The Marcy Tilton Skirt, V8499

I have nearly completed the skirt you see above, Vogue 8499 from Marcy Tilton. I LOVE IT. This design has worked for me with minimal alterations and that makes me happy.  I only shortened the skirt three inches, two above the knee and one below. All that is left is to finish the waistband and pics will come after. I used a black linen which is another whole story. 

A few years ago I bought a three piece casual linen suit, tank top, casual jacket and lined pants. The pants have always been too big, you know, that voluminous amount in the back of the legs. I have since worn out and chucked the tank and jacket and the pants, in all their linen glory, sat like  new in my mending pile. A couple of weeks ago I got the brilliant idea to take them completely apart and recut them with my Sure Fit sloper. One night of TV and a razor blade later, they were done! I kept the lining totally in tact but cut out from the pants at the waistband. I am going to make a "pants slip" with them to wear with lots of pants. Thanks, Claire Shaeffer for that idea. She told us in class she never lines pants when she makes them for herself, choosing instead to make "pants slips" to wear underneath or not. Given the high temps of Palm Springs, where she lives, I totally get that. So now I am one black pants slip ahead of the game! 

Once the linen pants were all cut apart and pressed I realized I needed a bit more length in the rise than the pants had. I could add a yoke.  I had a perfect match of black linen. I grabbed that out of the stash and measured it up.  Did I want to cut into this good sized piece for the small yoke I was going to add or just give up my pants project completely? Neither! I chose instead to continue with the pants project but would stitch up something out of the black linen yardage first. Then with what was leftover I could alter the pants. Now what to make?!?

I went digging and decided on a skirt, this Marcy Tilton skirt. I love wearing skirts in the summer and really have none at this point.  I generally don't have luck with Marcy's designs but this one has worked like a charm. I have a complaint about her patterns I think you will all agree with. The garments and the photography are always too dark to appreciate the wonderful details she employs. Here is the line drawing of the skirt. 

In the front are two big kangaroo pockets that cover the side panels and have a soft horizontal pleat at the bottom. They have zips at the top, really cool but  I didn't do them. I wasn't sure how the skirt would hang on my wide hips and nixed the pockets. But now that I am near done and have tried it on, I will use the pocket detail  on the next skirt. This skirt has a folded over waistband and a zipper. But the waistband is also full of elastic. The gathers arent too heavy as the ease is only slightly larger than my measurements. There will be another one of thes skirts made soon. On that one I will go full bore, zips, pockets and all. Why? This went soooo fast, will be a versatile addition to my closet and I think pretty cute, too!

I love sewing linen. Sewing washed linen is even more of a joy, a joy to sew and a joy to wear. This piece has been washed three times and has that soft bubbly texture that says bring on summer.  Once you get over the idea of making a tailored garment with perfectly starched and pressed linen, you can have a really fun project. It's a type of project requiring minimal sewing finesse but if done a certain way can take a lot of washing and wearing abuse. When I sew washed linen I like to stitch then serge the seams. They are then pressed to the sides and topstitched. Sturdy, sturdy , sturdy! You can wash the heck out of them, Throw them in a hot dryer. If you grab them out of the dryer before done they require NO ironing! Now that's my idea of a nice summery linen garment! This was a great palate cleanser after the loom bag and weaving focus. I will also be able to wear it at Disney when we go in a few weeks.

We are going to Disney World in Orlando with our children and grandchildren and I am so excited.  So it has been a bit crazy around here. We are trying to prep the house for moving as much as we can in this brutal cold weather. Throw in a trip to Disney and all that planning and packing. Then continue with the excitement of my new craft, weaving and sewing as always. Add in the winter that refuses to go and the associated Cabin Fever and you can see why I feel like I am sitting and spinning on a giant snowball. A quick project that fits and is in my favorite fabric is just what the Dr. ordered. Also,  my husband is dealing with some serious health issues. We are waiting for biopsies and will know more shortly. Ah, the solace I find in my studio gets me through all this!  Lately I have read in blogs  and on PR about people that think sewing is just awful, "a lie", "too  hard" etcetera. If you are one of those I hope you can find a different hobby that will give you peace of mind. We all need hobbies that do that and it doesn't matter what they are. I would never spend time on a hobby that didn't make me happy. I just don't get that.  I do know when I am in my studio, life is good. I am relaxed and all is right with the world.........Bunny