Gosh, it's been a while! Sure, school starting back up (for the kids, and fashion classes for me) and prepping for my quarter teaching biology (which starts next week), have really slowed down my sewing. But the main reason I haven't been too active here lately is because the contractors put one of our toilets in my sewing room. Yes, you read that right. As the closest room to the bathroom, my sewing room was home to the toilet, a hallway book shelf and lots of other debris from our two simultaneous bathroom remodels over the past 3 weeks. Needless to say, that kind of situation doesn't inspire creativity (at least for me :). But now we have all 3 of our bathrooms back to working order and my sewing space is again my own.
So the skirt. With a new quarter starting up soon at the college, I wanted a few new pieces for my wardrobe and I realized I didn't own any pencil skirts. I don't even know how that's possible! I had about a yard of some fabulous peacock blue stretch double wool fabric from Britex (leftover from my "
Back to School Cambie" made last year) and
this pattern (Amazing Fit, Simplicity 2475). For alterations, I added a full lining and reduced the waistband to about 1".
What I love most about this pattern are the two kick pleats. So fun and gorgeous, but such a pain in this thick fabric!
So as the post title implies, there are two more pencil skirts coming. Number 2 will be a Britex project, with a couple of tutorials. That skirt is also done (spoiler alert: in
this fabric!) and I'm not sure I could be any more proud of how it turned out.
The third pencil skirt will be the first project due in my Patternmaking II class! The style is a high waisted, lined skirt with a kick pleat and the flat pattern is nearly finished with the "muslin" due this Thursday. I plan to sew it in a fabulous wool plaid, which is not at all a muslin, but since I am doing all my pattern making to my own measurements this semester, I'm breaking out the good stuff!
It was not my master plan to make three skirts in a month, it all just happened that way. But all three skirts are remarkably different, despite all falling into the "pencil skirt" category, and definitely will fill some serious gaps in my professional wardrobe.
Anyone else making a pencil skirt (or three) this month? Anyone else thrilled that they don't have a toilet in their sewing room?!
Resewlution 2014: September garment #1.
This one is really cute! I love it with the cardi! Did you make that also?
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't make the cardigan--I bought it on vacation in Alaska!
DeleteBeautiful color! I love a great pencil skirt - can't have too many in your closet as far as I'm concerned :) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for a great pattern, and like that kick pleat...I made a cute skirt from a Fashion Stars pattern that Suede did. Has one kick pleat instead of two, and is really well patterned. Sorry I can't remember the exact number, but you can see it on my blog - it's the Pencil Skirt - How Hard Can This Be post. windows2wearables.com It's been a great little pattern!
Enjoy your beautiful skirt! Can't wait to see the others.
Ohh! Thanks for the pattern suggestion--that's a double pleat, yea? I thought the color was a little crazy (though I love it!), but I've got a few items that will go well with it!
DeleteOh it's really nice! Those kick pleats are great, and I love the ochre tweed you picked out too...I used to have a job where pencil skirts and heels made sense but now I don't (white collar office to blue collar office, haha) but I do miss them a bit; they're fun to wear. :) Glad you're back!
ReplyDeleteI'll be working only 2 days week, but clearly, I needed a whole new wardrobe for the occasion. And shoes to match. :)
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