Dragon Scale Skirt Success!

I am so happy its finally done! I ran into some difficulty when putting in the lining. Things did not line up the way I wanted them to which leads to a bit of weirdness in the back but honestly I'm the only one that's going to notice. So you know what, I'm not even going to point them out! Also I'm wearing it with my polka-dot blouse made from Silhouette #550, the cowl neck blouse. Its been modified for a full bust and I can make it in either a woven or a knit. I also have self-drafted a butterfly sleeve to use with it that I love. In fact I have some more fabric in the wings waiting to be cut out of that pattern. Its possible I'll end up with a closet full of cowl neck blouses (Which is why its a TNT pattern). Variations on a theme... But anywho, SKIRT! Here it is!




I also have decided all my future pencil skirts will have a lining. The difference in the way it lays and moves is quite significant. and it feels scrumptious. And while this looks only vaguely like the original inspiration, it makes me very happy. And I have just enough of the fabric left to make a little matching clutch using one of my Thread Magazine tutorials.

Honestly, I can't wait to wear out!

Self Stitched September

(Or Why I Need More Shirts and Skirts)

So those of you already familiar with the online sewing community know exactly what the title is about. For everyone else I'll explain, or at least I'll explain my understanding of it. I could be totally missing the mark.

It actually started with 'Me-Made-May'. The goal being to wear something everyday that you made yourself. And then were encouraged to post pictures about it. There were a number of people, myself included, that wanted to participate but just didn't have the time or resources to do so. So enter Self-Stitched-September. I'm only sort of participating. I was going to try and do the whole shebang but life happened and I didn't get enough shirts done. I have enough skirts, well almost. I don't have a PLAIN BLACK pencil skirt. Which I suddenly realized I _need_. I have a closet full of black skirts, most of which are not made by me and either don't fit or are so threadbare its kind of embarrassing to wear them (one of my favorites being almost 15 years old). Considering just how much of a staple black is in my wardrobe I'm rather shocked I haven't done one yet. I shall remedy this! But now I'm having a dilemma of OMG!WHATPATTERNTOUSE!! Do I use my TNT self-drafted pattern (taken in for recent weight loss, woo!) or maybe this one that is in my stash or possibly this one from Vogue's new fall patterns. ARG! So many choices, so little time.

But I digress. I still haven't talked about shirts. I have a pile of wonderful knit fabric and a couple patterns to choose from. I was thinking I might do one more shirt out of the cowl neck pattern I recently modified for my own tastes. But then I went and signed up for the Lady Grey Sew-A-Long. Something that seems a little daunting all the sudden but I'm going to do it because I'm stubborn like that. Plus finally making something out of that silk tweed that has passed from my Mom's stash into mine would feel like an ultimate accomplishment. I mean, the whole reason I started really learning how to sew was because of THAT PIECE OF FABRIC. The idea was to make something from it that Mom would be proud of. I guess we all still have that little bit of girl in us. The one that holds up her creation and says "SEE WHAT I MADE MOMMY!" and beaming with pride when she tells us its the loveliest thing ever.

Anyway. I'm still managing two or three outfits a week that has at least one piece I made myself. I'm just not participating in posting photos.