
August 4, 2015 11:53 pmGreat skirt!! Fits you great!
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:27 amThanks Abigail!
oldschoolsewing
August 5, 2015 12:30 amGreat fit. Love the dots.
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:26 amThank you!š
Chris
August 5, 2015 2:09 amThat came out perfect & it looks great on you – Congrats!
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:26 amThanks Chris! I am learning how to use my sloper and its great that I have it so perfect that I dont need to do a muslinš
CurlsnSkirls
August 5, 2015 2:56 amLooks fantastic on your teensy good self!
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:25 amLols thanks š
Patrice
August 5, 2015 4:58 amYes, awesome skirt.
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:25 amThanks Patrice!
Clarinda Kaleidoscope
August 5, 2015 6:24 amA great fit. You can’t tell it’s a knit until the close-ups. Hope you are enjoying the holidays!
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:25 amThanks Clarinda! Holidays are great so farš.
sewingsu
August 5, 2015 6:55 amLooking fab and matching your shoes perfectly! I am starting to abandon my summer sewing plans and am thinking of autumn makes already!
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:24 amYou are a stronger woman that me Su! I am still in denialš
idaaidasewing
August 5, 2015 7:12 amWe have like 40 degrees here almost every day so autumn looks far far away :). Your skirt came out fantastic, simple as that you made yourself a great skirt, love pattern drafting.
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:22 amNice weather! Wish I was there! Pattern drafting is pretty sweetš
jennystitched
August 5, 2015 8:05 amI love the contrast elastic band
Hila
August 5, 2015 10:21 amThanks Jenny! It was supposed to be folded under.š
themateriallady
August 5, 2015 11:03 amGreat skirt, and fabulous that it can be made so quickly out of so little fabric. I love your shoes!
I really want to sew for summer but I am starting to feel the autumn creep. Very much on the fence.
Hila
August 5, 2015 9:06 pmYes its so quick I am afraid its going to spoil me from trying more challenging stylesš!
themateriallady
August 6, 2015 7:07 amSometimes you just want a challenge.
JaneyB
August 5, 2015 12:20 pmI’m definitely not ready for Autumn yet. Great kick pleat and not only do you have great shoes but you also have a Snoopy t-shirt!
Hila
August 5, 2015 12:28 pmThanks Jane! I lobe that Snoopy teeš
jendavismiller
August 5, 2015 1:08 pmLovely skirt! Dots are always good, and the matching shoes are perfect. As for autumn, I am ready simply because it’s my favorite season (and my mom is coming to visit), but ugh — winter will follow closely on its heels, and I am NOT ready for snow!
Hila
August 5, 2015 9:05 pmI have to grudgingly admit I like fall…I know where I stand with fall unlike the current ‘season’š. Nice that your mom is visiting!
Dani Malloy
August 5, 2015 1:39 pmI like the little waistband on this, too! Fits like a glove š
Hila
August 5, 2015 9:02 pmThanks Dani! Suzy Furrer’s sloper is really good! š
lovelucie1
August 5, 2015 2:44 pmI’m dreaming of a long Indian summer, so I’m with you.
Hila
August 5, 2015 9:06 pmI like the idea of an indian summer!
whatcorrinedidnext
August 5, 2015 10:10 pmWow, I’m really impressed. Love the cut, love the fabric! Especially love the elasticated waist…perfect for a meal out when you can’t say no to all 3 courses! š
Hila
August 11, 2015 4:29 pmI have never been known to turn down a courseš
navybluethreads
August 6, 2015 12:59 amLove the spots, great fabric! I’m already on to Autumn makes with my last two Astorias. Given up on Summer ever planning to arrive…
Hila
August 11, 2015 4:27 pmAw no! I am in denial for a while longer yetš
patternandbranch
August 6, 2015 2:47 amThe expression on that ostrich’s face is how I feel when I see all this fall stuff. NO NO NO! Summer just got here! I love planning, but I’m just not ready for that. Nice skirt. I definitely get distracted from my lists, too. It used to drive me nuts that I did that, but I’m more ok with it now. I just made myself a big list of projects and am tracing out all my patterns, and then plan to cut and then sew, but you never know if something super exciting will have to get added in! Great drafting skills, by the way. I’m really impressed.
Hila
August 11, 2015 4:26 pmThanks! I also like to trace in batches – its more efficient.
Thimberlina
August 6, 2015 5:32 pmLooking fab! I really need to crack on with my skirt sloper so I can knock up a skirt like that too! š
Hila
August 11, 2015 4:23 pmYes you should! You will love it.
Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
August 7, 2015 1:47 amNice job! You’ve definitely mastered the skirt!
Hila
August 11, 2015 4:23 pmThank you!
springystitches
August 7, 2015 11:46 pmLooks great! It fits you perfectly too! š
Hila
August 11, 2015 3:49 pmThank you!
gingerella
August 14, 2015 12:15 pmLove spots/polka dots! A very nice skirt, and I’m impressed by the self-drafting too, I’m such a novice at that!