Sunday, July 11, 2010

Flirt item #5

Burda 05-2010-130




The back is strictly business as usual without the welts:



I sewed this in a record 4 hours - from seeing the pattern to tracing it to fitting it to finishing it. That's pretty good. That's because 4 hours in a week is all I have these days. My son being at the stage and age he is (exhausting demanding etc), I have no energy at the end of the day. And it's not going to get any better any time soon, the secret to enjoying your children may well be excellent child care but in this city that comes with fearsome waiting lists.

Anyway, let me quit moaning, let me extol the virtues of this pattern. It is a 3 dot Burda number only because it has back welt pockets but I just did not have the time or inclination to be bothered with those. I never use back pockets if there are decent front ones and the front ones are super cute, don't you agree? They have this cute little pleat that comes off them, turning the pencil skirt into a quasi tulip number. It also has an extended front lap piece that turns into a mock belt that buttons on the other side of the belt loop. Well you know me, I love a little mockin' in my wardrobe.



The fabric was from the Red cross shop $1.50. It was clearly a leftover from another project with big bits cut out along the side.



I only had enough to do a small hem and I couldn't lengthen it at all meaning I was going to have to wear it Burda model length (short). In this way I was forced to be a little bit trendy and modern and hip which is not my bag at all, but I dare say dressing younger than my years will not kill me.

I wanted to sew my first merino top this week but when I got to my sewing machine I discovered that my son had pulled off and hidden the back vertical spool making twin-needling impossible. And do you know what I did find behind my sewing machine instead? The back windscreen wiper. Yes he pulled the whole thing off the car and posted it behind my machine. I wasn't too peeved about that because now both my husband and me have had our dearest possessions trashed and so there will be no sanctimonaneous exhortations to accept the reality of having a toddler in the house.

Instead there were lots of sympathetic noises on both sides.

This skirt is officially the cheapest item I have ever sewn - I got everything, zipper, thread, even tracing paper at a really good price from Smart Dress Fabrics, and the button and interfacing were more charity shop finds: bringing the total to something less than $4. (about US $2.50). (I never count my Burda subscription when I price things because for me it's just pure entertainment - however, I do count paper patterns purchased specifically)

20 comments:

  1. Love the skirt - it's fabulous! You're killing me with these posts about how inexpensive your fabric is - not fair.

    And I can totally relate about the child - got to love 'em - at least they give you something to laugh/groan/cry about. :)

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  2. Such a great skirt--congrats on the 4 hours!
    Also love your orange tree in the background!

    I think you might wiiiiin! (say it in a sing-song voice!)

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  3. Who needs welts? And my last (posted) garment had front pockets just like those.

    I love the charcoal grey and it suits this simple skirt well.

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  4. That is one chic skirt! Love the front pockets.

    Kids--you gotta love 'em, but they sure make you want to rip your hair out at times. Plenty of sympathy here.

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  5. p.s. I'm not sure what your twin spool holder looks like, but could you use a straw, dowel or pencil instead? I've also seen on someone's blog where they stacked the two spools on top of each other using a straw for the holder

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  6. Yes, I love this skirt and if this issue of BWOF ever makes it out to the arse end of the world, I might make one myself. I just cut out a BWOF skirt that has welt pockets on the back. I dutifully traced them onto the pattern and so far every time I've made the skirt I've left them off. Who needs extra lumps on their bum?

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  7. That skirt length looks perfect to me. Besides, you're not mutton yet and hogget is only a year off lamb. Isn't it amazing how small children do things without you seeing any of it. Like taking a bite out of every peice of fruit in the fruit bowl or drawing at knee level on walls, furniture, but no, stop there, you've got enough going on without fresh expectations.

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  8. Great skirt, but I'm more impressed with the 4 hours. It takes me more than 4 hours just to think about sewing something. I thought about sewing a pencil skirt today...I actually started thinking about it 6 hours ago but all I have done is wash the lining. Efficiency is a virtue...

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  9. I really like that skirt length on you and think you should review your photos and consider making more skirts in that length! (Dressing younger than your years - *snort*!)

    Great pocket detail - I don't use back pockets either, but I sometimes do 'faux' welt pockets so you get the look without the bulk of pocket bags, etc.

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  10. Hi there

    You look fantastic in that outfit!

    Your son has some very special talents....go Destructor Boy!

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  11. Here's the post where Gelbean used a straw to hold both spools for twin needle stitching:
    http://gelbeansews.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-jalie-jeans-adventure.html

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  12. Love the skirt and the outfit.

    Incredibly jealous of the four hours.

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  13. Adorable and what a steal!! Also, I'm sooo sympathetic about toddler woes. They are starting to gang up on me over here... And why do they have all the energy??? I'm pretty sure that umbilical cord is gone, but it still feels like they are sucking it right out of me.

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  14. Great skirt - it certainly looks classier than its price tag. On the child side, I've got bad news. The human brain does not fully develop until 25! Lots of rollercoaster, energy draining emotions until then.

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  15. Looks absolutely fab, and the length looks perfect. Congrats on a really value-minded skirt. :)

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  16. Great skirt - love the pocket detail, and I think the length on you is great! Not bad at all for 4 hours and 4 dollars!

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  17. Rock and roll! What a great look for you -- don't think it looks "young" -- just "hip". Winter sounds so romantic right now...

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  18. What a result! Your "FLIRT" wardrobe is really working out.

    And btw, I live with a toddler and you have nothing but sympathy, make the empathy from me!

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  19. Oh, I am really liking this skirt! If it weren't my bedtime, I would RUN find that issue of Burda and start prepping to make it! Super, duper cute!!!
    The length looks great on you - you can totally wear the shorter skirts. (Plus, the length makes it fit into the flirt category!)

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  20. I want that skirt.
    I want it in corduroy.
    Nice flirty wardrobe there MA- it's coming along a treat.

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