Saturday, August 1, 2009

Down and dirty denim!

Meh! About 2 months agoI started this Hot Patterns Metropolitan Superfly skirt in a lovely soft denim I had in my collection. I was really looking forward to wearing it and thought it would be a great piece to add to my wardrobe for wearing with boots for the winter and into the spring. I stopped working on it when I just had the hem to do! Why?

Well, for a start I was not too happy with the shape. The pattern picture looks much slimmer than the skirt is and I didn't think to check that beyond making sure it fitted round the waist and hips - and I had topstitched all the seams before I realised.

Also, I had a horrible 'bulge' at the bottom of my zip - seriously, I looked like a guy in drag! It was that bad! Now, after agonising over the instructions for the facing and fly (I knew I could do it my way but was determined to follow the pattern! Perverse, I know) I was so p****d off I almost threw it in the bin.

I had made the pockets and decided I wouldn't put them on because they weren't flattering on my substantial behind, and all in all the skirt was very plain and boring! What a waste of time!

However...today I decided to see if I could save it and at least wear it for a few months (I am on a weight loss programme so hope it will be too big in a few months anyway :-)). I spent an age unpicking my carefully sewn in zip - complete with bar tacks! - and taking off the facing. I found this silver funky zipper in my drawer and decided to make it a feature in the front, in an effort to make it a bit less 'plain'. After inspecting a friends denim skirt (that had cost her a fortune) I took note that it had just been zig-zagged at the hem and waist (no facing), so I whizzed round the waist on my overlocker that was threaded with cream thread from L's dress, and then decided to do the same with the hem.
When I had finished and was pressing it I decided to stitch one of the pockets on after all - at the hem!


At the end of the day I am glad I saved this skirt, I hate to have to give up on a project. I am hesitant to make another one of these - shame.

3 comments:

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Don't you sometimes we feel that we sewists are too picky about construction and finishing especially when you sew what non-sewists will pay for and wear?! So I love that you used your serger to finish the waistline and hem to get a wearable skirt now. I also love the zipper! I've been seeing alot of these in RTW and I'm trying to plan one of these in one of my fall garments!

kiltsnquilts said...

Carolyn, I totally agree! I don't know how often I have been trying on RTW and not bought because I knew I could make the same garment much better (and usually cheaper) and in my own choice of fabric - no compromise! The finishes on some RTW amaze me. I love the look of an exposed zipper but this is the first time I have used it - don't think it will be the last :-)

Sheila said...

That looks great! I'd love to see a picture of it on you to get a better idea.

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