Sunday night I decided I needed a skirt. I didn't have any summer skirts in my closet, and it struck me that I should have a new skirt to go out to lunch with my sweetie on Tuesday (today). And so I made one.
Fabric: Anna Maria Horner printed cotton from the "Good Folks" collection. I believe I bought this last year but it may have been the year before.
Pattern: Simplicity 4186, made many times before.
I was pretty amazed at how calmly and methodically I just jumped back into sewing. There was none of the angst that I experienced over the last couple of years, which goes to show that the inner turmoil was more about me and where I was in my life than it was about my sewing skills or lack thereof.
Granted it is a simple skirt. But a year ago even simple things still seemed complicated. I doubted myself and had no faith in the skills I had acquired over years of practice.
The gorey details:
I've made this skirt before, but there are no current versions of it in my closet as they are all too big. It was easy to look at the pattern on my cutting table and discern that I needed to remove roughly six inches from the hips and 8 inches from the waist before cutting. What was surprising was that I didn't dither, simply marking and cutting.
Otherwise the skirt was straightforward. I didn't even look at the instructions. The hem consists of a faced bottom band, the width of which was determined by the amount of length I needed to add to the original pattern. I attached it to the skirt, under-stitched the seam allowance to the facing at the hem to keep the hem crisp and machine sewed the facing in place. Aside from a momentary attack of ziplexia, construction was straightforward.
It came out exactly as I imagined it. It fits and looks nice. It is the skirt I wanted to make, and in that sense I have no real complaints, but I think it is the skirt that was my style last year or the year before and it is not exactly my style now. It is not the skirt I would make today if I were buying the fabric today.
That said I am happy with the outcome. I set out to create something and the thing I created lived up to my expectations of it. I refreshed my acquaintance with a skill-set that had seemed tenuous. And I will wear the skirt and enjoy wearing the skirt. It is comfortable, cool, and pretty. It will definitely be this summer's skirt though, 'cause I don't know if it will stand the test of time. It may well be trumped by future skirts. But for now it is this summer's first skirt, my first sewing project of 2011, and it is good.
Comments
10 responses to “Last Year’s Print, This Year’s Skirt”
Mardel, it’s gorgeous!
Oh, it’s so pretty! I’ll bet those colors look smashing on you.
Such an elegant skirt for an elegant lady! Like you, it always makes me feel good to just get in there and work on a project, then enjoy the outcome.
I love your fabric choices and the design. Looks like your latest knit top will work with it on cooler evenings too.
Welcome back. The skirt looks fresh and pretty. Wonderful colors. Here’s to more sewing projects. I’m so glad that the experience flowed without angst.
Your comment – “… but I think it is the skirt that was my style last year or the year before and it is not exactly my style now.” – intrigued me as I’ve experienced that feeling myself. It would seem that my style would be a consistent thing and yet while some elements are, others evolve as I evolve. Nice to have company in this journey of self exploration and expression.
Very pretty and very summery. Good for you, taking the plunge back into sewing!
I’m curious though, what it is about the skirt that makes you think it’s no longer your style.
Congratulations on your return to sewing! The skirt looks lovely – light and airy for summer. All that hard work re-arranging everything has paid off!
This is a very pretty skirt, and I’m sure you will wear it with pleasure this summer. Isn’t it great to whip something up?
It’s lovely! Did you wear it with a white shirt?
Aren’t you glad you took the time to get your sewing table put back together after it crashed on you a few months ago?
Nothing slows a project down more than supplies not being where you can find them!
That’s summer in a garment, alright! I’m not at all surprised that you returned to sewing so easily, as you’re obviously very accomplished. But I’m glad you’re over the hurdle in your own mind — it’s such a fabulous means of creative expression for you.
Absolutely love this skirt; the kind I look for an cannot find. Fond envy… it’s so gorgeous.