Sew Darn Tired

I made a little cowl top a little while ago and wore it today with my purple gingham wrap skirt. I know it's a simple Butterick 4132 pattern just with little cowl top with or without sleeves. It'a ages old but really quick and making it a size 8 in the shoulders and down to a 12 from the bust down.  It is the best fabric... a remnant from a designer sale (not the usual one I go to) a couple of years ago where I and my friend didn't buy anything off any rolls, but filled a shopping bag with these remnants. The rose fabric is a very strong firm crepe knit fabric that is a fibre mix. It is very good quality and there was just a scrap big enough for my friend to make her granddaughter a pair of leggings.  These two fabrics above are from the same grab bag. Top one with the purple colour way is a Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 1366 pattern (the one with the cami and that amazing skirt - everyone made it). It was just enough to make it as a test. It's a beautiful silk crepe chiffo...

Well I have finally got a chance to take a photo of the gingham skirt  that I first talked of making 10 December  2017. I did make it but since, life has been a whirlwind! We had Christmas and all that it entails, my son's Dad went to the UK for 7 weeks where he had to help his elderly parents and just got back on Tuesday. This has curtailed any of everything other than the rat wheel of work, wash, iron, cook, make lunch, some exercise and then wake up and do it all again. I'm tired. Anyway, this isn't a pity party blog, onto the sewing. This is the pattern and the fabric again. Cotton 1.5cm check gingham bought at the second hand shop a few years ago for a few bucks. It's a polished cotton and it has a lovely hand... like a rayon but without that slipperiness or that swishyness but does have good drape.  This is my inspiration skirt. Pretty simple and it cost originally about US$500 and I think when I saw it it was US$300 reduced. What a bargain! ...

I don't often get obsessed by clothes but I saw this skirt  and I really love the simplicity. Then I remembered some purple gingham I bought at the op shop a few years ago. It's a beautiful polished cotton with such a nice hand and drape almost like a rayon. I have cut view D which is on the bias and have cut long (will be pieced together) ties. I was playing pattern tetras with this because the fabric was a 1.5 mt square but the pattern suggests 2.1 metres so I have cut the front overlay and the back piece whole, and the under wrap part will be pieced. The other problem with this fabric was it was stretched on one side... so I lay it flat on the floor for a week and kept pulling and stretching it back. I wasn't perfect but not as bad as it was. Did you notice how much for that simple skirt... US$301 and sold out! I'll need a top and I have a cut of beautiful cream crepe (remnant from the designer fabric sale $1) that I will make something up - not sure what tho...