Sewing Again

Hello lovelies,
I didn't intend to start a another dressmaking project, but after  seeing THIS post by the talented Daisy I couldn't resist ordering the pattern she had shared and recommended..............

 I have to agree with Daisy about the uninspiring styling you get on pattern packets. I wouldn't have chosen this pattern based on these images................

But thankfully after seeing Daisy's versions I knew it was a goody. And it arrived in super quick time ( ordered via HERE on Monday evening , it arrived in  the post on Wednesday morning ).

On Thursday my car had to go into the garage for a service so I had the perfect excuse to stay home and do some sewing.

Having not had time to go and look for some fabric, I once more searched my stash. The only fabric I fancied using was barely big enough ( it was a meter that had already had a rectangle used from it. So I laid out the pattern pieces the only was I could get them to fit............well nearly fit!

 I know you are not supposed to have skirt panels facing in opposite directions, but I figured to would not matter with the fabric I was using.

I have to say how MUCH I enjoyed sewing this skirt.
I had spent a couple of hours in the morning doing some housework so I didn't have that annoying voice in my head saying "you really should be doing some jobs Jacquie"
I was working in a quiet house, in our light conservatory. In the winter it's freezing and in the summer it's too hot....but right now........ it's just right.
But I think the big difference was knowing the pattern came highly recommended so  could relax a bit, knowing it would hopefully turn out O.K.

As Daisy mentioned in her post , this pattern was used in Episode 1 of the first series of The Great British Sewing Bee. I've managed to find pictures of the skirts the contestants made HERE (scroll across )

I took my time and carefully followed the pattern instructions. There is no waistband on this skirt, but the waist facing is a little tricky. Here I'm tacking the facing ( with it's iron on interfacing ) onto the skirt........

Here I'm picking up my camera to capture a picture of our friendly garden squirrel with a mouth full of peanuts..........

And here's he or she burying them for later :0)

Sorry, back to the skirt.
Here I'm under-stitching the facing to prevent it showing on the finished garment........

And after a couple more stages I had a completed skirt. It took me about four and a half hours to do. That may be slow for this beginner make, but I was just very happy to be able to complete it in one session.

And here's my latest sewing project........ta-dah........

 This is the front

And this is the back.........

Did anybody notice a problem?  Turns out the fabric that I thought didn't have a right or a wrong way up actually does ....oooops, oh well I don't think anybody will notice :0)

It was an easy fabric to work with and I'm pleased with the standard of finish I managed to achieve on this skirt. The zip turned out well...........

And I'm happy to show you a close up of the finished facing.......

Daisy has some great sewing tips in THIS post.

My fabric was a little too small for the knee length version of this pattern , so I just made it as long as I could and turned up a smaller hem than the pattern suggested............

Here I'm wearing it with my top tucked in so you can see what a great fit the waistband is. The hips were just a bit too loose but it was easy to take them in a bit.
 Do check the size guide on the pattern .....I buy a size 10 in clothes, but this is a size 14 pattern.........

 Please excuse the pasty white legs.......they need some sun.

You may have noticed I also copied Daisy and added some big Ric-Rac trim close to the hem. I love cerise........



Here's how I will wear this skirt, with a T.shirt over the waist..........and I'm sure I will wear it lots. I'm thrilled with how it turned out and I was a joy to make............

 Can you see Teddy's mini cowl....I made that while doing the cowl tutorial for Simply Crochet :0)

I'm sorry about the poor quality of some of these photo's , the light wasn't brilliant. That did mean I took a photo of myself that was quiet flattering........that doesn't happen often these days!.........

 Hello Lovelies :0)

I hope you all have a super Sunday.

Jacquie x