Completed: That Speckled Skirt + New Blouse

The skirt turned out surprisingly well, I'm happy to report. My new-found craving for learning couture sewing techniques has really driven me to expect nothing but excellence in hand sewing (time permitting)-- holding myself to a higher standard, you know? Granted, my hand stitching is still not the absolute best, but I'm determined to get there (eventually).

That Speckled Skirt Update #1

Taking my time much?

I'm actually really happy that I am taking my sweet time with this project. The last thing I need is to be stressed out about something I should be heartily enjoying. I bought the fabric days before I posted about it here-- and have just barely started cutting yesterday.

Cutting is actually my least favorite part of sewing (and from what I hear about others, many agree). It's boring and tedious and never seems to end. It didn't help that for the longest it would be a laborious process of sweeping and moping the wooden floor of the kitchen and having to crawl around on my hands and knees. And then the cuts would be warped because of this! I have a kitchen table now--- and it helps A LOT.

The toile fitting went surprisingly well! I knew within a couple minutes of trying it on that the pattern fit me correctly and I wouldn't have to do very many changes. My 5'3" petite frame poses a lot of fitting issues and I'm SO HAPPY I had to do only ONE change: narrow the bottom hem.

Having chicken legs means that most pencil skirts fit me like a straight cylinder. Curvaceous fit? I can only dream that about RTW!

Either way, I took in the pattern about 4" on the bottom hem and even then it's just BARELY starting to look more "shapely". I'm telling you- chicken legs!

I've cut out the fashion fabric and am about to work on the interlining (which in after thought, I should have done first...!)

Either way, slow and steady wins the race. I think this pace is making sure I'm not stressed out or angry when I'm sewing and that's better in the long run when I start freaking out over mismatched seams and whatnot.

Still haven't gotten my seam binding and I suspect I need to buy more interfacing for the waist band, but all in due time, I suppose.

New Project: That Speckled Skirt

I'm very excited to start working on this skirt! I'm very aware that the skirt is going to be "straight forward"-- in some techniques. But certainly not all, I will say.

New techniques I'm trying:

• Underlining
• Lapped zipper
• Slip stitch
• Sewing with seam binding

It took a little digging around at a local fabric warehouse, but I found my fabrics! The teal is my underlining and the fabric on the bottom seems to be a wool-blend that is actually black with white speckles. It's classic without looking too "suit-y". I also ordered some neutral, warm colored seam binding from Etsy-- and wow, what a great set of colors are available for this stuff! I'll probably use the lightest color for this particular project.

This skirt requires a single button to tie up the back of the waist band and I'm actually really torn as to which I'm going to use! I know that sounds lame, but after lamenting not having enough buttons a few months back, now I have quite a collection!

5$ button grab bags at Britex Fabrics? Oh yes. I've gone in twice now in the last few months and bought two bags each time... and I'll just say it took me at least two hours to sort them all and get them properly stored by color! 

The button in the foreground, the off-white one with the 4 black hairline lines? That's the one I'm thinking for this project-- it'll match my seam binding! But who knows? Maybe I'll swing by Britex again before I finish the skirt and come home with more buttons to decide between.

But first up, toile (which I'd like to start using instead of muslin- so much more classy!). I've traced my pattern all ready but we'll see how the first version comes out. I all ready have a feeling I may need to move a dart or two around...