Oh my goodness, I am so blown away by all the comments from yesterday’s post! Thank you so so so much. I usually try to respond back to all comments the same day, but I got so overwhelmed and quite a bit teary-eyed last night that I had to go straight to bed. I’m now working on responding and I think it’s safe to say that I’m not alone in dealing with the pressures of perfection – Someday, I’ll have to tell you about one of my jobs that involved airbrushing celebrity photos (thighs were halved! Nose hairs removed!). Made me realize even Beyonce has bad skin days.
So, moving onto my Thursday ritual of talking about sewing for myself. I meant to start sewing from my Japanese pattern books, I really did. But I flipped through them and nothing was really jumping out at me. After some hemming and hawing, I decided to make a skirt. The Colette Beignet skirt to be exact. I’ve been thinking…if I weren’t me and happened to be reading my blog regularly, I would think, “Blimey (because BBC is currently an obsession – I mean, Sherlock! But I digress….)! Doesn’t this woman make anything in color? What’s up with all this grey??”.
I love grey. I think I could live in the color from head-to-toe every day, but even I crave some variety sometimes. But not this week.
The Beignet skirt is one of those exceedingly satisfying patterns to sew. Crystal clear instructions, well-drafted pattern pieces, an end result worthy of a high-end boutique. I took my time with this one and delighted in how perfectly the pieces fit together. My lining has never looked so professional (sorry about the wrinkles and unprofessional photo – I had been wearing the skirt for a while when I snapped this photo. I’m sure I was a vision of loveliness holding my camera in my tights). I used Essex yarn-dyed linen blend in “black”, which is probably one of my favorite fabrics to work with. The lining fabric is batiste, I think. It was in my box labeled “linings” so I’m going to go with that assumption.
I omitted the belt loops and belt because I knew that I wouldn’t really use them and it seemed to add bulk to the shape for me. The high waist makes my disproportionately long torso look more normal, which is a bonus, but it also poses some challenges in terms of tops that I can wear with it. Tucking in tops made my…well…generously-endowed bust very prominent and I wasn’t sure that was a look I wanted to sport in public. Also, the skirt turned out to be a little loose around the waist – you can see how I’ve been trying to scooch the top two buttons so things look a bit askew. After testing out about 15 tops, this combination of a fitted tank and black cardi seemed to work best. And I added a stripey scarf:
Eh. Then I tried an orange one:
Better. And hey, how about a brown, black and cream one and try some boots?
Love! But the boots are too tight and I tell you, my calves would have died a violent, asphyxiated death if calves needed to breathe. Walking in these boots, unfortunately, is out of the question. Then I remembered my perennial favorite combo is grey with mustard and wanted to give that a shot (with boots that I had worn out in the rain minutes prior):
Hmmmm. Not my favorite and the photo is blurry, but I adore that cardigan.
A quick word on the buttons: they’re from that fabric stash place I keep mentioning, and they had a fun selection of buttons. Notions are exempt from my fabric fast so I bought a few kinds of buttons and some zippers. Good thing too, because this teal-ish color was my only option for this skirt since I didn’t have 10 of the same kind otherwise.
At any rate, I love my skirt! I just need to adjust the buttons a little more and it’s good to go. Alright, I’m going to look through my Japanese books again and see if anything is more appealing now…then again, there are those stacks of Burda magazines I’ve never tried….
oh, beignet! i made one last year and it was a huge challenge for me since i hadn’t quite ventured into adult sewing… i probably should’ve picked an easier pattern. it took me about 6 weeks to sew! ha. i had to go at it bit by bit. i think the button holes and buttons took me 3 weeks to get through! anyway, i totally agree with you that it’s a great clear pattern. and a very attractive fit. this one looks great on you! i love the buttons you chose. 🙂
Thanks Erin! It’s funny, I actually cut out the pattern several years ago and quickly realized it was way too advanced for me. I discovered that the linen stretched a bit while wearing it all day, so I need to really shift those buttons :-)!
You are amazing me with the stylish clothes you are making for your wardrobe! Kids clothes are one thing – fairly small and quick to sew up – but adult sewing for me intimidates me! Which is why I’m so impressed by your adeptness in creating your own wardrobe. This newest skirt is so lovely, and I actually think the lining side would look pretty cool as a skirt too – love the graphic look of it. And truly, I thought every outfit you posted looked beautiful – probably the orange scarf was my favorite.
Glad you felt the blog love when reading your comments last night . . . you are a greatly admired and loved blogger (sorry – I know you don’t like that word!) and bring a bright spot to many women’s days.
I’m so happy you like the clothes I’ve been making, Lucinda! Slowly, painfully slowly, I think I’m figuring out what kind of clothes I’ll actually wear. I’ve been enjoying the last few items I’ve made a lot and they’re in regular rotation!
