A Skirt for Autumn

Earlier in the year, I added a new goal to The List:

089. Make three items of clothing from patterns

As I explained before, the idea was to challenge myself to put more effort into sewing, as usually I'm very lazy, and avoid patterns if I can help it.

After making a dress for winter using a pattern from Burda Style magazine, I intended to use some of the remaining fabric to make a skirt from the same issue.

Now autumn has arrived, I finally made that skirt! (It's only taken me nine months to get around to it!)

The pattern is from Burda Style issue 01/2015, style 109:

As with the dress I made previously, this skirt was presented in two 'views' - one in multiple colours, as shown above, and one entirely in white.

I was inspired to make one using patterned and plain fabrics:

• Thick paisley cotton left over from making the dress (purchased at a charity shop).
• Liberty fabric. Possibly left over from somebody's interiors project (also charity shop).
• Red suit (I think) fabric, left over from a project so old I no longer own those trousers. (Tip: triple-check how much fabric you need, else you end up with masses left over!)

Despite my goal being to stick to the patterns, I did make some tiny changes:

1. Lengthened pattern

The original was too short! Also, the Liberty fabric I used was a skirt I'd made previously (and never wore). So I used the length of that as a guide!

2. Different fabric

In the view I was inspired by, the magazine had used suede. I used what I already had.

3. Adjusted the waist. Massively.

I will always have to adjust the hell out of garments I sew, because the bust-waist-hip ratio in pattern sizing never matches my body!

4. Different zip placement
The zip was in a weird place on the magazine's version, and the skirt I was cutting up had a zip at the back centre, so I used it! 

Time Taken:

1 day. I'm rather impressed with myself for that! 

Good Things:

1. The fabrics

I love patterns, and I love reds. This skirt combines the two

2. Coordination

It goes with other stuff in my wardrobe! Including the green waistcoat I never wore because nothing matched it! Yay!

3. Waistband interfacing

I have never heard of this stuff until now. It's amazing. The waistband turned out so neat!

4. Two down, one to go

Only one more garment to sew from a pattern before I've completed this goal!

What's Next:

I have no idea what will come next. A skirt? A dress? Trousers? A top of some kind? Maybe by next autumn I'll have made it!

A Dress for the Winter

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about my goal to make three items of clothing from patterns.

Yesterday I finished sewing this dress! Getting pictures of it was a nightmare, mostly involving rubbish lighting and my face. (Anyone else manage to pull awful grimaces when they try to smile on demand?!) But I did manage a few reasonable ones, with help of my family.

The dress is made from a pattern Burda Style 01/2015 issue, style 105:

The magazine included two 'views' - one with chiffon (seen above) and the other with batiste and embroidered tulle.

My goal is to stick to the patterns. I did make a couple of changes, but still within the bounds of 'using the pattern':

Sewing Me, Sewing You...

Recently I added a new goal to The List:

089. Make 3 items of clothing from patterns

Alright, so this is another goal that doesn't really involve Going Out And Doing, aside from the initial buying of fabrics and notions.

What this goal will do is 'Challenge my Self' and 'Enhance my Skills'--two more reasons for starting The List.

Curtain Skirt at Unfortunately Oh!
Click image to see tutorial! :)

When it comes to sewing, I'm very lazy.

I don't use patterns if I can help it, and when I do, I don't stick to them. Once I have the basic shape around the neck/arms, I tend to guess my way to the end.