Instant Gratification, or Japonaiseries - 3

Hi everyone!
I've been busy putting together a long post (and review) about Simplicity 3673, but I'll delay it for another day or two as I want to take more pictures with a crinoline under the skirt.
Yesterday morning, I decided to make a skirt; I traced it, cut it out and sewed it in the course of a (long) morning; wore it at a reception in the evening and Seb took pictures as we came home yesterday night. Instant gratification through and through! Since Seb too pictures so quickly (that's truly devotion- it was 1.30 am!), I thought this deserved an instant post, too.

I was up very early yesterday morning because I had to wake up Seb in Amsterdam so he wouldn't miss his train (he doesn't have an alarm clock yet). Rather than go back to bed, I decided to make the best of the morning until Seb's arrival at 2 pm, and to sew a skirt with what was left of this fabric:

It had to be a slim skirt because I didn't have much fabric left; but I wanted something fancier than a simple pencil skirt. I hardly have any skirt pattern in my stash (3, I think!); I wanted something in the style of the Miss Moneypenny skirt, but didn't have enough fabric left for that one, so I browsed my old Burda issues. My choice settled on the "exclusive design" from the October 2004 issue:

Before I go on, I want to thank all those of you who advised me so well when I mentioned what a hard time I had with this fabric. I bought Microtex needles and it made a world of difference - the fabric sewed up without a single skipped stitch. I would never had been able to finish that project so quickly without you. Thank you!!

I adapted the pattern and construction for a knit fabric: used the smallest size, skipped the zipper altogether, took out 8 centimetres from each size at the waist and then graded the seamline to reach the original seam at the hips, for more ease. I didn't want to feel cramped.

Seb and I were to attend a formal reception in the evening (which was fantastic ). I wondered if the skirt worn as an ensemble with the kimono top could work as a classy outfit. It was OK, but I felt something was lacking - a belt to define the waist! I never wear belts; I find them difficult to manage when you're short, and uncomfortable to wear with jeans or pants. I didn't have a single one at home! I looked into the (many, many, cheap) shops in my neighbourhood, but nothing worked nor fit. The sizing system must have been changing over here because the smaller sizes which used to fit me are now too big - same thing with jeans. This uniformisation in sizes and shapes must be a problem for lots of women. I wish they would keep accommodating to a wider range of sizes - down and up... Yet another reason to sew, I guess!
I came home and thought about a remnant of decoration satin my mother had given me a year ago. I hoped there would be enough to make a sash that could tie in the back; slightly reminiscent of an obi sash, but shorter - I just wanted a subtle exotic hint. There was just enough.

I made the sash at 7 and the reception was at 8! Oops. All went well though. And we had a wonderful time with our friends!

This replaces my original plan for a skirt in my Autumn/Winter Wardrobe.
Friends, you know what? I think there's still just enough of that fabulous fabric for a small tank top!! 3 metres can go a long way.

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Now for a fun fact: I loved that skirt when I first saw it in the Burda magazine 3 years ago, but Seb hated it, so I left it aside. Yesterday, when he was home and as I was trying the skirt on, he said, "wow - I love that skirt!!" Laughing, I showed him the original model and reminded him how he used to hate it. He told me what he didn't like was the ribbon at the bottom, and the rigidity of the fabric - as if the model had to be stuck in that skirt forever. You know, a bit like a chastity belt. ;)

ETA: pattern review here.

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Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday, everyone. We just went for a walk and I plan on making some new things for the shop this afternoon.