Swirly Skirt

Roxanne was very happy with sewing this weekend because she got to finish her new swirly skirt. I had cut it out the week before, and done the construction one evening. It is a very simple pattern to put together on the serger. She had the longer jobs of the hem (there was quite a bit of that) and the not as long waist band.

view A in yellow on the bottom row

This is the pattern we started with. After I showed her the denim version I made over the summer, she wanted to use this pattern, too! I modified hers like I modified mine, since the pattern misses fitting either of us. I lengthened the waist panel to fit. Then, to keep the skirt part smooth at the hip, I cut that part in half, and added a panel that fit to the waist piece at the top, and added some additional flowy-ness to the hem. We both like the longer length, to hide a multitude of sins.

While my fabric was a very soft denim, Roxanne had picked out a very colorful and swirly print.

colorful swirls

I wasn't sure about it, but it was Roxanne's skirt to love and wear, so I cut it out for her. As I sewed it up, it started to really, really grow on me. Those swirls of color looked great in a flowy skirt, and there are so many possibilities when it comes to matching a top. I mean if you have the color, it is probably in there. There are a lot of pinks, which Roxanne likes, but there is also turquoise blue and lime green, along with simple black, white & grey.

On the denim skirt I made, I just rolled down the fabric to create  the casing for the elastic. Since Roxanne is taller than I am, we decided to keep all the length possible, and used some wide bias tape that I had in my stash (no telling for how long) as the casing. I did that for Raine's pajamas this summer, and they have done really well, so it is a technique I will use from time to time from now on.

So, here is the finished product. As you can tell in the photo, Roxanne, is very happy with the final result!

Roxanne and her swirly skirt (and my purple T)

Ok, it isn't actually the final result, I took this when she was trying it on for length, to make sure the hem line was pretty even. Still, she looks happy, doesn't she...

Cross Stitching Again

It has been a while since I've done much cross stitching. The last projects I worked on were left to me by a friend, and I really wanted to finish them for sentimental reasons, but sometimes it just is the wrong thing to pick up where someone else left off. Between those projects, where the "this spot shouldn't be filled yet... what thread IS that?" and getting used to progressive lenses, the experience was rather frustrating, and - of course - I put them down.

This summer, with traveling and all, I thought I should look through my stash of kits, and find something that looked easy and pretty and try once more, starting fresh. So I did. Last week, I finished it. Very pleased with myself.

Happiness... a fitting title

I knew there were several kits in the set, so this evening, I looked through them, and this is what I found.

Beauty, finished by Lou

My friend had finished one, and it looks fabulous, even if it does need a little ironing/stretching.

Lou started Prosperity, and I will finish it!

I love the border on this and I am looking forward to stitching it!

The rest of the set.

Aren't they fabulous? Won't they be a great grouping somewhere? Isn't it nice to rekindle an old love?