That’s a super cute skirt and I actually love the last outfit with mustard and boots. I keep checking out Japanese pattern books for women at the library and I love the designs in them but alas when I’ve tried a couple they never seem to fall well on my shape (apple-ish). I’ve thought about trying the wrap dress in “Simple Modern Sewing” in knit as a dress with long sleeves to see if that fits better around my curves. I tried the top in voile and my daughter said I looked like a nurse (it sort of looks like a scrub top!) Any thoughts on sewing it up with knit?
I have the same concerns about Japanese patterns not working well with my curvier body…I love the idea of the wrap dress in a knit! Very Diane Von Furstenburg! I bet it would be cute in a bold print or even a dark solid. And man, I can’t tell you how many tops I’ve made that looked like scrubs! I empathize…
Sanae, I will tell you something: I love the way you are styling your selfish sewing. I had to look twice to check if it was a different skirt! all the looks are very nice, but my heart and eyes are going for the mustard and boots. I was a fan of skirts before, now I’m all for trousers. But this skirt really is helping to change my mind. Amazing job in the sewing department and the pictures, “wow me” once more again!
Thank you, Maria! That combo seems to be the winner! I’m the opposite when it comes to skirts. It’s really only since I started sewing for myself that I’ve begun to appreciate them. I’ve always been a jeans girl 🙂
I would never argue with you about grey! Or mustard and grey. (or stripes!) So I like the last look with the cardi best. The skirt is wonderful and wonderful on you! Sounds like a good pattern for learning how to do a lining. And thank you for showing the inside. I would so appreciate it if more people did that. It demystifies the construction process for me and shows me how a self-made garment actually looks like in comparison to a store-bought garment. And it helps me to be o.k. with how my things look (I don´t have a serger….)!
I can understand you were overwhelmed by the beautiful responses to your last post! Thank you for taking the time to answer.
Thanks, Ute! Usually the insides of my garments are okay and not much to write home about, but this skirt has amazing details to make the inside beautiful. I don’t think a serger is necessary to create nice finishes, but if you ever decide to get one, it will change your life, Ute!
Super cute! The essex almost looks like a wool from here. I’ve been meaning to try a Colette pattern for SO long… they seem like such well-written patterns. I think this skirt is a great excuse to sew a striped top (a la Flossie Teacakes- (http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-version-of-colette-beignet-skirt.html) or a Sewaholic Pendrell (http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/the-dansak-queen-skirt/). The latter would draw attention away from a larger bust, too.
Colette patterns are really well-done though I do think you have to like the vintage-y vibe. You read my mind about the striped top! Sewing one was actually part of my plan, then I tried on my many (many!) RTW stripey tops with the Beignet, and they just weren’t working. I like the idea of the Pendrell though. I have yet to try a Sewaholic pattern – thanks Robin!
That is a lovely skirt Sanae. I considered buying that pattern, but decided against it because I couldn’t quite imagine it on me. After seeing your photos I may reconsider. The contrasting colour buttons are a nice feature. We are enjoying a glorious spring right now, the skirt will be perfect!
BTW, I love the fact that you respond to readers comments. Thanks so much for doing that. I can’t imagine how much time it takes you. Please know that it is appreciated!
Oh, thank you Rhonda! The Beignet would make a fantastic spring skirt! It’s a good staple wardrobe item too when made in a neutral color palette. I think the shape of it is flattering for a lot of body types and definitely worth a try. 🙂
Oh I just love this fabric for this skirt. And your sewing is perfection! It really does look high-end boutique. I’m with you, gray is awesome. I’d happily wear it or navy every day. And I do 😉 Shame about those boots, I really love them. They look like they have that really nice worn in leather look. Can you share where you bought them?
Yes! Navy and grey are my go-to colors too 🙂 The boots are Cydwoq brand that I purchased from a local store in Seattle called Soul Food and I got them at this crazy clearance sale years and years ago. They’re fabulous but initially I couldn’t zip them up past my ankles and after much stretching, I’m now able to zip them all the way up so just a little bit more stretching to go 🙂
I love that mustard cardigan! Great job on the skirt too…so inspiring!
Thank you Amber! I’m loving the skirt more and more!
Man, every time I make a skirt it’s too big too! I go by my measurements and then the waistband is all loose. What gives? Anyway, this looks great on you, keep up with the gray, we all love gray here in the Pacific NW, right? 😉
That’s right! We can’t have too much grey in the PNW! The sizing of all patterns always trip me up. One of these days I’ll figure out how to properly adjust patterns…:-)
Wow, you’re really making this adult sewing caper look tempting…
And I love that notions are exempt from your fabric fast. I have a vague diet/eating regime that has exemptions for small, tasty things too!
I loved the dress and top you made for yourself! And very wise of you to build in the tasty exceptions…
You look beautiful and I think this skirt pattern was a perfect pick for you. I am starting to feel that maybe I can and should sew for myself instead of just the kids.
It’s wonderful to sew for yourself, Tracy! Trickier than kids-sewing without a doubt, but extremely satisfying when the clothes are wearable!