Simplicity 2609

Me Made May has already shown me what a dearth of wardrobe basics I have sewn.  I really love prints and interesting patterns, so it is a little hard for me to make something "boring".  Still, I want to wear all of the things I've made, so I decided to whip up this skirt with Simplicity 2609 in a nice basic linen.

OK, I couldn't just do basic, but I wear long tops, so the palm trees won't always show...  The fabric is from my mother's stash, acquired during her Great Fabric Disbursement.  (There are still a couple of nice pieces left.  Go check it out!)  Mom made a cute jacket out of the palm tree embroidered linen, and I think a coordinating skirt from the solid. (correct me if I'm wrong here, Mom!)  ETA: Mum did correct me - Pants were made from  the solid.

I lined it, because well, that's how I roll.  I used regular poly lining for the skirt panel, but self fabric for the yoke, which I wanted to breathe.  I trimmed it with lace, mostly because I didn't want to fuss with a hem.  Hah.  It's pretty, though.    This is the second time I've made this pattern, and I really like it.  It is very simple (I made this one in a single naptime.), but surprisingly flattering for an elastic waist skirt.  Although the yoke piece is just a rectangle, that skirt panels are shaped, which helps the skirt mold to the body better than a dirndl type skirt would.

Here it is on, or you can check out today's Me Made May post for a full length picture.  It looks awesome with my latest BWOF blouse.  I totally couldn't have coordinated it better if I had planned it!

MMM, Day 5

Today's outfit is BWOF 02/2009-125, with the skirt I just finished (Simplicity 2609).  I was surprised at what a great color match the linen was to the background color of the blouse.  I used the same thread to sew them!

MMM, Day 4

Sorry for the fuzzy mirror photo.  It was a crazy morning, so we didn't get a decent picture before Mitch had to head to work.
I've been trying to get a bit more creative in wearing my me made clothes.  I usually wear this skirt with a RTW tee that is now falling apart and needed replacing anyway.  I tried several other tops, but they didn't work.  I'm not sure I'm loving the sweater+belt=bulk around my middle combo though.  Better get to sewing a new red top!
Anyway, this outfit is BWOF 08/2009-114 on top, with a skirt that I refashioned from a failed attempt at Butterick 4790 (the walkaway/whirlaway dress).  I really love this skirt, which is great because I really hated that dress...

MMM, Day 3

It was Monday, so I'm back to my usual "uniform" of jeans and knit top.

The top is BWOF 04-2009-112, which was in the first batch of Spring Top week picks!  How fun is that?  The jeans are Jalie 2908.  Since I have only made 3 pairs of jeans (and one is really more of a denim trouser), you'll probably be seeing these a couple of more times this month.  I'll be trying to branch out a bit and work in some of my less worn clothes, but it's Monday...  And I LOVE these jeans.

MMM, Day 2 and big news!

Sunday is church day at our house, and usually that means that my kiddos are both in Me-Made outfits, but this week Logan isn't well, so he stayed home, and lounged around in a Lightning McQueen tee shirt and shorts.

Myra and I got up and ready to go!

I'm wearing Vogue 8379, which I made in the days before my sewing blog.  It is interesting to look at the construction of this dress and all the rookie mistakes I made!!  None of the seams or edges are finished.  I used non-stretch interfacing, which might have actually been a good thing, since I didn't stabilize the neckline at all.  I made no fit adjustments and cut based on my full bust.  And despite all that, it remains one of my favorite dresses.  Some day I'll make it up right!

ETA: Sister asked what fabric I made this dress in, which reminded me that since this was pre-blog, I didn't really talk about it.  The pattern is great.  Ask any of the 40 gazillion ladies on PR who have made it.  Even two sizes too big (I know, I didn't know what I was doing) it still fits me reasonably well.  I made it out of matte jersey from Hancock, which ended up being an ideal fabric both for the pattern, as the weight gives the skirt swing and stability as well as holding those darn facings down, and for my level of inexperience at the time, as it is a reasonably firm knit that is forgiving of sewing oopsies, and the cut edges are very stable.  My biggest gripe about this dress is that the front pleats DO NOT stay flat.  I think this is primarily because I sewed a size 14 without alterations, instead of the 10 with FBA that I should have done.  Lesson learned.  Eventually.

Myra wore her Kitschy Coo Mini Mod dress.  We both love this dress.

Sure looks perky, doesn't she?  Of course, about five minutes after we got to church, she brought breakfast back up all over both of us, so we didn't get to wear our dresses for long!  We spent the rest of the day in lounge pants and tee shirts.  At least our tees were me-made!  Myra wore her Puffis, and I wore the one I drafted with Cal Patch's book.  And then I did the laundry...

In other news, one of my tops made the Finals in Spring Top week!!

It's up for voting today, so head over to Made By Rae and check them all out!