Simplicity 8019 Skirt in Corduroy

Here is a simple little skirt to help ease you into the weekend!  This is Simplicity 8019.  The envelope says it is a "Vintage 70s skirt" but I think it looks totally modern for 2017.  The shape is a bit fuller at the hem than a standard A-line skirt, but it isn't a full-on trumpet skirt shape either.  It is basically my perfect skirt shape.

I made my skirt in a floral corduroy fabric from JoAnn fabrics (it isn't on the website now, though).  I also used this fabric to make an adorable dress for one of my nieces for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I did a truly terrible job of documenting my Christmas sewing this year.  The best I can do is direct you to this image from Instagram (the dress on the left!).

I think this skirt turned out great in the lightweight corduroy.  It would also be nice in a lighter-weight cotton.  I could even see this cut without the button-front and a simple side zip.  Lots of options with this simple, flattering shape.  I see more in my future.

If I remember correctly, I cut the knee-length version (not the shortest) and ended up cutting off a few inches when I tried it on.  I found the buttons in my stash. I think I had bought them years ago, from JoAnn as well, for some other project.

This is a truly versatile skirt.  I have worn it with tights and without, with a simple tee and with different sweaters.  It won't work in the summer, but sometimes I need a new winter skirt, too.

Featherweight Cardigan by Knitbot in Ewe2Yarn + No-Pattern Elastic Waist Skirt

Well, I did it again.  I have gotten super behind with my posting.  Good news is there will probably be a flurry of posts for the next two weeks or so.

This is a 2-fer because the skirt is as simple as it gets.

The cardigan is the very popular "Featherweight Cardigan" by Hannah Fettig, also known as Knitbot.  I do mean popular.  Right now, there are 8,490 projects in Ravelry, but that will go up as soon as I post mine!  The beauty of this pattern is its simplicity.  If you look through the projects on Ravelry, you can get so much inspiration to customize it for yourself.  I wanted the basic version, though, since my yarn is fun.  It is hand-dyed by Ewe2Yarn.  The colorway is called Herb Garden.  

The finished sweater actually reminds me of camo, which is fun.

 The only downside to this sweater, for me, is the raglan sleeves.  I must have shlumpy shoulders or something, because raglans always seem to slide down my shoulders.  Super annoying.  I am going to add raglan-sleeve cardigans to my no-no-knit list along with single-ply yarns. (Single-ply rant here.)

 

The skirt is simple, but it sat half-finished in my sewing room for months.  It is just a rectangle seamed together to form a tube, and then fold-over elastic is stretched and stitched on the top for a waistband.  The reason it sat for months is that I made it too big at first.  I added too much ease at the hips and it was not very flattering.  The idea of unpicking the elastic, making the skirt smaller, and then re-doing the elastic was just too much.  Finally, I decided to just cut off the elastic and put on new.  Much easier.

Here is a look at the waistband.

I used a narrow-hem foot on my sewing machine for the hem.  The finish looks nice, but it was a super slow process getting the edge to go into the foot evenly.  I definitely need more practice with it.  The fabric is a poly charmeuse from Pennie Fabrics in Sarasota.  I love a nice border print, even if it is polyester!

Simplicity 2215 - Cynthia Rowley Collection

This is Simplicity 2215, a Cynthia Rowley pattern from 2010.  Of course, I am just now getting around to sewing it.  I decided to sew the skirt, but I do like the dress and blouse in the pattern also.

 The fabric is another score from Gorgeous Fabrics, the same order as this and this.  The fabric is a cotton/linen twill that is out of stock.  It looks and feels like a heavy-weight linen.

 This skirt has uneven pleats.  It even mentions in the directions that this is a designer detail.  As a home seamstress, though, I just hope it reads as "designer detail" and not "she needs to go back to home ec."

The heavy fabric combined with the pleats make the skirt swingier than I prefer - as in, it seems to stand away from the body a lot.  I hope the fabric softens up with some more washing and relaxing to hand more straight.

 The pockets and fringed hem make this skirt fun and casual.  This skirt will see lots of wear this spring, especially with my new t-shirt shown here..

 Here are the pockets.  I used a coordinating quilting cotton from my stash for the pocket bags.  It is neat how the pattern incorporates side pockets with a side zipper.  You can also see the fringed trim in this photo.  I made a row of straight stitches about 1/4 inch from the edge to prevent more fraying.

Simplicity 2226 in linen

I needed a simple little palate cleanser before addressing the wrinkley-butt pants.

Enter Simplicity 2226.  Simple little gathered skirt with pockets and yoke waist? Yes, please.  I've actually made this once before.  Since that one had turned out too big originally and needed alteration, I just cut this one a size smaller.  Perfection!

 This version hits just above my knee, while my original was mid-knee.  I think I prefer this length.

The fabric is 100% linen from JoAnn's  (similar to this, but darker) that has been patiently waiting to become a skirt for several months.

Oh, shame on me for not wanting to go out to JoAnns and get a brown invisible zipper.  When you're in the zone, though, you just want to finish it up, and I had white on hand!  I wonder if a little permanent marker could make that look better.

I was actually killing two birds with one stone and photographing the skirt and the little shawl, but I'll talk about that another day.

