Everyday Skirt #4 : the denim version

Thinking ahead to MeMadeMay, and my first time participating in the event, I was wondering what basic items I could add to my wardrobe.  A staple for me are denim skirts that I wear once or twice a week -- so it was a foregone conclusion that I would need to add a me-made denim skirt to my handmade wardrobe.  It was an equally easy decision to use my favorite skirt pattern -- the Everyday Skirt!

Being a heavier denim (8oz?), the skirt is rather full and does not drape terribly well.  Without the elastic gathering in the back, I think this would be a perfect weight for this skirt.  With the fabric gathering, however, the skirt comes off as a little too large.  Not so large that it will keep me from wearing it, of course, but something to consider for this pattern.  

Overall, I still feel very pleased with the fit.  My husband snapped this shot in our garden before we left for work one morning.   (Here I'm wearing it with my color affection scarf, tied as an infinity scarf.)   I still need to figure out how I am going to manage a daily photoshoot of my Me Made outfits, if I decide to even go the daily-photo-route.  (But, why not try?)  I'm not so sure the "early morning photo in the garden" is a strategy I'll be keeping, however.  

I don't have a lot to add about this pattern that I haven't already said, except that in going with the denim-clothing theme, I added a gold thread in a wide zig-zag stitch.  Though my zig-zag is a little uneven, it turned out pretty well and was a fun addition to this skirt.  I think I'll keep the zig-zag topstitching around!

Notes :

Pattern : Everyday skirt by Liesl & Co

Fabric : Heavier denim (I'd like to try this in a chambray!)

Notes : Size small 

{{on kollabora here}}

Finished skirt! : Everyday Skirt #3 : the "far out" one

I made a skirt a while ago but haven't blogged about it yet -- it's an outer space skirt. 

The Everyday Skirt by Liesl & Co. has become just that for me -- an everyday skirt.  This was my third, and I've settled in on the size small as the best fit -- though I am generally a solid medium in RTW.  I have a fourth everyday skirt to blog about, and I actually just showed you my fifth version as well.  I have even more planned!   Though I haven't made seven of these (yet) -- when I do, I'll have one for every day of the week.  (Here I come, MeMadeMay!)  

My son snapped a shot of me wearing the skirt in the morning on the way out to work.  I might need to come up with a better plan of taking photos of my Me Made outfits ... In this photo I am wearing the skirt + my "winter bandit" scarf.  Though it's hard to take photos of a black scarf, it's a great addition to my wardrobe.

What is my most favorite thing about this skirt?  The weird looks I get when I'm wearing it!  ("Are those ... planets on your skirt??") And, the fact that all my girlfriend science teachers at my high school want one.   Geeks unite!

Project notes :
Pattern : Everyday Skirt by Liesl + Co.
Fabric : Something from Hobby Lobby
Mods : Size small
{{On Kollabora here.}}

Easter coord : Sorbetto Top #3 and Everyday Skirt #5

I came across a post on Ada Spragg with coord inspiration a while back ... it's not a new concept, but the general idea is to make a matching top/bottom set that look cute together but can be worn separate.  It came in very handy recently when I ordered 3 yards of fabric from a vendor on eBay at a super bargain price ... but what came in the mail were two pieces of fabric -- one a single yard, the second only two yards.  This didn't really work out with the pattern I had in mind -- but when I considered the option of a coord outfit, I felt like I could make it work!

I cut out the two patterns and made them in time to wear for Valentine's Day ... and then we had a blizzard and I ended up wearing something totally different for my special date night with my husband.  I've been wearing these pieces independently (the color looks great with denim or chambray), but decided to wear the outfit out for Easter today.  (Happy Easter!)

I ended up cutting a Sorbetto Top (without the front box pleat) from the one yard piece, and an Everyday Skirt from the two yard piece.  I had enough fabric to cut sleeves for the top, as well, so I added those.  I also added a commercial bias binding to the edge of the top, and I like the little pop of color it adds.

The skirt, which has become a real go-to pattern for me, turned out super cute (I think).  If I had paid more attention to the cutting of the pattern, I would have lined up the sides with the front/backs.  It's wearable, of course, as it is, and I kind of think that had I tried to match them it might have been a disaster and it would have been more obvious.  So - I'm going with the flow and ignoring that detail for now!

Though I'm wearing the top & bottom together here with the top not tucked in, it's also a cute outfit together with a big belt to make the outfit look like a dress.    However, I think the pieces are even cuter worn separately -- again, the color of this fabric looks great with denim or chambray.    So, three different outfit possibilities in one outfit -- gotta love that!

