Maternity Skirts- Simplicity 1359

I made these skirts in early December and have been wearing them fairly regularly with tights or with fleece-lined leggings. You make the pattern in your pre-pregnancy size and it came out perfectly fine. It is a simple pencil skirt with a belly pattern with no ruching, which I personally dislike. The waist is elastic, so you can adjust it to fit. 

I took all of these pictures with a self-timer after school one day before the light disappears at about 4pm.

 I made three from knits from Jo-Ann. I made simple black one because I was tired of how my maxi skirts would bunch up around my tights. These are all a size 8. 

So neutral...

 I am still wearing all regular tops, nothing specifically for maternity. This is an Ann Taylor Loft one that was always a little big, and all of my Target tops are super stretchy and still work.

Side view-32 weeks pregnant

 This one is a grey knit with small gold polka dots. The side picture was super blurry, but you get the idea.

 This one is my favorite- a very 90s inspired neon cheetah print knit.

 I still look mostly like old Molly from the back (and I really need a haircut!)

 I always wear my shirt over the skirt, but this is just for your amusement! I look like I'm stealing a bowling ball!

I got the pattern on sale for $1 and it also has shirts, pants and a long skirt. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to sew some simple and easy maternity clothes!! It's only four pieces and I made all three assembly-line style in just a few hours. Plus, they are stretchy knits so you will get a decent amount of wear out of them.

Only five more weeks and it's baby time!!

Maternity Maxi Skirt

I bought the fabric and cut out the pattern right on the heels of making this dress at the beginning of September. The pattern is a "See n Sew" Butterick 5837 and I cut it out in a size 12 like the other one. By not leaving any time in between, I did not get the time to realize how giant that would make the shoulders! 

 Terrible fitting, and the whole bodice is lined and turned through a tiny hole, so it's not like it wanted to re-do the whole thing.

 Gack! In the end, I kept the skirt part to make into a maxi skirt and threw the top portion away.

 I have been wearing this skirt a LOT for the past month or two. It is just a simple rectangle, but I did take the time to match up the stripes at the side seams. I left it unhemmed, as it won't unravel. The waist is two parallel rows of half inch elastic, which was meant to sort of copy some knit pants from Target with a shirred waist (minus how itchy the shirring is).

 I can wear it with a shirt untucked over it, which is how I usually do. The print is from Jo-Ann and is just a somewhat thin knit. I have been wearing leggings or tights underneath as it is already feeling like winter here in Chicago.

 Tucked in also works, but it does make me feel like I am wearing a circus tent a little bit.

 I am for sure looking much more pregnant and there's no disguising it anymore! I am just about 6.5 months in.

 Close-up of the waist: the two rows of elastic are pretty comfortable and they don't twist at all. I used to wear it around my waist, but as that is gone, I just wear it under my boobs. I am all about being comfy!

This was a good make- I have two other maxi skirts as well (from Target and Forever 21) and they are working well for being pregnant in the cold weather.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving, it was so nice to have a five day weekend!!!

My Rae skirt goes to Rome

I was a pattern tester for the Sewaholic Rae skirt several months ago. I kept forgetting to take pictures, so I threw it in my suitcase to take some pictures of it in Europe. We drove from the Amalfi coast up to Rome and spent a day in Rome. This was due to flights: all the flights from Naples to Corsica were around 700 euros, and if we flew from Rome to Corsica, it was something like 77 euros total. Plus we already had a rental car, and Andrew loves driving, so that was an easy decision. 

Sewing the skirt is super easy, as it meant to be a very very beginner's pattern. It is just an easy skirt to make and took me an afternoon. My fabric is some random knit from JoAnn. Probably the worst part of pattern testing is due to the time constraints, I always end up using some less-than-ideal, shit fabric from Jo-Ann. I don't think the pattern suggested knits, but all of the other prints were hideous. 

My crappy knit fabric

From our hotel room balcony on the Amalfi coast. 

 Later that day at the Coliseum:

 If I had actually made it for vacation, I would have chosen a brighter and more fun print. And maybe hem it a little shorter too. It's kind of a frumpy length, I think. For me and my short legs.

