girly clothes

I finally got around to sewing one of the skirts I had planned to make last summer, and I finished it just in time to wear it to Thing 1's high school graduation ceremony and party in late May!

True to the pattern name (It's So Easy, It's Simplicity 2410), it was pretty easy to cut and sew. I had to make some adjustments to the waist size, which took me quite a bit of time to get it just right since the facing is intended to fit snugly around your middle (and it's been quite a few months since I altered a commercial pattern). But other than the tailoring bit, it could have easily been completed in one day.

It has a left side standard zipper, which I would change to an invisible zipper if I made the skirt again. I will probably always be wearing a shirt or light sweater that covers the facing area, so no one can see the zipper, but it's not the cleanest zipper insertion I've ever done, and I think the placement is better suited to an invisible type.

I really love the bottom flounce - it gives it that extra touch of girly-ness, and the not-quite-pink, not-quite-lavender color is perfect for spring and summer! The pattern called for a sash to tie around the facing, and while I did make it, I chose not to add it since it just seemed bulky without adding that much pizzazz.

The fabric is Cherry Blossom in Lavender from Bari J. Ackerman's In Full Bloom line. I love that fabric so much that I've got another three yards in the fabric closet!

There is another skirt cut out and partially sewn on my work table right now. My goal is to wear it Saturday, so I'll let you know if I get it finished on time :)

dresses and skirts and muslins, oh my!

Look out summer, here I come!! I did a little internet fabric shopping in the grey, drizzly days of April to stock my summer wardrobe.

Two prints from Tanya Whelan's Dolce line will be transformed into dress D below:

This gorgeous floral print on pink background from Bari J. Ackerman's Full Bloom line will become dress C. This was the closest commercial pattern I could find to the Polly Pratt dress worn by Kathy Doughty at Material Obsession that I obsessed about in April (and directly caused the previously mentioned shopping spree):

Another lovely Full Bloom print in lilac is destined to be skirt A:

And finally these Tanya Whelan Delilah prints are going to be the cover girl on Sew Serendipity (sans pocket - who puts a pocket with ruffles on the widest part of their body? Not me):

Lastly, since my body doesn't conform to the measurements on the pattern envelopes, a little bit of muslin to test these patterns and make them fit just right.

All fabrics were purchased from various eBay sellers and QuiltHome.com. Except for that bolt of muslin. It came from Jo-Anns with a 50% off coupon :)