Sunday, 15 March 2015

Selfish Sewing Week: If Skippy were a tennis playing bumble bee.....

This week just ending has been Selfish Sewing Week, and as it happened I have been sewing for myself. For the last few nights I've been working on a pattern test for Thread Theory, but prior to that I did a late one-nighter to whip up a Skippy dress.


Let's not talk about the fabric just yet, hey. (but my eyes! you say. I know, sorry)  Let's begin with the pattern.

I chose a straight size L from my measurements and then became very nervous about how the skirt was going to fit.

 
The skirt pattern piece is a straight trapezoid which is always going to be prone to giving little kinks at the hem side seams. In fact, because I was using a striped fabric I found that the pattern's hem line actually dipped lower at the side seams, whereas most skirts will curve up slightly at that point. Because of the stripe issue I ignored the pattern and cut it straight.
 
What worried me was how that skirt would look over my curvy bits, both the back and front curves. Turns out not as bad as I'd thought. At least, the stripes still look horizontal so it can't be as stretched out of shape as it appeared when I finished sewing it after midnight.
 
 
With the ribbing dropped waistband sitting here at the top of my butt I think it looks OK. It means that the top section is a little long and overlaps the waist a bit, but I guess that gives it a two-piece look and is not such a bad thing. If I pull the skirt down such that the top is full length it looks truly awful.
 
What I am super happy about is the fit of the top half. The sleeves sit nicely, the shoulders are just right, the waist comes in just enough, pretty sweet for straight off the pattern.
 
I made it last weekend and while I had serious doubts when I finished it, I have worn it a few times already this week. It's supremely comfortable. It was today's throw on outfit for visiting the aquarium with the kids.
 
 
OK, so what about the fabric. It's some serious stripes. In reality the yellow is a bit more mustard than the gold that's showing up on the screen photos. And it's a navy, not black. So; mustard and navy is a bit less hornet like than yellow and black, isn't it?
 
It's a fairly heavyweight knit such as is used for rugby tops. Turned out to be the perfect weight for the dress. Enough structure not to cling, but still feels like wearing an oversized t-shirt. The neck-band, cuff binding and waist are navy 2x2 ribbing.
 
It's kind of sporty, I think. I wished I owned a tennis racquet for a blog photo-shoot prop. No such luck, but the kids took over the camera remote and things got silly anyway...
 
 

... And then we found the perfect accessory after all!
 
 
Bzzzzzzzzz!!
 






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18 comments:

  1. Anonymous16 March 2015 at 01:25

    That's cute and fun. I'm needing to be a bit more adventurous in my fabric choices to get a result like yours.

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:14

      Well thank you! This might give quite the wrong impression of my clothing, as I'm usually much more beige than this!

      Delete
  2. Inspinration16 March 2015 at 02:31

    The shape is great and the fabric a lot of fun! I am a fan of fun :)

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:15

      Thanks Miranda. I don't usually plan to stand out this much. I'm all for wallflower fun most of the time.

      Delete
  3. Cindy16 March 2015 at 11:34

    :) Looks nice! I like the shape/fit on you.

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:16

      Thanks Cindy. Unusually, I like the skirt shape more now that I see the photos, most of the time I like something UNTIL I see a photo of me in it!

      Delete
  4. rachel16 March 2015 at 14:05

    You look great, Shelley! I hate the way my camera gets colors all wrong! So frustrating! Compared to the bee headband I could tell the colors were more subdued. And it looks fantastic on you.

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:19

      You noticed that subtle difference? Good for you. Mostly I've found that shooting in RAW format means I don't have to do post image colour adjusting, so perhaps I just need to believe the lens and accept the yellowness! :)

      Delete
  5. kristin16 March 2015 at 16:55

    Tehehehe you're the cutest little bumblebee! The dress does fit you very nicely and you've gotta love those "throw it on and go" dresses, too. Best.

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:21

      And if only you could see me now, I'm doing a bee dance that translates as "thanks lady, you're the best!'

      Delete
  6. Sharon17 March 2015 at 15:27

    Fantastic throw on dress and you have worked out the proportions well.

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:22

      Thanks you Sharon. I think one of these in a solid navy ponte is required pronto!

      Delete
  7. marisa17 March 2015 at 20:23

    Looks great - and if it's comfy, that makes it the perfect dress. Nicely accessorised, too!

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    1. Lightning McStitch17 March 2015 at 23:24

      I always forget how much the right accessory "lifts" an outfit! I am mostly guilty of under accessorizing. Perhaps not this time! - still the kids are very happy as they've scored the bee antennae for the costume cupboard

      Delete
  8. Elizabeth23 March 2015 at 14:35

    That is exactly the kind of dress I'd wear all the time! I think it looks great!

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    1. Lightning McStitch24 March 2015 at 20:47

      Thanks Elizabeth. I don't usually want too many of one pattern in my wardrobe, but I'd break that rule for more comfy dresses like this one!

      Delete
  9. make it perfect24 March 2015 at 17:20

    I think it looks wonderful! And is beautifully flattering too. I prefer to wear my Skippy dresses like that too, with the waistband up a bit so that the top isn't pulled so tight, much more comfortable. Glad you enjoyed the pattern :)

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    1. Lightning McStitch24 March 2015 at 20:50

      Thank you! My daughter loves hers too, I'll have to get the awkward matching mum/daughter pic one day! I absolutely love your brown short sleeved version and could see myself wearing that one non stop. thanks for the pattern, I love it!

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