There's a Bug on my Skirt!

Aaarrgh!

I loved this curtain fabric from Ikea when I first saw it but I just couldn't imagine what I could do with it and so I passed it by.  But the lovely seed heads and beetles didn't leave my mind and I would sometimes find myself thinking about them.  So I mulled it over and came up with the idea that it could so easily be a very wearable skirt!

After making and then wearing my Roald Dahl Matilda skirt, I knew I didn't want a flared, pleated skirt again, as despite the thicker, upholstery-style cotton, it often blew up in the wind, and a bit too much thigh was exposed when I bent over.

So this time I have gone for a straight skirt.  I had been kindly given a collection of patterns from moonthirty last year, and this OOP pattern had a perfect, plain straight skirt.  (mind you, when I opened the pattern up there were no instructions - I may have misplaced them!  But I think I've managed fine without them)  Simplicity 4950 is out of print now but can still be purchased on ebay, etsy, etc.  It has a buttonless jacket in two lengths, a darted sleeveless top, trousers and a straight skirt.  I have enough fabric left over that I may make the sleevless top too.

There was a freezing wind today, but the sun was shining so we thought we'd better make the most of the blue skies and take a few photos of the skirt.

I really love the leafy fronds and the animals on this skirt, but I had to be very careful with the pattern placement of some of the seed-head illustrations.

My Alterations

I didn't put in the side split as I couldn't find the instructions but I also didn't think it needed one.
I added 4" to the length when cutting out, but still turned the hem up the recommended 1 1/4".
I cut out the size 24 but added 1" to all side seams.  This helped to make the skirt gently skim over my tummy, but I wish I had only added the extra width starting at the hips and not from the waist.
Either the skirt is meant to be low slung and sit lower than the natural waist, or I have now made the skirt too big around the waist.

This is the amount of room I have in the waist at the back.

I will unpick the facing at the back and take those two waist darts in another inch, then readjust the facing and reattach it.  That should make it more fitted across the back, and hopefully it will then sit on my natural waist instead of dropping down below the waist.

This skirt has two darts at the front and two at the back, a facing waistband, an invisible side zip and overlocked edges.  It was fairly quick to put together and once I have perfected the fit of the darts in the back to account for the difference between my bottom and my waist, I think I will have a very easy-to-use skirt pattern!
One last picture; I couldn't wait to get my coat back on!  But the scenery up the Glen is just lovely!

Sewing Studio for Hire

Recently a few other Scottish sewing bloggers decided to meet up again, but instead of shopping and eating (like last time or the time before) we tried out a new sewing-space-for-hire and spent the afternoon sewing and eating instead!

Tucked away in the Charing Cross area of Glasgow is a light-filled sewing studio called The Stitchery.

  

They run some day and evening classes there, but you can also pay just to sit and sew using their overlockers and sewing machines.  Kerry organised a day and time so that we could sit happily together for 4 hours and sew!  We paid a wee bit extra and had a catered lunch too.

There is ample space for 10 sewing machines as well as extra tables and floor space for cutting, lunch and overlocking.

You can also bring along your own machine if you prefer, but it is three flights of stairs to tackle, as Katy can attest to!

see that cardboard box down there?
That's the ground floor!

As I would be using a fancy new machine that I was unfamiliar with, I decided to take along a patchwork task as well as a cut out skirt, and I am glad I did.  I preferred doing some plain, straight stitching as learning about a new machine took a bit more time than I had expected.  Not finished yet, but I will post about what I'm making another time.

It was really nice to catch up with some of the blog writers that I read and to see what they are up to lately.

Hazel who writes Disaster in a Dress, me, and Katy from The Littlest Thistle

Kerry who writes Kestrel Makes and Jen
(If you know Jen's blog, please let me know in the comments)

Elaine from What Diana Did Next, Alison who writes Heavenly Handmades
and Amy from Boldly Gold

Franca from Oranges and Apples took these 3 lovely photos, and unfortunately the other Katy who writes I of the Needle left before we thought much about photo taking at all, but she did come and have a fun time with all of us!

Some of us brought along a few things for swapping, and anything unwanted was left behind at the studio as a gift for any new sewing students.

Sewing with others was a very different experience compared to sewing in silence at home, but the camaraderie and shared interests was really fun and well worth the travel to Glasgow.  Such a difference to talk about the nuances of sewing and the world of sewing bloggers and to be immediately understood.  I would definitely do this again.