Inspiration...Pencil Skirt

 More inspiration from Ann Taylor:

This is the Ann Taylor Gingham Pencil Skirt.  Price tag: $98.00.  Details:  24 1 /2-inches long, back vent, elastic waist, softly fitted (not sure exactly what that means), knit fabric.

This appears to be the same fabric from the previous inspiration post.  Reminds me very much of the 80s/90s when we would purchase 5 yards of fabric to make a jacket, pants, and a skirt.  

Here is the perfect pattern to duplicate this look:

This is Pamela's Patterns - The Magic Pencil Skirt.  It does not have a back kick pleat but it is easy to add one.   I have made this a couple of times and really like it.  I think it is time to a couple more to the wardrobe for fall/winter.  To see my past versions, search Magic Pencil Skirt and you should see the various posts on the pattern.

Happy Stitching!

Looking Back on 2018...

The sewing in 2018 has been much better than the previous year.  It was a busy year but I still found time to sew which felt really good.  Here is my favorite pattern from 2018:

This is The Magic Pencil Skirt pattern by Pamela's Patterns.  I made this skirt three times this year.  Once in a herringbone knit, one in a stretch woven, and once in a cotton jersey.  In all three cases, I made a size medium.  The herringbone skirt is a little bit big.  The cotton jersey is too big and I intend to take it apart and restitching to make it smaller.  The stretch woven skirt is really my favorite.  It was the last skirt that I made and the change that I made is I took larger seams fitting it a little bit closer.

My least favorite item this year was: 

This is the Uvita Top pattern by Itch to Stitch.  This is a free pattern.  I used a really nice knit that I found in the stash and thought that it would be perfect for the pattern and it was kinda.  My issue with my top was that it wouldn't stay put.  It wanted to move upward.  I did make a change to the top by adding darts instead of making a muslin I just sewed it up.  I think this may have been part of the issue. In general, this type of issue would indicate there wasn't enough room.

The most requested items that I had this past year was shopping bags.  I made bags for my son and my husband.  The pattern used was from The Creative Thimble website and is listed under the freebies.

This year I joined up with a group that had a goal of sewing 50 yards of fabric for the year.  I didn't think it was possible but I did end up sewing around 70 yards of fabric.  Unfortunately, I purchased around 57 yards.  At least, that is what is on my spreadsheet.  My actual goal for purchases was zero but sometimes you just don't have what you're looking for in the stash.  I will say that I was much more mindful on purchases this year.  I'm happy that I actually sewed a little more than I purchased.  I will be following this group again for 2019.

How was your 2018 sewing?  Did you accomplish what you wanted to accomplish?

Happy Stitching!

New Pencil Skirt...

I always need a few skirts in the wardrobe and for me it's almost always a pencil skirt.  Back in August, I did an inspiration post on Classic Pencil Skirt.  I don't always get around to making anything from the inspiration post but I'm working harder on creating items.  Here's my latest pencil skirt:

I did not use the skirt mentioned in the above referenced inspiration post.  Instead, I used a pattern from my stash - The Magic Pencil Skirt by Pamela's Patterns.  This is the third time this year that I have used this pattern.  The first time was a knit herringbone fabric.  The second time was an Alabama Chanin inspired skirt make with a 100% cotton jersey.  Both of these skirts were made in a size Medium.  The first skirt feels a little bit.  The second skirt is huge and needs to be taken apart and resewn.

I made this black pencil skirt with a stretch woven from JoAnn's.  I'm not generally a huge fan of JoAnn's but I do shop there as my local fabric places are JoAnn's, Walmart, and Hobby Lobby.  The fabric is fantastic.  I only purchased a yard with the intentions of making the Magic Pencil Skirt. If I thought any of it was left, I would go back and purchase the remainder on the bolt.  This skirt is smaller than the previous two skirts by at least an inch and it fits well.  I don't think I will be holding it up so it doesn't fall down like I do on skirt #2.  The only thing I would do differently is make the high waist version and maybe make it a little bit longer.  I do have some stretch denim that would work well and be a bit more casual for every day life.

Just an FYI, I would never style this skirt with that top.  If I were tucking in a top, I would make sure there was enough fabric to blouse out a bit.  I might wear the boots.

Happy Stitching!