Sew Along: Wrap Skirt

I've been plunking along trying to sew along with a group I found online, the Finny & Donk's Sew Along, and the recent assignment was a skirt. The book that we are following along in is Simple Gifts to Stitch and this project had me rethinking the title. I think there is a misnomer out there that if you don't have a pattern and you make something, that it's simple. But the truth of the matter is that sometimes a pattern makes things more simple. That being said, patterns hate me.

I needed another skirt like ... well, like I need another pair of shoes. But at least I wear shoes. I never wear skirts. I LOVE them and I COVET them and I always cave in and MAKE them and BUY them as if I'm never going to see another skirt again. But truthfully I have no business owning a single one. But, I made it anyway thinking that I might just throw it on over the swimsuit -- thus hiding my super white, almost blue they are so white, thighs when I have to take my kids to the pool this summer.
Turns out, I kinda like it and I might wear it other places than the pool. That is, if I ever wear a skirt.
Now, let's see... I have some opinions about sewing this skirt that might impart some level of helpfullness to you if you try to make this skirt.


1. I messed this thing up from the beginning so I didn't follow the book that closely. This book is not easy to follow and I have really fumbled through all the patterns that I've tried thus far. So if you're looking for a new skirt, you should just go find a great pattern and sew it. If you're looking to try another project in this book -- either as part of the sew along or because you've already invested in the book -- keep reading.

2. Go read Finny's suggestions on ribbon. I loved her idea, but I didn't try it. The waistband I selected was actually a drapery tape (for roman shades) and wouldn't iron a crease without melting. But, it is really durable and if I ever need to fashion a tourniquet with it, I'm set.

3. I made mine a full two inches longer than the pattern and I'm pleased with the length (I'm 5'8"-ish). One thing I thought of afterward is that perhaps I should have lengthened the darts (because I am a longer person).

4. I heeded Finny's notes that the skirt itself can feel a little high-waisted. I loathe a really high waist so I folded my waistband in half. This helped a little, but it's still a pretty tall feeling skirt.

5. The no. 1 change I would make if I made this again is that I would make two skirts and then sew the two skirts into the waistband together (wrong sides together) to make it lined/reversible.

6. If you don't have ribbon, don't worry. I personally think that the waistband could be made from fabric. Much the same way the band for Amy Butler's pleated apron is made.

OK... That's just about it for suggestions/thoughts. Oh, and one other thing. This only takes about an hour to sew.

Fan of the Fan Bag

My favorite bag so far...

This took all of an afternoon. I don't think the instructions in Simple Gifts to Stitch were really complete on this one. The pleat instructions were a bit hard to follow and I ended up just following what I thought I should do. I did use denim thread which I think is a nice touch.

The pattern did not call for a lining. I had to have a lining. So, I tried to make one up. It worked out, it's a little narrow in the very depths of the purse, but all in all it's great. This purse could use a snap closure or something like that. I'm definitely going to make it, again.
I'm on a stash diet, so of course this came from the stacks. It's Laurie Smith, again. (Are you getting sick of her fabrics, yet?) I'm thinking about trying this with a felted sweater. But, not sure... as I've never worked with felted anything. Might also be nice in oilcloth. Would be amazing in velvet -- though if I did it in velvet I would not do any topstitching on the pleats.
If you're in the finny and donk sew along and you're stumped on the pleats, you might want to think of them as french seams. That's what I did, and it got me through the missing spots in the directions.

Button-Down Scarf

So here's the deal. I've been sick and so I can't do a lot. But in my sitting around waiting for the antibiotics to work phase I've been doing a small amount of sewing. Mostly embroidery, but I did manage to finish this scarf. The scarf was a project outlined by the fine organizers of the Finny and Donk Sewing Adventure (a blog I've been lurking for months). If you want to know about it, just visit their site.
My scarf's concept was to have a flirty, wild look (velvet with wings) and a more "buttoned-down" button down scarf. So, tried to make it look like a wool pin-stripe suit. It is wool, but the stripe was created with the quilting.



It's rather comfortable and all the materials were on hand. I strayed from the pattern in a two ways, a) the dimensions and shape of the scarf; b) I added batting inside the scarf to make it extra warm and poofy.
When Coop saw it, he immediately asked for one. May have to find some kid appropriate fleece to make him one, too. All in all, fun project and will probably throw this in the gift stash for later gifting. Pattern found in the Simple Gifts to Stitch book.

PS--It is impossible to take a nice picture of oneself wearing a scarf. It looks all double-chin-ish. Or maybe I have a double chin. O.M.G.

Book Review: Simple Gifts to Stitch, Jocelyn Worrall

OK, this one was kinda cute. But for my liking, not polished enough. The projects looked a little too home-made. The baby projects, especially the baby bubble hat on pp 97 was darling, but my babies are just TOO big to be sewing newbie hats. I may, however, return to this book at a later date so that I can make the magic rain poncho featured on pp 105. It was cute and it was a true custom look as you take advantage of iron-on vinyl. Maybe if my brother and Claudia have a baby, and maybe if they still live in the pac-west I'll consider this as a gift. But otherwise, too dry around here to put a poncho to good use. By: Jocelyn Worrall.