While in Corsica, it rained and then we got to see a double rainbow!!

 I also surprised Andrew with a pig pastry from the patisserie! So cute and it was chocolate on the inside and cake.

Any suggestions for online photo albums? I think I had a flickr account many moons ago. I would be very happy to never put anything on facebook ever again, but my mom wants to see our vacation pictures. Ideas? :)

A Pleasing Project!

I made this skirt at the same time as the grey corduroy one. I cut them both out at the same time and then just did every step twice and made them simultaneously. While exactly the same (size and construction-wise), I very much prefer this one.

The fabric:

Front seam detail and gathers. 

I bought the fabric at an estate sale with Emma. If you recall, that was when we went to an appointment-only sale on Craigslist and did not get murdered! It was 66 cents, according to my past calculations. It's a beautiful print and I had been hoarding it for something good. 

I did wear shoes to work, I swear. Substituting has made me reacquainted with how god awful uncomfortable many of my "work" shoes are.

So it's comfortable, has pockets and is fairly flattering. I am pleased!

So there! I finally posted my skirt a week or two later than I said. Forgive me, I have been working waay too much. 

I might need some pants advice later in the week...

A Corduroy Crescent Skirt

I am currently making corduroy pants and I bought the fabric on a whim at Joann, somehow thinking that 2 yards would be enough for pants. And it was, for everything except the fronts of the pants. Haha. So I had to go back, but my brother was rushing me and I bought 1.5 yards of more grey corduroy. 

Now, did I bring a piece to match? No.

Did I get home and wash it before checking? Yes.

Did they match? No.

The second piece is slightly darker and a finer wale, so in the end I made it into a skirt. It's a Sewaholic Crescent skirt in view B in a size 2. I made no changes and didn't bother trying it on until I was done. It fit, of course. 

Here is the back:

 The corduroy sometimes looks weird in different light, on the yoke because the lines are pointing in different directions. It is also very poofy.

 Half the day, I wore my shirt tucked in and felt like a doof. The other half, I untucked my sweater but felt like a lumpy tube. I am very undecided about this skirt.

Look at that face! Gross. 

 T-Rex broke off an entire toenail charging through the door and then getting his foot run over by the door. It really hurt him and he spent two days limping and moping, but now he has pepped back up!

Twinsies! A skirt for Stephanie

Stephanie, my very bff from NOLA, took over my job teaching the baby 6th graders. I had extra fabric left over with the creepy children from around the world fabric. A world history teacher needs a crazy flag and child skirt!

 Steph is skinnier than I am, but I wasn't sure of her measurements and I didn't want to ask her because it was supposed to be a surprise! So I made it with a narrow waistband and pleats, so the hips ar eloose and the waist can slip down to wherever it fits.

She was excited and sent me some pictures to show off.

Yay, success!

"It's a small world" skirt

I made this skirt from the same McCalls pattern as the last one I made.

I bought this fabric from etsy from the seller Sewwhatsnewfabrics from the section called "most frightening fabrics." Ha ha ha, it really is a strange and frightening fabric and it makes no sense. A sumo wrestler, a cave man, a kayaker, a Greek Olympian throwing a discus, a boy on a tricycle, a child shooting a bow, a cowboy  and a MERMAID? Wtf.

 Point being, I made it into a skirt. Genius.

 I really need to buy a new camera with a self-timer and quit using the iphone. It can't handle bad lighting and I could take better pictures during the day, when I am often home. Now it's already dark by the time Andrew gets home...

Off to sew some more before work tonight....

Long in the making: McCalls 5591

I bought this pattern over a year ago and the fabric as well. Usually, because I am so small, I can lay out the pieces differently and save a lot of fabric, so I bought less than it said to. This of course came back to get me when I cut them out and didn't have enough fabric to do the waistband facings. Derp!

I had leftover beige lining after finishing my wool pants, so I pulled this out of the drawer and set to it. It was very fast and easy, as it was already cut out! (fabric and pattern)

 I also had a burgundy zipper so I didn't even have to go to the store! I like it- it is flattering and also perfect fall colors.

