Jessica's Skirt

You may remember (or not) the this skirt. It was Jessica's desire that I make her a copy of one of her favorite skirts from Ann Taylor. Silly me, I still haven't photographed her in the original inspiration. Nor have I finished my first attempt.... Finally though, I have made her skirt. I used some cotton lawn by Alexander Henry. It feels lovely and she looks so cute in it!

I love the pocket detail.

Full Skirt Attempt Two

I finished this a couple of weeks ago..... Where oh where does time go?

Jessica has a favorite skirt she bought from ATL  a few years ago that she wants more of. This was my second try and I think I got it. Now I just need to make hers. When I do I'll show more detail and my first attempt. We took these photos last night, the tired, goofy factor was pretty high. I could blame it on the smoke in the air... There are a lot of fires here right now and this is not a cloud haze it is a smoke haze.

Back to the skirt, it has a 4 inch drop waist and a side zip, which I like because it makes a smooth waistline.

It's made with a cotton lawn and lined with a white batiste. 

It has pockets, you could leave out the pockets but I love pockets. 

 It has just enough gathering to make it comfy and flirty. You can dress it up with a blouse or go more casual with a T or tanks.

Found the perfect pair of sandals at Target to go with it.

Jess, I promise I will get yours done soon!!

Where did the last six days go?

I've been very busy, kinda sick, really tired and not great at keeping track of things, like days and where they go.

Thanks to a few really nice people, Jan, Kelly, Jennifer and Sara, I have 220 more hexagons sewn up.

Dress for Jessica

I started with McCall's 6031 and more lovely jersey knit. I was not enjoying the way the pattern directed you to sew things together, so I went a bit more my own way. Sorry for the blah photos. One day I will have good light....  

I added a bit of pleating in the front hoping to give the little one a bit more room. It has been interesting trying to accomodate a growing baby with patterns that don't. The collar detail in the pattern seemed too large when I started so I decided on some gathered, pleated and twisted peices.

I hope you like it Jessica.

Understanding Knits?

Or, when things turn out but they don't or don't but do or gee I love this fabric.

This is for Jessica.

 Jessica's going to be giving me a grandson in a few months.

OK, Mc Call's 6120 is not a maternity pattern but I thought (?) if I cut the lower bodice larger....

Jess, I know you thought this would be better as a dress. Don't let the length you see here mislead you, you might be able to wear it as a dress. You will be able to wear it now, this fabric super soft and super stretchy. Good news is, you can wear it afterwards too.

key necklace by Jenny aka pearlswirl and is sold in the shop.

I learned two important things while making this.

1. I could live in this fabric.

2. I know nothing about knits.

Didn't mean to be gone so long

It was a long week. It was a good week. It was a not so good week. For those of you who dropped by Wednesday after seeing me here and here thank you! I was hard at work getting more things done but was having some difficulty getting things photographed and posted.

Thank goodness for weekends.

I am not a sports fan but when the world cup happens and the weather is good, it's fun to go sit outside and watch a game or two. It's fun to watch people get crazy. Seriously crazy. This place is a short walk from our apartment. I'll miss it.

 I've had this toile for years (thanks Sherie). I'd been wanting to make it into a skirt but was having trouble thinking of a shirt I had to wear with it. Kelly wore her Cabo halter last week and a light went on. I made mine with Kona Cotton in a shade of blue that I've forgotten.
The skirt is Simplicity 8664. I did a bias trim for the hem because I cut it a bit shorter than I meant to. Mistake? Opportunity?
This detail is around the top of the skirt. I pulled the facing up just enough to make it look like cording. It may never be seen but I know it's there and I like it! By the way, I used my ever quickly dwindling supply of Wonder Tape for both zipper applications. The skirt was a sort of lapped version ( sorry totally meant to take a close up) and the shirt has an invisible zip. It was wonderful for both. Seriously, as Jess said, it changes lives. Well, mine anyway.

Three more of the shirred skirts. Two for Jess, one for me. Hers are out of Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt and mine is Pastry Line voile from Anna Maria Horner.

Last and maybe least is a project that turned out differently than I had planned. Not bad, just different. I took a tank cut it off and attached the voile skirt. I did five rows of shirring around the bodice and skirt to give it a more fitted look. If I had a garden, this would be my gardening dress. Right now I have scaffolding, a dying rose and soon to be very, very bright yellow walls outside.

School House Tunic

This really is one of my all time favorite go to patterns. The shirt is comfortable. I like matching fabrics to the shirts I have. Most of all it is cute and easy! You can make one of these in just a couple of hours.

I found a gorgeous mens shirting fabric at the same time that I found the madras fabric. I knew this was what I wanted it to be and was able to make it last Sunday. I wish you could touch it, like butta.

Sunday

Why I like to sit at the Schwabengarten.....I can sew. Everyone looks at me funny but I just don't care. K, today it was not crowded with people because it was raining but I sew there all the time. Well at least twice a week.... This is where I spend time making my little hexes. One day they'll be quilt... or a pillow.

Where did November go?

Sorry for the absence. I've been  overwhelmed busy. We've had a few things going on at the shop. My cat is really ill. I am leaving this mornig to see my baby girl. I am trying to throw up a few photos of some of my favorite things. These are  in no particular order. Mostly around Stuttgart and the Christmas markets. I do love the markets. I think there may be a crafty photo in here too......