Taking Stock - week 20

 What I accomplished this week (Friday to Thursday)

* Herringbone wool skirt Home / Work Clothing

Finished Projects 2011

* Autumn leaf table runner Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Purple tea-with-the-debutantes dress Work Clothing

* Ruffle dress Work Clothing

* Olive dress Work Clothing

* Maroon Skirt Work Clothing

* White damask skirt Work Clothing

* White Damask blazer Work Clothing

* Magenta stretch dress Work Clothing

* Green stretch dress Work Clothing

* Apron for Nerilee Gifts

* Apron for Robyn Gifts

* Oopsie the Octopus Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Circles Table Runner Gifts (Tarof Family)

* A5 art book bag Gifts (Tarof Family)

* 1950s Apron Gifts (Tarof Family)

* 4 x Baby bibs Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Kyles’ art book messenger bag Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Adam’s art book messenger bag Christmas 2010

* Wild West dress for stomp Home Clothing

* Embroidery practice Gifts

* Pleated skirt with teal and black design Work Clothing

* 3 x blue cushion covers House Stuff

* little hearts pjs using Tara top patterns and collette mini bloomers pattern Home clothing

* 3 x olive cushion covers House Stuff

* Drafted A-Line Skirt Pattern

* Drafted red ruffle skirt pattern

* Navy swirl skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Lace underskirt Home / Work Clothing

* Beige button skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Teal dress (coffee date dress) Home / Work Clothing

* 4 x cream cushions (and now I’m all done with cushion covers) House Stuff

* Mum’s birthday book 

* jacket shell for CIT

* red lace look dress

* Nautical Outfit

* One Piece Kimono Tee

Projects on the go

* Beaded Obi Belt

* Double Circle Skirt

* Stained Glass Window Quilt.

* Blazer with teal and black design Work Clothing

* Red Ruffle Skirt Home / Work Clothing

Future Projects with fabric already purchased

* 52 weeks of quilt blocks quilt Christmas 2011

* Teal blazer to go with damask skirt Home Clothing

* Black damask dress Work Clothing

* Pink and black damask dress Work Clothing

* Hearts dress (fabric) Home Clothing

* Hearts dress (quilt cover) Home Clothing

* Tara top – floral quilting fabric Home Clothing

* Tara dress – pink quilting fabric, Home Clothing

* Ying Yang gathered top Home / Work Clothing

* Red ruffle skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Blue corset with quilting fabric Home Clothing

* Refashion of black patterned dress from Big W Home Clothing

* Refashion of purple patterned dresses from Big W Home Clothing

* Underskirts / petticoats for summer dresses Home / Work Clothing

* Hot pink drill dress Home Clothing

* Hot pink check dress with pleats to create pink waist Home Clothing

* Red and Black Wool Skirt Home / Work clothing

* Over skirt with buttons (inspired by pinterest skirt) leaf baby cord Home Clothing

* Hot pink and Aqua skirt with flower/ reverse applique design Home Clothing

Future Project Ideas

* Shorts for pole Home Clothing

* Olive jacket/ coat Home / Work Clothing

* Slips to keep me warm under summer dresses Home / Work Clothing

* Duro Dress / top Home / Work Clothing

* Over-The-Head 1950s reproduction pattern dress Home / Work Clothing

* Bag thing to cover and carry my baby sewing machine Sewing Gadgets

* bias tape skirt Home Clothing

UFO Projects - or, the sewing basket challenge

This is things that I know I have to do, but just haven't quite gotten to yet

* Hem red and orange long skirt

* Waistband on red satin circle skirt

* Waistband on can can underskirt

* Move debutantes dress zipper to side and lower neckline

* loose lace on stomp wedding dress

* redo waistband on wild west dress

* make red crepe wrap around skirt wearable

* pockets for mums red jacket

* polka dot ruffle skirt

Fabrics in my stash

As I slowly go through my stash, I will keep updating this list. Because honestly, I have no idea what is in my stash at the moment. These are just the things in the boxes I can get to.

* Purple/red/blue knitted fabric

* Fan fabric

* Striped (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Fish (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – scraps

* White/Cream stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 150cm wide

* Hearts in straight line (white base) stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Green leaves fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 115 wide

* Green and white Michael miller dandy damask – 100% cotton – 3 yards, 150cm wide

* Red with blue and white whales fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Navy blue acrylic felt – .6m, 80cm wide

* Rose pink stretch drill - Cotton lycra - 4.9m, 150cm wide

* Rose bed sheets

* Black satin bed sheets

* green micheal miller fabric

* Japanese leaf fabric

* More black sating than I know what to do with

* black shot with navy blue pleated/crinkled satin. - 100% manmade, 1m, 150cm wide

