more deadline sewing

Sunday 7 November 2010
I made quite a big list of summer dresses and skirts to sew for Anna and myself but of course with all good plans I've found myself sewing anything but what is on the plan. Aside from the tutu that I made on Wednesday (glad you all liked it so much, it is pretty cute), I also made a skirt on Thursday night, and a top on Friday night, all so I could wear them out to dinner on Saturday night.

It helps immensely to have an enormous stash of fabrics and notions when you decide to sew something on a whim but you need it done pronto. I pulled some cotton sateen out of the stash that I had bought earlier this year during one of the very frequent sales at Spotlight, some black wool jersey bought from a garage sale some time ago, and two BWOF patterns already traced and I managed to get this outfit done in two nights of sewing:


The skirt is made from BWOF 9/2007, skirt 116 which I made a long time ago in a solid chocolate brown cotton and absolutely hated it. In fact I don't think I even wore it apart from taking a photo for this blog and it has since long gone from my wardrobe. Having large hips, I wasn't too thrilled with a skirt that put volume in that area, even if it did have a slim waistline. Plus the boring brown fabric was hard to accessorise and is not my favourite colour. And I used to loathe high waisted styles, so really I don't know why I sewed it in the first place!

But after sewing what has now become my favourite dress, Burda 8/2009 dress 128 (the dark grey dress third from the left up there in my blog header) which is a tulip shape with a boatneck style neckline, I have warmed to the tulip shape and I find it a more casual but still dressy alternative to wearing a pencil skirt for social occasions (otherwise I feel like I'm wearing work clothes). And I don't feel the need to suck my stomach in or wear spanx with this skirt, which is a good thing when you're going out to dinner. The pleats in the front of this skirt are almost lost in the graphic print, but I really like the colour and pattern of this fabric and I think it suits it really well.

I didn't line this skirt because the cotton sateen is quite dense and shouldn't have any see through issues. Because of the looser fitting and draping of the skirt there wasn't a need to do any precise fitting that you would have to with a pencil skirt, so it sewed up very quickly. I'm serious when I say it took me less than 3 hours to cut out and sew this skirt - it would take longer to go shopping for a skirt!

As for the top, I put aside my fear and loathing of sewing knits to make this very simple boatneck top and I'm glad I did because it turned out really well. I used Burda 2/09 top 108, which again I have made previously. But this time I had no wavy hems because I used some fusible interfacing along the hem line before sewing with the twin needle (thanks to Mary Nanna and Lady Jenn for the tip!), which also removed the need for facings because all I did was serge the edge, turn it to the inside and topstitch. Using a very stable knit fabric also helped too I think, this has a bit of one way stretch but not too much and in fact it almost sewed up like a woven which is probably why it worked out so well! Plus this is a very simple pattern consisting of three pieces - front and back cut on the fold, and the sleeves.


And I finally got to wear these sparkly shoes that I bought on sale when I was heavily pregnant with Anna (almost two years ago) - they match the purple in the skirt perfectly. I do apologise for any damage to your eyesight from those blindingly white legs of mine though!

31 comments:

  1. That skirt is lovely!!! Love the print. Love the shape. I am also 'big-hipped' and bought a dress earlier this year from Cue with the tulip shaped skirt, and it looks great.

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  2. Very cute skirt, great looking top, and a perfectly put-together look. Bravo!

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  3. What a great outfit - you look wonderful!

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  4. Beautiful outfit! Loving the skirt.

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  5. Your outfit looks great! Hope you had a wonderful evening out!

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  6. Your whole outfit looks so cute! The tulip shape is great on you.

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  7. I absolutely adore your skirt! wow! And great materials, I love all your creations but I think I like this more!

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  8. Stunning! Oh this is inspiring me to get my ""presser foot up" and get sewing ASAP!

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  9. great job - that outfit is absolutely beautiful. Another one to add to your banner!

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  10. Super cute outfit. I love the skirt, such an eye-catching print, in a good way! And the shape really is flattering!

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  11. Fabulous outfit and a great print. I love the shape of the skirt and have a piece of fabric just begging for that pattern.

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  12. I love it! I have the same trepidation as you with skirts I think will make me look hippy. I will try this pattern with the higher waist and see how it goes. I'm glad you are getting over the knit issue. There's nothing better for when you want a quick sewing fix or need a garment in a hurry. Oh, and I am coming to steal those shoes, they're gorgeous. In fact, the whole outfit is stunning.

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  13. Lovely outfit! I like the skirt a lot!

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  14. The fabric print works so well with the big middle pleat. The simple tee suits it perfectly. Lovely outfit!

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  15. Cute skirt & lovely top! The outfit does look great with those shoes.

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  16. Ahhh! Summer! I just made that knit top and was thrilled with it's simplicity. You look adorable and kudos on getting to wear those shoes!

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  17. I made a shift dress out of that fabric! It's a great print, and looks lovely in that skirt - it works much better than the brown on you, or perhaps you just look happier with it? Lovely, either way! :)

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  18. That skirt is fantastic! The whole outfit looks great on you!

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  19. gorgeous skirt! I love that fabric. You look fantastic.

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  20. Nothing wrong with white legs! Mine will be staying that way all summer :) Your outfit is really nice. The skirt is quite flattering on you.

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  21. Adorbs! I hope you had a lovely dinner. I've made that skirt twice and wouldn't be above making it again.

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  22. Beautiful outfit!! Love your shoes, too! Glad you were able to wear them after two years. :)

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  23. Gorgeous! Love the fabric for the skirt...Spotlight do have some great sales :)

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  24. I love the entire outfit!!! That skirt fabric is beautiful.

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  25. Great outfit! I love the colors!

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  26. Such a cute skirt! I'm going to have to see if my BWOFs go back this far - this looks identical to my favorite skirts from about 4 years ago. I had the same skirt in 3 different fabrics (RTW not made by me unfortunately), but have put on weight and can't fit into them, so I'd be thrilled to be able to make them in my own size now...

    It's a great shape on you - the tulip shape is surprisingly flattering actually isn't it (I'm also big-hipped), and I like the subtleness of the pleats with the print fabric.

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  27. Beautiful outfit. The skirt is gorgeous. What a great fabric choice!

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  28. I am also a paid up member of the blindingly-white-legs club. Love love love that style of skirt and the shoes are fabulous.

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  29. Great! Now I want one of these and the fabric store is on my way to work...

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  30. Went to Burda Style and printed out this pattern for FREE! Now for the fabric. I really can't wait to make this one!

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