Skirt sew-along - progress of a sort...

 Hmm, yes, well, not that much progress to report so far on my skirt.  However, I have finally received the pattern, so have tried to make a start.

I have been having a few challenges.  One is that the pattern is printed on the flimsiest of flimsy tissue paper which seems to tear if it is even looked at.  No problem, I thought, I'll just trace off the size I need onto greaseproof paper which will last much longer and be fine for a few skirts.  This created the next challenge.  What size would I need?  Now, the reason I am attempting to make a skirt is because I cannot find a skirt that fits without some alteration around the waist.  Without going into too many details, I have a small waist compared to my hips and am a 'pear' shape.  So, I decided that if I made it to fit my hips, I can increase the darts to fit my waist. (Are you still with me or have I sent you to sleep?!)  However, I am not exactly sure how true to size the pattern actually sews up.  What all this means is that I am going to plump for a larger size to fit my hips and as I am making this in calico first, as a practise run,  I can adjust it for the denim version (if I ever get to that point!) Well, that's the theory.  So, I am going to adjust the greaseproof pattern now and then hopefully I should be at the cutting out stage (Fingers crossed!).  I do seem to be making the seemingly simplest of projects into a major undertaking...
 

Sew-along and Spring flower material

I found Lazy Daisy Jones' lovely blog, where, most fortuitously, a sew-along is taking place to make a simple A line skirt.  Now, I have been saying for ages how I would love to be able to make a skirt which fits me (as I don't have much luck in buying clothes that fit me, then I have to alter them and don't necessarily know what I am doing). I even bought some denim as a positive start to making my own skirt and then I stopped.  I haven't attempted making clothes before (well, I did make some simple elasticated waist skirts many years ago). So, it could be said that the sew-along is perfect timing.

 My progress has been somewhat slow so far though.  I have got the denim and also some calico (as I am going to make it in calico first to try to get the hang of darts and zips).  I do need to wash the material, so that's a job for tomorrow.  I have ordered the pattern (McCalls 3341) and it has been dispatched, but sadly has yet to appear (boo!).  I have also looked at the first sew-along tutorial which has been posted.  I hope to have actually received my pattern by next week.
However, when buying zips at our local market stall, I happened to call in at the material stall and fell head over heels for this material! I don't know what it is called, but I do know that it came from Holland.

 Spring, happiness, flowers, colour - how could I not love it? Unfortunately, I could only afford half a metre at the time, but at least I have got it.  I would love to use it for decoration - perhaps a pocket on a skirt?

In the meantime, I decided to use it to add some oomph to my Spring Bunting which I made last year but had not been really happy with some of the fabric choices. Much better now!

This afternoon, I tried to make similar coloured flowers in polymer clay, to make into a necklace.  I was pleased with how they turned out, even though I didn't have cutters exactly the same shape.
Hopefully next week, I'll be able to say that I have cut the pieces of my skirt out and taken a deep breath before starting to construct!