As for the fabric itself, it's an Anna Maria Horner quilting cotton called "Banner Days," celebrating the Mexican art of papel picado.  I'll admit I also have this fabric already in blue, in voile weight.  What can I say? ... It's perfect for a Spanish teacher to wear!  I love the design.  (I see there's another colorway I don't own yet ...)

Notes :
Pattern : Sorbetto top by Colette and Everyday Skirt by Liesl & Co
Fabric : AMH Banner Days in magenta
Mods : no box pleat on the top, and added sleeves to the Sorbetto (instructions here)
{{On Kollabora here}}

I'm linking up to GrayAllDay.com's Sew It Chic link party -- check out what other sewists have been up to if you get a chance!

Finished skirt! : Everyday Skirt #2 : the summer bike version

I'm back with the second version of Liesl's Everyday Skirt that I recently made, and I need to get going on updating my blog because I am actually working on my FIFTH version of this skirt. That's how everyday this skirt is!

I'm calling this the "summer bike version", as it was inspired by an amazing trip I took to Germany this summer.  Don't you agree that making handmade projects is the best way to create a souvenir of travels?  In this trip, I went as a chaperone to 15 students from my high school to a city that is one of the top bicycle-friendly cities in Germany, Oldenburg.  It was a fabulous experience for me, mainly because I am a French and Spanish teacher - but NOT a German teacher!  Luckily, the German teacher is my friend and invited me along. :)  The ability to experience the language and culture of a new country was really cool, and riding our bikes everywhere in town definitely made it better.  I was obsessed with the many bikes we saw posed next to cute doors and windows, and here is a composite of a few of the many photos I took :

For the second incarnation of this skirt, I made the size medium, as I made previously.  After this, I have gone down to a size small and I think I've stuck with the smalls since then. I'm a pretty typical size 8-10 and would say that this skirt does run a little large.  For this skirt, I made no other modifications (on my first skirt, I shortened the length and I do believe I prefer the longer version).

The fabric is the bicycle print from the gnome living collection by Robert Kaufman, and I'm super tempted to pick up this same print in aqua for a Scout tee.  We'll see.  I receive compliments on this skirt every time I wear it, so that might justify my purchase ...

  

I need to start taking better finished object photos with my camera instead of my iPhone camera, but in the meanwhile you can see how much I love this skirt.

Last -- I'll leave you with a video of my friend and I bicycling through the streets of Oldenburg. Lovely, relaxing days!

Project notes :
Pattern : Everyday Skirt by Liesl + Co.
Fabric : Gnome Living Bicycles by Robert Kaufman
Mods : Size medium - no mods. 
{{On Kollabora here.}}

Finished skirt! : Everyday Skirt #1 : the 4th of July version

I am pleased to report that I have some finished projects to share, and I plan to actually blog about them!  Come back to see what crafty goodness I've been up to ... in the meanwhile let me share my first project, the Everyday Skirt #1.  (I say #1 because there are others that will surely follow.)  

I purchased the Everyday Skirt pattern by Liesl + Co. recently.  I couldn't wait to make it -- and luckily the 4th of July was around the corner.  I found a super-sale of fabric at Joann's and decided to work up a skirt to go with the holiday, as well as to be my "practice skirt" before I cut into more expensive fabric that I had chosen for this skirt. 

I don't know about you, but I'm not super crazy about making muslin work-ups of patterns.  I know that it's what I *should* do, but if I'm going to go through the trouble of sewing a garment, then I'd like to save something to show for it -- even if I can only wear it once a year.   I ended up making the size medium, which truly is my size, but I feel it came out a little large.  I did shorten the hem by 2" and I think I might go for more length next time.  I'm on the fence about whether to go down in size next time.



I feel pretty pleased with the way this skirt came out, and I think the July 4th fabric that I chose - pinwheels - is pretty darn cute.  I might be able to wear this for more than just the 4th - I'm the kind of girl to wear red, white and blue pinwheels on the 14th of July as well.  (Bleu, blanc, rouge are actually France's colors, too, after all.)



 For me, the very best part about this skirt is the fact that I can wear my red Swedish Hasbeens with it.  I'm obsessed with clogs in general, and probably have more pairs of Swedish Hasbeens than the average girl, but these red clog sandals are my very favorite.



Project notes :
Pattern : Everyday Skirt by Liesl + Co.
Fabric : Cheap 4th of July fabric from Joann's
Mods : Made size medium but shortened the hem by 2".
{{On Kollabora here.}}