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Thursday 6 September 2012

I'm back, and I've made stuff

Yay,

After a few months not blogging, I have now finally settled in a bit into my new life in Bristol.  Although  have been sewing, I just haven't had the mindset to get blogging again, but now I'm energised and ready to go!

I have managed to make two skirts since moving to Bristol.

I had planned back in February to make a few skirts of different styles (a-line, gathered, pleated) to see which suited me best.  However I have realised by doing some "research" in a few shops (basically just trying a lot of things on in changing rooms) that gathered skirts and my posterior are not friends, so should never go together!  Instead I'm having a go at a few pleated skirts.  Firstly a Simplicity Cynthia Rowley pattern 2215.



I made it from a nice cotton drill so it's more of an autumn-winter skirt, but can work for summer.  I've never used a Simplicity pattern before, and despite checking my sizing on the envelope and measuring the waistband pattern piece before cutting out, it came out way too big, so I had to take the waist in by at least an inch.  I love the a-symmetrical pleats on this, which is handy if you aren't the neatest sewer in the world (I'm not).

 I also added some secret fabric to the pockets, it's some cute animal print that I used for friend's baby blanket way back when I first started this blog.


Although I like this skirt, it is still quite big and flouncy, and doesn't exactly slim down my lower half, so I am not certain that I would make it again.

So next up was a Simplicity Project Runway skirt 2698, which I think is now out of print.  I made View J with yoke B.

This skirt is more a wearable muslin than an actual finished piece, and I haven't hemmed it yet.  Mainly because I'm not sure the back pleats work.
 


I went down a size with Simplicity this time, and that seemed to work a lot better.  However I am definitely not sure about the back pleats.  I want to make this skirt again from some olive cotton sateen I have, as I love the look of the front pleats, but I'm not sure what to do about the back.  Can I get the pleats to lie flatter, if so how?  Should I move them closer to the centre back?  Could I eliminate them somehow by adjusting the pattern (slash and spread or something??).

What do you think?

My next make is going to be a chambray Kelly skirt, by Megan Nielsen.  I have been lusting after a button-down skirt for a while, and now after several versions of this have been popping up in Blogland I want one even more.  But again the back pleats are causing me concern.

4 comments:

  1. I've seen some bloggers ( can't think who to link) change back pleats in things for darts recently, that worked out well for them.

    Good luck with the Kelly skirt!

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  2. Nice to see you back! The first skirt is lovely I really like the print! With simplicity patterns I always look at the finish garment measurements ( its at the bottom of the pattern) rather than the body measurements to see which size to cut! Obviously you don't want it too tight but chose a finished measurement size that's not too far from your actual measurements do check them all, bust waist and hip the last thing you want is great fitting bust but a too tight waist!

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  3. Hi there - just saw your comment re my Kelly which somehow went into my junk mail - oops! I think chambray would work well. The thing about the Kelly is the high waist - so the pleats start higher then the one on the skirt in your picture. They are also quite big, so when they open out there is a lot of fabric set free at the hip - definitely more than it looks like in your picture. Maybe measure them to compare? Good luck!
    And I love your pocket lining choice!

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  4. I love the animal print pocket lining! I've bought the kelly skirt and am worried myself about the pleats + bottom combo, so I'll let you know how I get on!

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Please comment, I'd love to hear from you

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