Hope you’re all safe and well, friends!
Do you remember when my blog was just a plus size sewing blog? You don’t? To be fair, neither do I, haha! When working full time, I always find it really hard to get a lot of sewing projects in. So I decided when we went into lockdown that there was going to be one silver lining. I am going to work on my fabric stash and get back to my love of sewing! And so today I’m showing off my newest me-made skirt!
If you’ve been paying attention to my Instagram in the last few weeks, you’ll have seen this fabric pop up a few times in my stories and feed. It’s adorable, right? I have a bit of a thing for Tanuki, so whenever I see fabric in Japan with the adorable weirdos on, I just HAVE to have it. This fabric in particular is from Okadaya in Shinjuku, which happens to sell 2 metre offcuts for under £9. I was so excited to see this cotton available, since it’s absolutely perfect for me!
Tanuki Time!
The original plan for this fabric was actually to make a Christine Haynes Emery Dress. Since I’d had the pattern for roughly six years, it was probably time, right? Well, it turned out to not want to be the time for it. I measured twice, cut once, made the bodice up beautifully… And it just didn’t fit. Not even just slightly didn’t fit, I mean too short, too small, too much gape. Disastrous. But that’s what I get for not making a muslin, I guess.
So after a cry and back to the drawing board, I realised I only really had enough for a full skirt left. I could’ve slimmed down the skirt and maybe just about got a bodice out of it, but honestly? Couldn’t be bothered with that idea after such a fail. So I went with old faithful — a dirndl skirt!
The actual making of this skirt is so simple it hurts — a waistband and a rectangle of fabric pleated to it. That’s literally it! But at least this time I wanted to make some patch pockets that where a little more interesting than I usually go for. So using offcuts, I pieced together these origami-inspired pockets. Which happen to just be two triangles with some red piping. I never said I was a technically incredible sewist, guys! But it goes to prove that good fabric only needs a simple design to pop, right?
You can just about see that I only had a white invisible zipper available, so to distract away from that zip pull I decided to make a really pretty closure on the waistband! Amazing what some vintage buttons and red bias tape can do to jazz up a back closure!
In conclusion, it’s another awesome skirt that I will wear until it falls apart. I also made a matching hair bow to cover up my roots, too — how about that for matching?
What do you guys think? And are you happy to see more plus size sewing blog posts from me?
Let me know in the comments, and remember to keep safe and keep at home this bank holiday!
Top; Old Primark
Brooch; Luxulite
Bangles; Bow and Crossbones
Tights; Snag Tights
Shoes; Melissa
[…] ‘me’ style, colour blocking black and red. It’s a winning combo for me, as my last post will attest! And since I recently fixed this old skirt (the zip has been broken for years, my alteration pile […]