Simplicity 2564

This is a super simple skirt.  The pattern I used, Simplicity 2564, is out of print, but any straight skirt would do.  I shortened the design to be above-knee, and I used the patch pockets from the pattern but moved them to where I wanted them.  Don't you just love choosing where exactly you want your pockets?

 They are perfect for holding my iPod.  The fabric is a stretch cotton from Pennie Fabrics in Sarasota.

 I don't have a lot of tops that really go with this skirt.  White would obviously work, but I like to pull out a color from the print.  I've worn it with a pale pink cami and this gray cardigan (showed a glimpse here).  The top in this post is Simplicity 2181.

 The shape of this top is a bit weird tucked into the skirt, though, and it's too long to leave out.  I'll be on the lookout for a good gray or purple fabric to make another knit top.

 I used some quilting cotton from my way-too-big stash of quilting cottons to make the waistband facing.  I also used it to line the patch pockets, but there's really no good way to show off the inside of a pocket!

 The hem is a simple straight stitch. I couldn't bring myself to bother with a hand-sewn hem on a casual skirt in a busy print.

Butterick 5619 in Robert Kauffman London Calling print

 Don't let that face fool you.  I'm very happy with this little skirt.  :-)  I cut all of the fabric and interfacing for this skirt about a week ago, and on Friday morning, I thought, "Hey, I have an hour.  I'm going to make that skirt."  It actually took an hour and fifteen minutes, which aint bad for a lined skirt.

 Hubs took these photos on Easter evening.  I wore this crazy blue skirt to church, with bow (and got many compliments!), but thought something a bit more casual was in order for dinner with neighbors.

 It's a bit wrinkled but you get the idea.  The pattern is Butterick 5619.  The skirt is a great A-line that I've used before for a denim version.  I've only ever made the skirt from this pattern, but I keep eyeing that sheath dress.

 I purchased the fabric at a new local shop, Gigi's Fabric Shop.  The fabric is from the London Calling collection by Robert Kauffman.  The fabrics seam  pretty Liberty-inspired.  It feels like a cotton lawn and is a bit sheer, so I lined the skirt with white cotton.

Overall, I am happy with this comfortable little skirt for spring.

TNT tee - boat neck

Here is tee #3 for the Pattern Review TNT tee contest.  I have #4 complete.  It just needs photos.  I'm trying to decide whether to whip up one more tonight.  I guess I'll see how I feel about it tonight.  :-)

 The only changes I made to the pattern were to make a wider boat neck and rolled short sleeves.  To hold the sleeve roll in place, I just did some stitching at the underarm, and I adjust the outside when I put it on in the morning.  The rolls stay fine throughout the day.

 The fabric is a very thin rayon knit from Pennie Fabrics in Sarasota (AMAZING fabric store I finally went to check out - well worth a 40+ minute drive).  Shoot, I'd probably be willing to do the drive to work there part time.  It has narrow yellow and white stripes.  Since the fabric was quite sheer, I doubled it for the entire tee.  This made a very neat neckline with no need for binding.  I just top-stitched it.

 I'm wearing the tee with my recent denim skirt.  I can't believe it has been a month since I made this skirt.  It still feels brand new even though I wear it all the time.

Butterick 5619

Here is my new A-line denim skirt.  I wanted a simple skirt, so I fished around my patterns for something suitable and found Butterick 5619 (out of print).  The fit and shape are just what I wanted!  I added single welt pockets on the sides and back (yep, I'm pretty proud that I made that happen with no pattern).  I also added a center front seam to make it more denim-style.

 I used some pretty Liberty fabric that my mom gave me for some fun inside.  I have a bunch more of this fabric and am not sure what to make with it.

Simplicity 2226

Looky looky at my artistic photos!!  Are you impressed?  :-)  The boys and I are hanging out in Ohio at my in-laws' farm.  I brought the camera down to the stream to take photos of the boys playing, and I had Paul snap some of me and my skirt.

 This skirt isn't really new but it's newly wearable.  I made it probably close to a year ago, but it turned out just too big... which I noticed after I top-stitched down the waistband.  I told myself I would just belt it tight, but it was never comfortable, so right before our trip, I ripped out all the needed seams and took it in.  Now, it's perfect!

 The fabric is so fun.  It is a cotton a friend sent to me from Hawaii.  I always mean to make some tops to wear with it but haven't yet.  I found this little sweater in my closet looks nice, though!

The pattern, Simplicity 2226, came together easily.  I doubt I'll make this pattern again, though.  I think the gathered skirt just isn't my best look, thought I do adore the pockets for my hands and my iPod.  :-)

Easy A-line Mini Skirt

 This skirt is a few months old, but I haven't blogged about it because there's not much to it... in every possible way.  I picked up this linen blend from JoAnn's with plans for an A-line skirt.  It turned out well, but I would love to have 2-3 more inches at the hem.  :-)  I'm afraid of a wardrobe malfunction.  Can you tell I'm over-compensating with layers on top?!

 I didn't use a pattern for this.  I used my waist and hip measurements and drafted a quick bias-cut skirt from there.  With the drapiness of the bias-cut, I didn't even need darts.  There is a narrow waistband and a side zip.  Easy-peasy.

I hope everyone is having a great start to summer!  We've made the first leg of our summer trip (discussed a bit in the podcast) and are relaxing in Ohio.  Visits to a new-to-me yarn shop and fabric/quilt shop are on the itinerary today, so I'll keep you posted!