FO: Second Skirt

I finished my second skirt. This one is also an embroidered linen blend (I'm sensing a theme here).

I made this using the same basic pattern as my first skirt, only using Frances instead of my mom's sewing machine. I am happy to report that Frances works like a dream.

I did learn something new about her, though. She doesn't have a zipper foot. It's not missing; it was never there to begin with. As a brand new sewer, I thought you could only sew in a zipper using a zipper foot. This is not strictly true. It is possible to sew in a zipper with a regular presser foot--at least it is if you're an experienced sewer. For me...well, it didn't go so smoothly. I had to rip out the zipper at least four times. I tried to use the advice some of you gave me about basting the seam together and then sewing in the zipper instead of making a lapped zipper, but the presser foot kept pushing the zipper to the side so the fabric wouldn't cover it. Finally I just gave up.

So this zipper is wonky, too, but in an entirely different way than the first one. Fortunately, I'm not all that picky about my attire; I figure no one will notice it anyway. (If I'm wrong, I don't want to know.)

If you look closely, you can see that I added a black bias binding to the hem. It adds a little weight and makes for a nice swinginess. It wasn't hard to do, but I mistakenly bought very narrow bias binding, which made it a little tricky to sew on. Next time I'll pick something wider. Live and learn, eh?

P.S. I'm still desperately seeking bobbins for Frances. Again, if anyone knows of a source for obscure bobbins, please let me know!

FO: Skirting the Issue

My first sewing project is done! And it took less than a day. Man, sewing is fast!

I knit because I love it. My motivation for overcoming my long-standing fear of the sewing machine was different: I need clothes that fit. I am tall, with a small waist and curvy hips. It is difficult to find anything that fits when clothing is based on a size and shape that has little in common with my actual measurements. In particular, I've been searching for skirts I like for several years. I don't generally wear shorts--they make me feel too exposed--and long, lightweight skirts are a good option in hot weather, which we have a lot of hereabouts. It's not easy to find skirts long enough, or in the style I prefer.

I was greatly inspired by Stitchywitch of Green Apples, who is an amazing knitter and crocheter, and recently added sewing to her list of accomplishments. She has been documenting her progress in making clothes that suit her style and shape for some time, and apparently it's contagious.

Despite my list of things learned from yesterday, I really enjoyed making this. It's a different sort of thing than knitting, because for me, at least, it's more product-driven. But that's okay when you can whip out a skirt in less than a day! And I'm happy with the results. The fabric is lovely, a linen blend with pretty embroidery. The fit is just what I was going for. The finished product is not perfect. The zipper is a little wonky:

Not too bad, but certainly not perfect. This was the first time I've ever used a zipper foot (obviously), and it was different than hand sewing a zipper. I considered doing it by hand, but decided the object here was to learn to use the machine, so I sucked it up and gave it my best shot.

I'm not at all sure I got the hem straight, either. I pretty much just folded the edge under, ironed it in place, and sewed it down. And I tossed out the pattern instructions when I hit the waistband, because I realized that adding a waist band would make the skirt sit higher than I wanted. In fact, I ended up ripping and resewing some of the seams to create a little more ease around the hips so that the skirt would sit lower than it originally did. I also ignored the length of the original pattern and made this significantly longer. But the pattern was really useful for getting the panels shaped right.

In fact, I've already bought more fabric for another skirt based on the same pattern. And maybe some for a summer dress. And...um...

Here we go again.

Things I Learned Today

1. Sewing is not as scary as I thought. (It is a lot messier, though.)

2. It's kind of like knitting, only someone has already done the knitting for you; all you have to do is finish it. Not really a plus, actually.

3. Should you fail to measure correctly or cut neatly, frogging is not an option.

4. Measure twice, cut once. Not the other way around.

5. I need to invest in a pair of scissors that have not been used to cut packing tape, wet glue, or steel pipe.

6. No matter how carefully you cut and pin, it is possible to sew the same seam wrong four different ways. (I was particularly impressed by my ingenuity at this.)

7. Mistakes not involving measuring or cutting can usually be fixed. (What do sewers--sewers? can that be right?--call frogging?) This almost always involves the use of my new best friend. We spent the whole day together.

8. Pushing the foot pedal harder makes mistakes happen faster.

9. When all else fails, read the manual. If nothing else, you can distract yourself from your woes by trying to puzzle out what the writer actually meant before it was translated by a team of blind monkeys on PCP.

10. Everyone can use a friend like Bertha.

Rule Breaker

I don't really follow many knitting rules. I mean, there are the obvious do's and don'ts (do swatch, don't steam block acrylic, do measure, don't put hand-knits in the washing machine), but other than those sorts of useful guidelines, it's pretty much anything goes around here. I knitted myself a bikini when I was 17. And wore it.

But I do have one firm, albeit unwritten, knitting rule: No Knits Below the Waist. I just can't see hand-knitted fabric doing anything positive for anything I have below the waist. So I am at a loss to explain this:

It just sort of appeared on my needles while I wasn't paying attention. And as much as I've told myself it is a bad idea and ill-advised and clearly a mistake, I can't stop working on it, around and around and around.

The style is based on this tulip skirt (Ravelry link), but the shape and sizing are entirely different, since I haven't completely taken leave of my senses (or my eyesight), and recognize that a skirt that wraps tightly around my butt and thighs would not only drive me crazy but would very likely result in indecency charges.

So I shaped mine to fit at the waist and then skim (I am hoping) over the various curves that I prefer not to emphasize, before dropping straight to the knee, where it will flare out again to about mid-calf length. This is the plan, anyway.

To be sure I could get this up over my hips (I know knitted fabric is inherently stretchy, but I'm not taking any chances), I created space for a zipper at the back waist.

I also plan to turn the waistband under and insert either elastic or a drawstring to help with the shaping. To that end, I worked an eyelet row, which, when turned, should give a little picot edge at the waist.

Although the color is not terribly accurate in these pictures, the yarn is a warm, golden tan BFL. It is a long-since discontinued Berroco yarn, and I got about 2100 yards of it at the local knitting guild's destash sale. It's been in my stash for quite a while because I couldn't come up with a project that would use so much worsted weight yarn in such a neutral color. It's great for this project, though. The yarn isn't as soft as I would choose for a sweater, but it seems very sturdy and has a subtle sheen. I can picture this skirt with boots and a jeans jacket. I can't really picture it on me, but I can picture it. So I guess that's a start.