Skirt with pockets - success!

I have finished Simplicity 2226 - the skirt with pockets!

I didn't really mean to do it that fast, but once I got started it was hard to stop. The pattern was incredibly easy, and each time I put my sewing down I read the next step and thought "I could just do that bit" and so on until I'm sitting at 5.30pm on Sunday with a finished skirt waiting to be worn on Monday morning, having started cutting bits and bobs out on Friday night.

   

The Simplicity 2226 pattern was a simple one to follow, the zip part had me scratching my head because it was very different to any instructions I've seen before, but you know what? It may be my best ever visible zip! Impressive, Simplicity, you stood by your word!


The wool turned out to be very easy to work with. It's a fairly loose weave so it's not all that bulky to sew through - I didn't have to change any settings or the needle on my machine to get through it. The only thing that worried me was its potential to fray, but on any loose edges I used pinking shears.

There are some bits that I could improve on, but that just lays down the challenge for the next one I make - and I am definitely making more. I also went a little rogue when I did the belt loops - I wasn't overly keen on the method they suggested (hand stitching them to the outside of the top of the waistband), so I just incorporated them into a seam for ease and neatness. I don't think it detracts from the final piece.

I love the fit, the simple style is very much the kind of thing I like to wear, and I can see it working in lots of fabrics for all seasons.

Rather proud of myself, can you tell?!



And here's me in it!

Nothing beats a skirt with pockets

I have finally bitten the bullet and got round to buying a skirt pattern and some fabric. Two pieces of fabric, actually.

I love a skirt with a pocket. Skirts can be a bit scary "ooh look at me I'm a lady", but add pockets et voila! A casual "I'm a lady and I don't care" attitude sweeps into my mind!

The pattern I've bought is Simplicity 2226. Don't judge me because it looks simple - sometimes the best things are simple!

The skills involved may be "basic" but I learned early on with sewing that you don't win prizes for running before you can walk. One day I'll tell you about the dress I made to wear to my friend's wedding. 

The fabric I went for was a grey tweed suiting with black tulle detail (fancy), and some black jersey with polka dots. Now you see why I went for a simple pattern. I've never sewn anything with a pattern (a matchable pattern - I've done plenty of prints that don't matter) and I've never sewn anything with stretch. Stretch, good grief, slight palpitations are hitting me again. It'll be fine, breathe deep.

I'm impressed with the fabric quality - I ordered it from Miverva Crafts, taking advantage of their winter sale. Both fabrics were 50% discounted to around the £5.99 a metre mark and I swear I've been sent far more than I ordered (love it when that happens). I also bought the pattern from the same place, as delivery is free if you spend over £30.

The Minerva Crafts website recommended pre-shrinking the fabric - stealing their actual words:

Allow 10% shrinkage for all your washable natural fibres (including viscose). For all fabrics wash before making up in the same manner as you would with subsequent washes (including drying methods). Jerseys and fabrics liable to mis-shape should be dried flat, or in a cool tumble dryer. Most fabrics should be pressed before cutting

This isn't something I've done before; I've worked in very stable polycotton and just plain risked it with some cheap but glorious fabric from an Indian co-ordinates shop.

I took the advice to mean "be careful, but wash it however you plan to wash the finished garment", so that's what I've done.

For the wool, I've dunked this in the bathroom sink in tepid water, given it a jiggle and then hung it over the shower curtain rail over the bath (and gave it a good gentle squeeze). A little dye came out, but nothing major, and it's sitting up there dripping to its heart's content right now.


The jersey, I've treated it to a quick spin on the delicates cycle of my washing machine, and am about to apply it swiftly to the tumble drier on a cool setting. Fingers crossed it doesn't end up the size of a postage stamp.

They're both going to need a good press when they're dry - which I'll tackle in the week when my dining table is clear of laptops and fruit bowls and I can finally go to town with my scissors.

Passion is...

... going to bed beaten and waking up refusing to let 150cm of printed fabric get the better of you.

Yesterday I looked up from the kitchen table (also known as Sewing Central) in frustration, and realised that the time was 6.41pm, and I'd been "ruining" some fabric long past my dog's dinner time, and long into the time I was supposed to be spending relaxing, watching catch up tv and drinking a lovely pink pinot.

I actually burst into tears. Earlier in the day I'd amended a dress pattern to incorporate a zip in a much more sophisticated way than recommended, and I was flying on adrenalin and pride. Pride comes before a fall, so you can almost guess what happened... I messed up! The hissy fit resulting from my upset led to the house being scrubbed, vaccuumed and rinsed to a spotless state, the grass being cut, despite the neighbours attempting to have a calm evening in their garden with friends, no dinner and then a binge on a MacDonalds cheesburger and fries at 11pm.

I've made the dress in question before (Simplicity pattern 2406, a Cynthia Rowley dress). The first time I did it in navy cotton, and made dress B - the one with the interesting short sleeves and pockets. It's really beautiful and I made it backless, just because I loved the way the main picture on the pattern looked (looks like Emma Watson, doesn't she??). I love my backless dress, but it's not so practical to wear (exposed skin, bralessness... all that sort of thing).

This time I decided to make the same thing, but dress C, in red cotton with a white heart print. This time it's not got pockets. Why? Because I cannot get my head around them, despite doing them once before, so this time I ended up ripping them off and simply doing without. However, my tears were all due to the shoulder straps and armholes. The straps wouldn't sit right, and the bias binding didn't sit flat, exposing its innards through a gaping armhole. Adding the shoulder straps and binding managed to make the front neckline look gash, and because of the way the straps sat the back was all puffy and unpleasant.

So this morning, after my night of fury, I refuse to let it drag me down. I have a gingerbread infused coffee, Desert Island Discs, my seam ripper and I'm fixing it. Calmly and slowly. And adding the sleeves I did last time, because I know they work.