 I am a big fan of pleats lately, so I like this style. I hemmed it on the machine but did the zipper by hand and the whole thing took maybe an hour or two.

Yay to quick and easy projects!!

McCalls 6203- A wardrobe from a sheet

First off, thanks for all the feedback on my last dress! It made me really happy!

I started this a week or two ago, but then lost my motivation. 

My pattern is from the 50s/60s. I was amused when I opened it because some later seamstress had altered the pants into bell bottoms. Ha!

 Fabric: a yellow, flowered sheet from the Salvation Army. $3.

Notions: 5 large white plastic buttons that I had, and a zipper I had

 I am surprised, but I actually like the top a lot. The dark jeans calm the craziness down and it fits pretty well.

Time: Not including all the time I procrastinated, just a few hours.

 Cost: fabric, 3; zippers and buttons .25; pattern .25; super cheap outfit.

 It's hard to see, but the shirt has flaps on the sides for some ease.

I also made the skirt which turned out to be huge. I have no idea why when I measured a 34 inch waistband I didn't stop and think. I was too excited about working out the pleats. So, yes, it is about 7 inches too big. I pinned the back for the picture. I think I'll offer it up in my 300 follower giveaway, if I ever get there. Maybe I'll do it for Halloween if not!

 Wearing them together is a bit terrifying.

I am on an exciting sewing quest for the weekend! More news about it tomorrow, with pictures of my muslin. Don't die of shock! I really did make one! It's not even 12/12/12 yet, OMG!

A Parade and a Summer Skirt

I know it's not summer yet, but it was so hot! Bathing myself in sunscreen and sweating like apig make it feel like summer!

The Vogue pattern called for five yards of fabric, so I bought four. I always end up shortening things so much, that that is my standard deal. Then, I made the dress, and because I shortened the skirt so much, I could still cut it folded. I would imagine every normal sized person would need to open up the fabric and cut them singly. So, I was left with about a yard left over too!

Thus, I made a skirt. Randomly pleated, hemmed on the machine, with a skinny waistband with a little interfacing, and a handpicked vintage metal zipper I dug out of sewing table. So let's pretend this skirt cost nothing!

We all went to the Irish-Italian-Islenos parade today and had fun. I caught some excellent loot!

Hats were courtesy of Stephanie, since we were not prepared, or even wearing green.
An excellent, light-weight summer skirt.
My best loot. I got the umbrella by jumping up and down and shouting, similar to the t-shirt, except I added shirt gestures and yelled "t-shirt!" One of my students was riding in the parade, which is how I got the stuffed animal. I said "Hey! Hey! Give your teachers some beads!" Then we got stuffed animals instead.

Look at this doozy of a shirt! It's hilarious, but too embarrassing to ever wear outside.

Well, this week is standardized testing review week, so I am already prepared and have no extra school work, so hopefully I will make a thing or two to photograph on the weekend!

Grey and Pink Skirt

Originally, I had planned to use this fabric I bought in Portland over Xmas to make another version of this dress, which I love. I was being delusional thinking I could make an eight gore skirt and dress with pockets out of two yards of fabric, duh. In the end, I used the skirt pieces to just make a skirt with no waistband. It turned out really big, and then I had to go back and take in about half an inch on all of the seams, which fixed it.

Every time I take self-timed pictures, T-Rex has to interfere.
The back is simple. It would have been impossible to line up the print with the shape of the pieces, so I just aimed for having a pink stripe down the center of each sections, and I am pleased with the result.
I sewed on about four grey buttons, and then decided I hated them and they were boring. I went to Jo-Ann and picked up these cheap, but cute pink buttons. $2 for ten, whoo hoo.
It has pockets, which is a plus!
Also, you can see my garden so far. Now that the weather is in the 70s, I will be able to sit outside and enjoy the balcony again!

I am still trying to finish the devil that is my military dress. It is evil and I am frustrated. The benefit of only having one bobbin is I can refuse to switch it from brown until I finish the dress! Take that, Molly!