I’ve been in the mood for full skirts recently, so I took a trip to Fabricland to scout out some patterns that they had there. I didn’t even look at anything else, I just went straight for the patterns. It is so crazy in there! I picked out a few Simplicity patterns to make for the summer. This skirt and a couple Simplicity patterns (this one & this one) by Cynthia Rowley.

As soon as this grey polka dot fabric came in for the Habitat line, I made sure I got some. A few of the prints sold out within a couple days and this was one of them. I have grown to really appreciate a good polka dot thanks to Celine.

This pattern is one of their Learn to Sew patterns and I found it very easy to work with. I love this style of pocket and I definitely want to include this in future projects. There were belt loops and a tie with this skirt, but I omitted them from my version. I made a size 8 and I find it a bit loose. It still fits, but sits lower on my hips than I’d like it to. I’m going to make the skirt again but will definitely do a size 6 next time.

This skirt is so comfy to wear. One of the reasons I love dresses so much is that the dress is a complete outfit. With a skirt, you need a top to go with it. Colette just posted a free tank top pattern that I’m going to make this weekend.

I’ve been going through my closet with a critical eye, looking for items of clothing I haven’t worn for ages, but don’t want to get rid of. I’ve decided that by shopping my closet and making a few nip/tucks, I’ll add some much needed new pieces to my current wardrobe rotation.

Easiest project first. Skirts. I have so many skirts. When I first learned to sew, I went crazy sewing up skirts since it was the only thing I knew how to make. They all seem to be around the same length – knee length. After all these years, that seems too long for right now. I picked three skirts I made ages ago that I hardly wear, but love. The red is a heavy cotton canvas with leather buttons at the top. The turquoise is a soft corduroy. The grey is actually a lovely iridescent fabric that is silvery grey with a shot of yellow depending on how the light hits it. After trying them all on, the right length seemed to be about 17″. I measured, chopped off the bottoms, pressed up about an inch and hand sewed an invisible hem on each. Three newly refreshed skirts for me to wear in the blink of a crafty eye!

(the smudgy spots on the mirror near the bottom of my leg, must be from Maisy checking herself in the mirror when I wasn’t looking)

Barcelona Skirt – Apron Overlay, originally uploaded by the workroom.

Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt – Apron Overlay

Outer Fabric – City Limits Black & White Tenements
Lining Fabric – Anna Griffin Bird Print
Ties & Waistband - My Folklore Floral

Anyone who knows my sewing history, knows that I started with the skirt. Learning to make a skirt was what got me hooked on sewing. I took one skirt pattern and used it as the base for drafting all kinds of different skirts. It was the only thing I knew how to make at the time and now my closet is full of them. Before there were 13 dresses, there were about 30 skirts.

I didn’t really feel compelled to add another skirt to my collection. What interested me most about the Barcelona Skirt pattern was the Apron Overlay. I love to wear a dress with jeans and this just seems like a great way to wear a ‘skirt’ with jeans.

Amy likes to use lots of fabrics in her patterns. I really find this challenging, mixing lots of different prints that I’m going to wear at the same time.  When I made the Lotus dress, I couldn’t even choose two coordinating fabrics. I decided to try it Amy’s way this time and do all three fabrics. My first selections were blues and greens, but I couldn’t get past two coordinating fabrics. I switched over to black and white and quickly settled on these three fabric choices.

While the Barcelona skirt pattern is super simple, the Apron Overlay requires a bit more attention to detail. As always, I’m impressed with Amy’s clever design and learned some great construction techniques with this reversible pattern. It’s the little touches, like the little pleat in the ties and the split front with contrast banding that make me love this sweet apron.

I wore it the other day with jeans because I had just finished it and couldn’t wait. With the crazy hot weather we’re having right now, I don’t know what I was thinking. Clearly I was in a ‘fashion trance’, where all logic goes out the window. I know I’m not the only one, ‘fess up to one of yours.