8 in 28 item 8

So, I think that I've taken longer than my prescribed 28 days to finish this challenge.

And you know what? I'm okay with that. Because even though it has taken me longer, I did finish it, I'm out of the weird rut I was in (well, not so weird, I know exactly why I was in the rut, I was just frustrated and didn't want to see anyone, or sew, or really do anything), and I had a successful weekend sewing.

So, without further ado, here is my final item. A navy blue 'swirl' skirt.

I picked this pattern up at an op shop for 50c, but I have a similar skirt in baby pink drill, and it's one of my favourite items of clothing - comfortable and swishy in all the right ways.

I got some navy stretch fabric - satin-y on one side, fairly matt on the other - from the op shop. It was 150cm wide, and about 2.5m long, which was perfect for this skirt. Because it uses a LOT of fabric. All the curves leave a lot of scrap fabric.

The zip went in really easily, which amazed me because I've never set a zip into a curve before.

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. I've worn it several times since making it, even though it has to be ironed every time (and I really really hate ironing).

Cute, huh?

8 in 28 Item 6 and 7

So, while stalking pinterest (have I mentioned that my day job is incredibly quiet? And I don't have a whole lot to do? And I spend about three quarters of an average day surfing the web, reading blogs, and looking through pinterest posts? And, most excitingly, that I have quit, and only have 9 days left?! Well, yeah...) I came across these two skirts:

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Both of which I thought were super cute, and I put them on my 'I must sew them' list.

Then, someone in my dance class turned up wearing something very similar. Which was kinda my final push to actually sewing one myself.

For the underskirt, I was originally going to sew something like this:

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But then discovered I didn't have any suitable fabrics (I know, right? I have a huge fabric stash, and nothing suitable). So that got put on the back burner while I made the overskirt.

I used a doona (duvet, quilt) cover I purchased at an op shop (thrift store) a few months ago. I loved the pattern with the kinda-seersucker quality. I just wasn't sure what to do with it. It was perfect for this project though.

Both the overskirt and the underskirt are based off my simple A-Line skirt pattern (so easy and quick to do, and it only needs 4 measurements! My tutorial is here)

Here is my finished overskirt:

And then I discovered this:

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Isn't it pretty?

I was at a sewing shop picking up a darning foot for my machine, when I spotted some lace under their counter, and bought some. Turns out, it was exactly the right colours for my overskirt. I just didn't get enough of it.

So, I started the lace skirt as an underskirt, went out (to a different fabric store) and purchased much more (too much, but oh well, I now have plans for the extra lace), and sewed myself a lace skirt. And a bonus, it works both as an underskirt, and by itself!

Each of the layers of lace are different, and the bottom one has a green tint that picks up the green hue of the overskirt and the buttons.

8 in 28 Item 5

Another two cushions, this time for the family room. I think we need to have a third for balance, but that's just me. I have enough fabric left over from making these two that I could sew another, I would just need to get something to use on the back. Again, these cushions have a zip in the centre back and a flap covering the zip.

The colour, by complete chance, is perfect with the carpet in our house, and picks up the blues in some of the art work (isn't the large painting just lovely? My cousin painted it. And my dad made the display case for my mother's glass animals - a large version of the type trays we have. And the painting in the far left was painted by dad's god mother)

8 in 28 Item 4

I cut this cushion out probably 18 months ago, and sewed the other two, but never got around to sewing this one. As I sewed it, I realised it was either laziness on my part, or the fact that nothing was cut straight (so I had to use creative seam allowances in some areas).

The cushion has a zip in the centre back, which is covered with a flap.

8 in 28 Item 2 and Item 3

Items 2 and 3 of my 8 in 28 challenge: a BurdaStyle Tara top and a pair of Collette Patterns Madeleine mini bloomers. These cost me $2.50 (the cost of the Tara top) as I had everything I needed in my stash already. I used shirring rather than the elastic cords.

This is the second time that I have made the mini bloomers. The pattern is easy to make, and I find it really comfortable to wear as pj shorts (I sleep in shorts and a sleeveless top all year round). Using the shirring rather than elastic means that nothing cuts in as I sleep, so I don't end up with marks from my clothing when I wake up.



The directions for the Tara top are fairly confusing, so I mostly followed the awesome directions from Kathleen from Grosgrain, available here. I wear this top backwards to sleep in (just more practical that way, and because I used a stretch, works both ways). If I made this top again, I would probably add  a very narrow elastic into the flutter sleeve shoulder seam, and make a size smaller.

8 in 28, or giving myself a deadline

I have been realising over the last few weeks, as I put together the 'taking stock' posts, that with a deadline, I sew very effectively. Without a deadline, and i get basically nothing done.

So, in the interests of actually acheiving some sewing, and reducing my stash over the next few weeks, I am seeting myself the 8 in 28 challenge.

Basically, this means I am aiming to finish 8 items in 28 days.

And yes, I do know that means I will need to sew 2 things per week. I can sew a fully lined dress start to finish in a day, so I should be able to acheive this.

I ams etting myself more items that the challenge, to allow for any mishaps along the way, or feeling unispired by something, or, really any other impediment to me actually finishing a set item. Plus, a little bit of choice is always nice, isn't it?

My plan for the challenge:

Item 1: Red Ruffle Skirt

I have a gorgeous red crepe that is just begging to be used. It's a red-red, and has been sitting in my stash for about 9 years. I made a wrap around skit with some of it, but I have a heap left over.

When I saw this skirt inspired by an Anthropologie skirt, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of the red crepe.

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Item 2: Green and Black Skirt

The skirt below was always meant to be a shell, so I figure I should actually make the skirt that I was making the shell for.

Item 3: Pink and Black piped Dress

I've found pinterest, and I now spend what could be considered too much time on it. But, I have been inspired by this dress (from an etsy seller, and now sold, plus it's vintage, so I don't feel so bad about using it as inspiration - I think I might even try to replicate the neckline. I mainly don't feel bad about it because it's not something that I could buy now, and even if I could buy it, none of the proceeds would be going to the designer or maker).

Source via pinterest

Item 4: Tara Dress

After seeing the Tara Dress Frock by Friday at grosgrain, I have a gorgeous fabric that I think would make a lovely Tara dress

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Item 5: Tara Top

Also inspired by the Tara dress, I'd like to make a Tara Top.

Item 6: Duro Dress

Inspired by seeing the Duro Dress on a dress a day, (she has a lot of duro posts. This is just one of them,) I bought the pattern. Which was 4 months ago now. So, I think I should make it.

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Item 7: 1950s wrap dress

This is another dress I was inspired by a dress a day to try, using Butterick 1952, a retro pattern reprint.

Source via a dress a day

Item 8: Button overskirt and cream underskirts

This one is just cute. I love the way that the coloured underskirts peek out from under the dark denim.

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Item 9: Black and red wool skirt

I don't have a specific image in mind, maybe an A-line skirt?

Item 10: 3 cushion covers

I don't have a pretty picture of the cushion cover for you, but really, they are cushions. Squares of fabric with a zip in the back.

Item 11: baby cord leaf skirt  with underskirts

Again, from pinterest, like this one:

Source: etsy.com via Helen on Pinterest

I have all of the fabric and notions to complete all these items except the piping and contrast fabric for the pink and black piped dress. So, I should manage to get some good stash busting out of this :)