6 pocket skirt

the embroidered wool-blend crepe skirt is finally finished ... at long last the pockets have been sewn on. i can categorically say that i do not enjoy hand sewing, and in the future i will endeavour to do as little of it as possible. the result has been spectacular though ... i love the fit and adore having so many pocket. the bottom pocket (on either side panel) conveniently fits a ball of yarn (and a sock project), so i can conveniently carry my knitting anywhere, and pull it out when i have a spare moment.

view the long, protracted progress of this skirt here

bribery

what is a suitable reward or bribe for doing extensive hand sewing?
i need to finish both the skirt and dress...
i keep trying to convince myself that i enjoy it, which i do, once i'm actually doing it, but i think i need to face the fact that it's going to some serious bribery to get me started...
any ideas?

to busy knitting to sew

i need to schedule some sewing time.
i've hand-stitched one pocket (out of six) on the skirt
and the 50s dress needs nothing except for a whole lot of hemming.
the pending winter necessitates completing of the skirt - not only will the pockets be practical as far as putting things in (i.e. the ball of yarn i am knitting with), but they will also serve to add a little bit of extra warmth for my hips.

hand sewing

hand sewing... miles of it.
there's a certain rhythm to it though, and it is aesthetically pleasing.
i stitched the hem of the skirt this evening, and pinned the lining.

skirt

the skirt is gorgeous... all that's left to do is pinning and sewing the hems - skirt and lining - and hand sewing the patch pockets.

crepe skirt

i am in the process of sewing the flat felled seams.
the silk lining has been cut and i'm working out the details of the pockets.
it's going to be cute.

silk lining

the silk lining has arrived.
sewing has resumed.

current projects

i'm still waiting for the silk lining to arrive.
there's not much to be done with the skirt until it does.
i think that perhaps easter has messed up delivery times.
hopefully it'll arrive today.
i've still got (lots of) hand sewing to do on the vintage dress... hemming and the like
but it seems to be far more interesting to knit.
i will get back to it eventually.

gutermanns tin and thread

i bought thread for the crepe skirt and the vintage dress in this cute little tin ... i'm a sucker for tins.

skirt with pockets - design photos

here's the design for the skirt...
the quadrangles on the side panels are pockets.


and here's a detail of the fabric.
i've still got to acquire iron on interfacing, ribbon (to provide support for the pockets) and some grey thread,
and i'm waiting for the silk lining to be delivered (yay to ebay)
but once that's done it will just be a matter of stitching it up.

silk-lined coat

the buttons have been sewn on,
so the silk-lined coat is finished.
the silk lining feels fabulous
and it means i can scratch it from my 'to do list'










the vintage kimono fabric on the front panels has worked...
glimpses of it are caught when it's worn.














a detail of the shibori dyed fans.











view progress of silk-lined coat

skirt with pockets

i've designed the skirt for the salvaged wool-blend embroidered crepe.
low waisted, hem just below the knees, slightly flared, a single panel in the front, smaller side panels and a zip in the centre of the back panel. what will make it the antithesis of female fashion is that both of the side panels will have three large patch pockets (for some reason women's clothing seems to lack pockets of any kind). each of the pockets will be almost the entire width of the panel and they will be positioned vertically.
i've just ordered some silk lining, and will be picking up some iron on interfacing and ribbon in the next couple days, so until then i'm putting the project aside.

state of things

it's always nice to get things finished.
it's too prohibitively hot to photograph the coat
(too hot to wear it, and the light is too harsh), but it is finished.
i haven't quite worked out how to mend the holes in the silk dress...
i figure the solution will come to me.
i have, however, unpicked the wool-blend crepe and it is patiently waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.

to do list

• silk-lined coat
• sew on buttons
• photograph
  
  
• vintage silk dress
• mend holes
• photograph

• wool-blend crepe
• unpick original garment
• design skirt
  

vintage silk dress

here is a detail of the dress. it's gone from being a perfectly fitting white polka dotted dress with mildew stains to a stunning, perfectly fitting, gorgeous charcoal grey with blue undertones, with black polka dots. it's amazing how much dyeing can transform a garment.

vintage silk dress

it's not quite a sewing project, more a dyeing/mending one. i salvaged a vintage white with black polka dots silk dress, badly stained with mildew and with several tiny holes. it fit perfectly though, and feels exquisite. i've dyed it black and am waiting for it to dry. at initial inspection the mildew stains are gone and it is now a blue-black with black polka dot dress. a touch of mending and it'll be ready to wear.

coat

the lining is finished.
the coat has been sent to the drycleaners.
i've got black vintage japanese silk covered buttons being made up.
i'll collect them from buttonmania on wednesday.
the end is in sight.

the road is paved with good intentions

i was hoping to finish my coat yesterday. at least the pre-drycleaning and sewing on buttons stage.
but i got distracted with my merlot jacket and figuring out how to knit buttonholes.

salvaged fabric

i've salvaged some black, embroidered wool-blend crepe.
a skirt, many sizes too big for me.
i'll unpick it and piece together maybe an a-line skirt.
maybe with pockets.

coat

i'm currently restitching a coat.
it was gifted to me in 2000.
and has had alot of wear.
the (polyester) lining had seen better days.
so i'm in the process of replacing it with silk.
the front panels are made of black vintage japanese silk with shibori fans, the sleeves and back a simple black silk lining.
i will post photos when it's finished.