Makeover

Shortly before Christmas, 2013, I sewed myself a skirt.  It was very simple: rectangles of lace and fabric, with an elastic technique I hadn't tried before.  I wore it to church, but I didn't like it.  The elastic idea was not suitable for this project.  I added a casing later, but I still wasn't happy with the skirt.

The experience was not wasted.  One reason I sewed the skirt that way was was that a friend had asked me to sew her daughter a tulle skirt along the same lines.  I learned some things, and the tulle skirt turned out much better.  It also looked much cuter on a 15-year-old than this did on me.  The red skirt languished in my closet until this week.

It was time for a makeover.  I decided to use a favorite old skirt pattern, Simplicity 9696.  (It's just a classic pencil skirt.  Why do these patterns go out of print?)  I updated the fit (using techniques I learned from this book), and cut it out of the old skirt, lining first.  I basted the lining, and had Dandelionslayer mark a hem line.  Then I removed the basting stitches, and used the markings to line up the pattern pieces on the lace.  I still wanted to use the border of the lace for the lower hem.  This resulted in the lace layer flaring a little more than the lining, but I like it this way. 

I found just the right zipper from Grandma O's stash, and finished it off.  This time I am happy with my new old skirt!

Impressionist Art

With a Bang!

That's how we started the new year.  Or how Scoot did, anyway.

You should have seen the other guy.

We encouraged Scoot to come up with a really good story, something involving ninjas or zombies or irate soccer moms.  But he's a truthful boy, and the truth is that his face was in the way when his best friend did a flip on another best friend's trampoline.  On New Year's Eve afternoon.  Auspicious, eh?

Scoot is pretty tough, but doesn't like to show off his battle scars.  The next day, he spent some time in the sewing room, and came back with this fleece eye patch.  He did it all on his own, and even wore it out in public.  The band stretched out after a couple of days, and a failed decoration attempt made it look a little worse for the wear.

He decided he wanted something a little more formal for Sunday.  I didn't have any pin stripes available to match his trousers, but I helped him find some black fleece and black elastic, and gave him a few pointers for neatness.  He finished this patch right before church, and looked quite dashing. 

He wore it to school on Monday, too.  And then I took him to the doctor, who said he didn't need it.  The swelling was down, and the bruise had mostly faded by then.  I agreed.  But I am pleased that my boy is willing and able to sew the occasional odd little item.