* lilac tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide

* hot pink tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide

* pink tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide

* purple tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide

* hot pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide

* light pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide

* grey knit with red design, 10m, 150cm wide

* red organza, 3m, 150cm wide (has flaws)

* white fabric with flowers, tshirt weight stretch, 1m, 150cm wide

* small pieces: purple striped t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)

* small pieces: hearts on blue t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)

* white with yellow polka dots t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm

* small pieces: black t shirt weight knit

* baby blue t shirt weight knit, 1 m, 150cm wide

* green paisley satin, 2m, 150cm wide

* yellow with butterflies, quilting weight cotton, 1m, 150cm wide

* small pieces: red with pink stars polar fleece

* small pieces: purple with sparkle quilting weight cotton

* with with stripes (d of e skirt and pants) t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm wide

* purple slinky lycra, 2m, 150cm wide

* baby yellow with small white spots t shirt wight knit, small piece

* small piece: plain lavender cotton

* small piece: green with flowers quilting weight cotton

* burnt orange flowers corduroy

* burnt orange cheese cloth

8 in 28 ideas

* Red Crepe Ruffle Skirt

* Green and black damask skirt (COMPLETED)

* Pink and black piped dress

* Tara Dress (pink fabric)

* Tara top (quilting fabric)

* Duro Dress

* 1950s Wrap Dress

* Button Skirt and Cream underskirts (COMPLETED)

* Black and red wool Skirt

* Blue Cushion Covers (COMPLETED)

* Baby cord leaf skirt

Stash Busting Ideas

* Top with purple/red/blue knitted fabric Home / Work Clothing

* 1950s inspired swim suit from purple lycra Home Clothing

Self-Stitched-September Item 2

So, a while back, I pinned this skirt from anthropologie on pinterest:

Source: anthropologie.com via fyrefairee on Pinterest

Cool, isn't it?


Then, I remembered I had downloaded this pattern from Neu4bauer, available here:

Source: neu4bauer.blogspot.com via fyrefairee on Pinterest

The vintage pattern was available for free download, and reminded me of the anthropologie skirt. Although, I was never into the yellow colour of the anthropologie skirt (yellow is a colour that isn't in my wardrobe anywhere. It just isn't my colour).


I made just the skirt from the pattern. I forgot that vintage patterns tend not to include seam allowances, so just sewed it up with my normal 1.5cm seam allowances. The original hip measurement was for 106cm. My hips are 100cm, so with the seam allowances, it ended up being a perfect fit. And not the perfect-around-the-hips-but-way-to-big-around-the-waist fit I'm used to with modern patterns, but a perfect fits-my-waist-and-hips-fit. I was shocked and pleased.


See, the entire reason I have no high waisted anything in my wardrobe, is because if it fits my waist, it doesn't fit my hips and  vice versa. So for this pattern to fit first go was so surprising, and nice, and well, I think I'm going-to-make-again worthy. It wasn't the easiest pattern to make, but totally worth it.


And here is the point this skirt became a UFO. I had made the skirt up to the point where I needed to make button holes and hem the skirt. I knew I wanted to make bound button holes, but somehow I didn't do it. I know I started this skirt in the first week of July, because I started it the weekend before my last week at my public service job. And, I finished up to the no-button-holes-or-hem point. Then I hung it on a hanger, put it on the hook behind my bedroom door... and sorta forgot about it. Well, more, I put clothing on top of it.  Then, I was tidying my room this week, and actually put the thinks hung on the back of my door into the wardrobe. And the skirt resurfaced. So, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to finish the skirt.


For my fashion course, I am making a jacket with bound pockets and button holes. So, I made samples to go in my folio for class, and then used the technique I'd just learnt to make 5 buttonholes in my skirt. I sewed the buttons on (with a fancy thread shank and everything!), and hemmed the skirt. And getting the pleat hem length even was hard.

And then, I had a finished, wearable skirt!

I wore this skirt on Wednesday, and was amazed just how comfortable it was. I kinda felt like I had stepped off the set of Mad-Men (not having ever watched that show, it was more the secretary-vibe I got from the outfit). I have even worn it again - to a job interview on Friday. Although the weather is warming up, so soon the skirt will just be too warm to wear, I have a feeling it's going to become a winter staple for me.


I am a using this skirt as the Sew Weekly UFO item, as well as being the second item I have sewn for Self-Stitched-September '11.

The Facts

Fabric: Thrifted Wool from Stash
Pattern: Downloaded vintage pattern from Neu4bauer, available here, free.
Year: 1950s, I think
Notions: Thrifted buttons, $2.00; thread
Time to complete: I honestly have no idea. Finishing the hem and button holes probably took about 4 hours.
First worn: September 2011
Wear again? I already have - to a job interview on Friday.

Total Cost: $2