Monday, October 20, 2008

Just a weekend sew and sew

Been trying to get some sewing done.

Some time ago, Nichol Magouirk posted a card to demonstrate dry embossing which I loved. I'm "in to" trees right now. I had this idea that they would be cool on a skirt. I made some for a couple of eco-bags and then decided to add some to a skirt.

I had some material I'd been given that was quite old but seemed fine and I sewed it up, wore it once and the material ripped on me. Obviously it was rotten! To say I was gutted is putting it mildly. So last weekend I finally got the enthusiasm to remake it with some new fabric!





















I went into Spotlight looking for something (a zip I think) and naturally gravitated to the fabric section (as you do) to discover they had their summer cottons out to tempt me. So this one lept into my arms along with a pattern.













Not sure now about the length... might be too short for a 30-something-on-the-downward-slide-to-40 to wear to work ya think? Or am I too self-conscious?

Then I couldn't let my daughter miss out so she got a skirt from this cupcake fabric using this free pattern, and I have plans for one like the green polka dots from the apple fabric.















I would have made up the apple fabric this weekend but I discovered a few things:
a) I'd cut the wrong size out (too big)
b) I ran out of interfacing and Spotlight (who have the worst customer service) didn't have the right type so I had to go to the Fabric Barn
c) Fabric Barn in Henderson are closing down (and all fabric is half price so another 2 metres of fabric lept into my arms there)
d) so frustrating to reduce the size having already done the over-locking that I only managed to do one skirt instead of two!
e) being grateful for small mercies that I cut it too big and not too small
f) I need blinkers when I visit fabric stores otherwise I end up seeing things that want to come home with me
g) I {heart} fruit prints

14 comments:

  1. I hear you on wasting time having to redo things. Tonight I finished a skirt that I started in January! I finally cobbled it together and hope that no one looks inside as it's very messy.

    Love those fabrics!

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  2. Wow you've been busy, both sewing and fabric shopping heheee :-) Like what you have done. The trees are very cool.
    You know I haven't even got my machine out of its box yet! I need to make room in my scrap space for it.

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  3. Anonymous8:07 am

    Oooh, I love that skirt with the trees on it! Super cute!!

    I sooooo wish I could sew. SIGH.

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  4. Penny, you are so multi-talented!

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the skirt! Do you wanna be my personal dressmaker, hee hee? This is exactly the type of skirt I wear. Have you ever been to Moa in Grey Lynn? That is wear I used to buy a lot of my clothes when we lived in Akld. They have funky stuff like this one you made.

    Love the other fabric too, and can I say that with all that cycling your legs must be looking tres toned and sexy, so why not wear a shorter skirt?

    With I could sew (never had the patience to learn). Can only hand sew and knit.

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  5. Anonymous10:48 am

    oh love the apple and cupcake fabric. Loved those trees of yours. As for the apple skirt, very cool and I think if you feel confident wearing it then the lenght is irrelevant. I could see it teamed with some leggings underneath.

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  6. Anonymous4:11 pm

    It's funny how fabric just jumps into your arms ... Fabric Barn sounds like the place to go! Your sewing has inspired me ... wish I could get my overlocker working again, I think Jessi could do with a little skirt like that... might have to seek out some cupcake fabric. Love the trees too!

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  7. So impressed with your sewing prowess - I am not just challenged but devoid in that aspect.

    And no the green is not too short - if you want to wear it - wear it.

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  8. Anonymous9:03 am

    this is FABULOUS!!!!
    Thank you, thank you for sharing!!!

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  9. looks so cool - I can't remember the last time I sewed. Maybe if I had had a girl.... :)

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  10. Penny, those skirts look great and I LOVE that apple fabric! I've been getting the itch to get back to the machine, but homeschooling is really taking a toll on my free time! ;) I totally understand what happens when you go into a fabric store...I can't seem to leave one without spending $50!

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  11. Anonymous8:23 am

    Penny I love those skirts! What a great idea to take your love of tree-ish things and put it on clothing! I also think the green skirt is funky and not too short at all. Wear it with pride girl!

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  12. Awesome skirts! Funnily enough I have just shortened a skirt but it was nearly ground length to start with! I love the trees.
    I totally agree with the Spotlight service! The other day I stood in a queue and the people behind me were so loud & rude about it, but nothing changes! (I saw the cute cupcake fabric there).

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  13. i wish i knew how to sew. i missed out on that gene. i love the tree skirt! oh and as of next week i'm right there with you on that slide toward 40!

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