MMM'12: the final few & my new favourite skirt

And here we are at the end of May, and the end of my first me-made challenge.

Here's what I wore this week:

On 28 May, I wore:
Skirt: me-made Simplicity 2215, in Liberty (My Little Star)
Top: Cos
Shoes: Clarks

Oh how I love this skirt. It's lined with bemberg rayon, which was hellish to sew, but it's a joy to wear. It's a perfect summer skirt: light, swishy and comfy. Mr P&N said it's like something a middle-aged librarian would wear. But what does he know.

On 28 May, I wore:
Skirt: me-made Amy Butler Barcelona skirt (with Anna Maria Horner fabric)
Top & Belt: Anthropologie
Shoes: Clarks

These are my two favourite colours (salmon/coral pink and any kind of blue!). This is the first skirt I made (pre-blog) and there are some fitting issues around the waist: I might take a couple of inches off the length of the waist - it's just far too high for my liking, and without the belt it gapes.

On 30 May, I wore:
Top: me-made Wiksten Tank, in Liberty lawn (Melly)
Trousers: Gap
Shoes: Clarks Originals

Amusingly, a bird pooped on my shirt on my morning walk to work. And such is the print that I didn't even notice until lunchtime. (and hopefully, nor did anyone else)

And finally (*cue fanfare*):

Today I wore a whole me-made outfit:
Shirt: me-made Wiksten Tova with elephants
Skirt: me-made denim Butterick 2779 (vintage) - new!

Meet my brand new (and now most favourite) skirt. Also, my first attempt at a vintage pattern. This is a 1960s Butterick 2779 "cone-shaped" skirt. I bought it because it was part of the fully proportioned range, and also, it only cost 99p.

It turns out that cone-shaped is A-line, and is very flattering for my shape (I think). The pattern is rated quick n' easy, and it certainly is. I didn't even make a muslin (shocking, I know). In fact, I didn't really pay any attention to the instructions - if you've made a skirt before, there's nothing new or special here.

The tall size was actually too long, so I went for the medium, which is a perfect length (just below the knee). The pattern is for a 40" hip, which is what I measure, but I had to make some adjustments: I took 1" off at the side seams, and also lengthened the front darts by 1". The fit is almost perfect, but I think something also needs to be done to the back, but I don't know what - any ideas?

Excuse the creases!

There are some minor wrinkles: do I need a sway-back adjustment, or do I just need to lengthen the darts?

I used an invisible zip, and finished it off with a bit of ribbon to the hem:

This skirt doesn't require much fabric at all. I used 1m of denim from Fabrics Galore. I think it has 2% stretch, because it's very comfortable. I think if I made this with a fabric that didn't give as much, I would need to add a teeny bit more ease around the hips. It's my first experience of working with denim, and it was all pretty straightforward. I have very blue legs though, from the colour bleed. And while working on the skirt, I had very blue hands too.

slightly wrinkled from being worn out all day

This skirt is going to be a workhorse. I want to wear it always. I'm already thinking of making another in a lovely light blue polka dot cotton/linen I bought in Seville on my birthday.

The sums:
Pattern: 99p
Thread: £1.55
Zip: £0 (from stash)
Fabric: £8
Total: £10.54

And so there it is. Me-made May is over. I'll be back in a couple of days with my thoughts on the experience. But until then, have a lovely weekend!

speak soon
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