Butterick 5760 (again!!)

The first time I made this skirt, I decided it was a TNT. I really love this skirt on me! This may be my 5th?? I don't remember :)

I generally keep my fabric purchases to around $10/yd or less, and I had my eye on this boucle but $25/yd was a bit steep for me. When it went 50% off, I jumped on it!

I bought 1 yard, knowing I'd use it for a skirt. I was going to use it for a Burda that I wanted to make but decided I'd better go TNT with it. I just love the wide waistband (they call it a yoke) on this skirt, the length and you just can't go wrong with a straight skirt.

I made no changes to the flat pattern - as per usual I used a size 16 for the front and 18 for the back, and I shortened the front length 3/4" (between the waist to where the crotch would be). However, on previous versions, I had to take in the side seams quite a bit. Not so with this boucle (and lining).  I used my Wonder clips to baste the side seams and was surprised to find I needed to sew the side seams at 3/8" (vs 5/8' or 3/4" on prior versions). I used an acetate lining fabric in navy. Lastly, I hemmed at 1 1/4" instead of the 2" included in the pattern. I wanted it to hit *right* at my knee.

I really like it with the blue top and nude shoes! I thought the blue would be too match-matchy but I love it. On the right I paired it with the other NY and Co. top that I bought last month - it's a lightweight sweater with a tie neck. It has a little puff sleeve too which I think is cute. Not sure I'd pair those shoes with it but my shoes are half unpacked and they were available :) 

I mean, I just love this skirt pattern!!! I used an invisible zipper and kept the original slit in the pattern. I briefly considered trying to turn it into a vent but I think my brain wasn't operating at peak during that time :-p I'd found a tutorial for lining a skirt with slit and tried to follow along but nope. That didn't go so well either. 

I sewed the facing to the lining and allowed the lining to hang free except for at the slit. I hand sewed the lining to the skirt at the center seam, and then slipstitched the lining to the skirt at the slit. The lining is also slipstitched by hand at the zipper.

So, while there's nothing too exciting about a straight skirt in navy, I think this will be an amazingly versatile work skirt this spring and summer.

(This skirt was finished almost a month ago - NOT during the move! LOL!)

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My move went okay! I was pretty much exhausted for days and days. I couldn't muster up any energy to get the sewing cave together. I focused first on the main rooms: kitchen and bathroom and then the living room. The dining room is currently a repository. LOL!

I am sitting in my living room right now and I just adore it. It's so tiny but so cozy!! I have a couple other things I want to purchase--a coffee table and tv stand--and a 2nd chair to match the first.

I love this corner the most <3

On Friday evening I was home alone and finally mustered up a little energy to try to get the cave set up, and I did a little more work on the prom dress.

Maybe by summer my sewing room will be fully functioning! LOL!

I need more lights, even though the overhead lighting over the machines isn't too bad, it's nonexistent over the cutting area. My fabric is in a room down the hall. I'm still unsure about final placement of everything, but I have to get the darn dress finished!

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Lastly, I am so annoyed at Bloglovin's attempt to make their site another social media-esque site. I just want to read blogs :/ I don't want to be advertised to or see what other's are saving or liking or whatever. UGH.

March Wrap Up

Hellooooooooo. Is this thing on?!

Thanks to all the supporters of my lab-coat-vest! ;-)

It's only been 10 days since I last blogged but I've barely been reading any blogs either which is crazy for me! Now, I could have sworn I had taken photos of my latest B5760 skirt (of which I have made 4 or 5) but I think I just tried it on with a bunch of tops.

**Ooh! That made me think of something...I got lots of comments to try the lab-coat-vest on with other outfits. TRUST me, when a sewing fail hits the blog, I have tried that garment on with any and everything I think might possibly help it and make it work. So the vest got tried on with lights and darks, with skirts and pants and shorts and jeans, with sleeved dresses and sleeveless dresses. It just doesn't work in it's current state. At all.**

Anyway, I finally had a few minutes to check out a couple of blogs today and realized I hadn't posted my March wrap-up. So here goes!

This month I sewed 14 yards:

• McCall's 6884 dress in black and floral print ITY - 3 1/4 yards
• Vogue 8904 dress in gray and white striped jersey - 2 3/4 yards
• Burda 7136 shirt in chambray - 2 yards (still needs buttons)
• Simplicity 2700 pants in brick red wool blend suiting - 2 3/4 yards
• Simplicity 1756 vest in white linen/cotton blend - 2 1/4 yards
• Butterick 5760 skirt in blue denim-look boucle - 1 yard

Favorite: Real close call between the two dresses. The McCall's is an absolute favorite pattern and I love the color blocking. But that Vogue dress is sooooo flattering IMO and I love how soft the jersey is!

Accomplishments: Zippered welt pockets on the vest! They were NOT perfect, but I DID IT! And without help from the pattern! 

FAILS: Obvs we know what this is...the vest.

I had to bow out of the Wardrobe contest and my Fabric Mart post for the month. The move almost did me in! SO much work. Sheesh. 

April's plans are to finish the prom dress and my April FM post. That's it. We'll see if I manage to get my April Burda done. I really want to make this dress and wear it to my daughter's final Jazz concert--they call it Hot Club-- It's really cool and as a bonus, senior parents get some special accommodations. Yay!

The concert isn't formal in any way so I plan to make the dress in the olive crepe I got from FM (LOVE every one of those fabrics I ordered btw!!) and wear a more casual jacket over it.