Big Pocket Skirt!

So this skirt was suppose to be the bottom half of my outfit along project. However I got to the sleeves part of my jumper and was like this is yuck, the jumper is gross, its like a bad jumper that you make when you first start knitting and can't help sucking a little bit. Only I can help sucking and should have known better. So I'm going to rip that back but I doubt Ill have time to craft a new jumper so I thought I might as well show you the skirt anyway.

It started out like as a Delphine skirt by tilly and the buttons , But I hacked the pattern so I could have a button front [Instead of a zip back] and so I could have these huge pockets!

The main skirt fabric is a suede that my mums friend gave me and the floral I used for the pockets belonged to my Nan, she gave it me with a couple of other pieces of cool fabric.

Its not an awful skirt, the pockets are a bit iffy but as I've never done anything with this sort of pocket let alone drafted in my own I think they could have turned out far worse!

There's actually not a huge amount of room in the pocket they are mainly for show! In fact I think I might slip stitch them closed so the skirt sits better.

The front buttons came from either my mums neighbours old stash or a big jar that my mum brought me from a charity shop. I actually kind of hated them but they work nicely for this skirt, I think they related just enough to the floral fabric but stand out in a cute way as well.

The waistband, hem and button band are all finished in a really thick bias tape, It worked quite nicely and everything sits in place.

I did a lot of top stitching on this skirt [the colour of the thread is just a shade darker than the buttons!]

So its not a grand success, I really liked that I tried to do something new and I think I gained a few new skills with regards to pattern drafting, Its just that the fits a bit off [I had to take this in 1cm on either side] and that the pockets don't quite sit properly [slip stitching them closed is definitely happening, who needs to use pockets anyway?]

But I do love the fabrics I used, especially seen as the pockets are made from the last scraps of the fabric my Nan gave me! And I really like the 70's vibe it has! Now I just need to work out what to wear it with?

Any suggestions?

Much Love

Frankie

x

Tartan Delphine Skirt

I had about a metre of fabric left after making my tartan pencil skirt so I thought it might be nice to whip up a delphine skirt from love at first stitch.

Every time I put on my first delphine skirt I think "wow I really like this I should make another" and well after saying that for about 2 years I've finally got around to it!

Its pretty basic construction wise, four pattern pieces and no darts. Its not particularly fabric hungry either I think I got this out of about a metre and that's with pattern matching as well.

I did have to cut the waistband on the bias though because there wasn't enough fabric to pattern match there. I'm glad I did though because its a nice feature. cutting the waistband on the bias did mean I interfaced it though, usually I skip the interfacing because 1. I'm lazy and 2. I don't think it added that much structure? I mean this folds anyway and its got interfacing, but I added if for this so my pieces wouldn't stretch out of shape.

As it goes The waistband didn't stretch at all, probably because of the interfacing but I had to steam the bejeezus out of the front skirt panel because it had stretched. Seriously I must have been steaming for a good 10 minutes trying to work out why it was shrinking back down to size but at the same time not really caring as long as it did.

The pattern calls for a concealed zip But I didn't have one to hand so I just did a lapped zip. [I'm pretty sure this zip came from an old pair of trousers]

Here's my pattern matching down the back, Its about 2mm out which isn't too bad.

And down the sides, all the lines match up which I'm happy with but I think because of the nature of the shape of the skirt this is as good as it gets pattern matching wise.

And here's the waistband lining, I used a teddy bear print cotton because.......well teddy bears?

So yes all in all very pleased, I made a nice job finishing it and I'm glad I took the time to pattern match where I could!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Finished Delphine!

Its finished! Even after my embarrassing sewing the wrong sides together incident!

And as promised we have some gawky photos! I feel like my awkward side was really on form today!

As I said yesterday I used the very last of my Grandad Robert fabric! Which kind of makes me a little sad but happy at the same time!

I tried my very hardest to stick to the instructions! (apart from with the zip, but I wasn't going to let my lack of an invisible zip and a zipper foot slow me down!)

and I think it turned out okay! well at least I'm pleased with it! sadly I don't have any pictures of the inside but I am SUPER proud of my waistband stitching! I stitched in the ditch for the first time ever and boy I stitched that ditch good!

The only trouble I've really had is styling it! I'm actually wondering if I should hem it again and make it an inch or two shorter! I tired it with a couple of tops, including my Breton stripe cardigan and my lovely sheer blouse! but I just kept looking like a librarian (probably because I never usually wear this style) so in the end I opted for Mr Knitwits white shirt ( he never wears this shirt because it makes him look like he's done a bunk from school! Oh the pains of having a baby face!)

Right so I LOVE this pattern its beautifully written and I love that it only requires a small amount of fabric! I'm not sure if its entirely my style but I have plans to wear it tomorrow for the nursery run so I guess ill just have to see how comfy I feel! I know I want to make at least one more! Mainly because I have an awesome idea for a variation provided I can find the right fabric!

I'm so glad I decided to work through Love at First Stich at a steady pace, I can actually feel myself getting better and more confident in what I'm doing! Which is awesome!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx