Saturday, March 24, 2012

Miss Ava, Apple of My Eye - Simplicity 2343


Happy National Puppy Day, readers! Oh, you were not aware of this lovely holiday? Honestly, I wasn't either, until this morning. Nonetheless, for your viewing pleasure, Remy, my photo-bombing puppy:

 Remy, the Bichon Who Loves to Sneak Into Photos!

Okay, enough puppies (I know, can you ever have enough?), onto the skirt. During the prolonged torture of my eyelet dress, I broke one of my sewing rules and worked on another project. After all those pleats and darts, a simple pencil skirt seemed just the thing. Simplicity 2343 is one of my favorite skirt patterns, a narrow-waisted pencil skirt complete with faced pockets and a back vent. I've made it once before, in an aquamarine brocade, but never blogged a review of it. It's a skirt I wear all the time on my rotations, as it dresses up well, so another one was obviously needed in my wardrobe.


For the fabric, I knew just what to reach for. Earlier this month, I helped my little sister make her first skirt with some polished cotton swiped from my mother's vintage fabric stash. It's a cheery apple print on a black background, with a perfect mix of bright red & mint green. One of my favorite color pairings! Even better, there was just over a yard-and-a-half left. That's pencil skirt kismet, friends.


Construction was a piece of cake. Don't you love that? It certainly helped me get a little sewing mojo back. This pattern is out of print, but if you can track it down, it's a wonderful piece. There are four small pleats along the waistband of the skirt, then two darts in the back for shaping. Amazing. I'd almost forgotten how easy skirts are to make. What lifts this to go-to status, however, are the pockets. Instead of in-seam side pockets, there are two front faced pockets. They don't add any bulk to the skirt, but still provide a convenient place to put my cell phone.

 Pockets! My fidgety hands rejoice!

I did make one change to the pattern, for the sake of wearability. My brocade pencil skirt bunches and wrinkles throughout the day, which is a bit annoying. To alleviate that, I added a full lining to this version, in a bright red cotton lawn. Thanks to the lovely Alana, from Lazy Stitching, I knew just how to do it. I added two inches of width to the skirt pieces, then gathered them into the waistband, which made the finish both lovely and comfortable. Brilliant!

Color pop!
The skirt is finished with a 7-inch invisible zipper in the back, then narrowly hemmed to hit right at mid-knee. In all, it took me about two hours, from cut-out to hemming. Pencil skirts are such quick, easy projects. I love it! Why aren't there more of these in my wardrobe? Last week, when I wore it with a white ruffled blouse and my beloved green cardigan, the compliments rolled in. One of the best parts of being a home sewist has to be when people ask where you bought something. "I made it myself!" is one of the greatest sentences in the English language, don't you think?

The oh-so-exciting details...
Things I Loved: 
  • The fabric! I was thrilled that there was enough of this left over from my sister's skirt. I'm such a sucker for a retro fruit print! Plus, any fabric that combines red and green without channeling Kris Kringle is always a win. 
  • The shape! Pencil skirts really are so flattering. It sits below my natural waist, but still manages to emphasize that hourglass shape. 
  • The lining! Pops of color are always a good addition. Even if no one else knows it's there, it makes me happy.
Things I Changed:
Things I Would Change, If I Made It Again:
  • Widen the waistband. I do love how it fits now, but think it would be a nice change to have another version with a wider, higher waistband. 
Tricky Steps & Suggestions:
  • There is an invisible zipper, which can be tricky, if you're not used to them. Honestly, adding a full lining makes it easier to install - you don't have to worry so much about how the inside looks, when you can cover it with the lining. I love a clean finish!
Notions & Fabric: 
  • 1.5 yards Vintage Polished Cotton - Free!
  • 7-inch black invisible zipper
Construction Time:
  • Two blissful, stress-free hours.

Has anyone else lost their sewing mojo lately? This skirt went a long way towards getting mine back, but I'm still not all the way there yet. How do you handle loss of creative motivation? With writing, I talk it out with my best friend, but that doesn't quite work with sewing.

32 comments

  1. Oh Mary, you just make the most delightful garments. I think fruit prints are quite tricky to pull off as they can look like straight from the quilting section. But the fabric looks like a flower print from far and then close up you can see the apples- so much fun. The shape is very flattering and you look very pretty.
    At the moment I have almost no time for sewing due to a clinical elective for uni. My next project is already in planning and I'm excited about it but I don't have the energy to start it after work. I'm hoping things will change once I'm through with it (next week). Fingers crossed.

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    1. Katarina, thank you so much! Fruit prints really are tricky. I have one other fruit print in my stash, a very retro lemon & flower print, but it's impossible to find ones that look suitable for apparel. No one wants to look like she's wearing Aunt Agatha's quilt to dinner!

      My fingers are crossed that your sewing energy picks up, as well! Sewing & school are sometimes impossible to mix. It's always irritating to have a project you're so excited about, but don't have the time to start. Good luck!

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  2. Yep. I've been in a bit of a sewing lull lately. I have three dresses to hem, and I just can't do it. Also, if I know I have to make a bust adjustment (which is just about every pattern except Colette), I sigh and lose interest. Some times I just want to cut something out and sew it. I have no desire to fiddle with the fit of something every time I want to make a dress.

    This problem could be alleviated if I used the same pattern more than once but there are so many that I want to try, I often find myself overwhelmed.

    Sigh.

    I do love your skirt. I've never made a pencil skirt. I have the pattern, perhaps I should give it a try.

    Oh, and where did you get your cardigan? I think I may have the exact same one.

    Keep up the good work!

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    1. Oh, Neemie, you're preaching to the choir. Sometimes just the thought of slashing a pattern up for an FBA makes me turn from my sewing table in horror. That's probably why I do return to patterns over and over. It's just easier to have a dress I know fits well, than embark on another fitting adventure.

      And the cardigan is actually from Target! It's not the best, as it does tend to lose its shape as the day goes on, but the color was too good to pass up.

      Also, this pattern is wonderful! I'm so picky about skirt patterns, but this one works really well for me. I recommend it, if you're ever looking for a quick project.

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  3. Beautiful skirt, very flattering! Love it. Now to try and get my hands on that pattern!

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    1. Thanks, Helen! Good luck finding this pattern. It is such a great one! I'm wishing I'd picked up another copy, before they took it out of print.

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  4. That is a stunning silhouette on you, hun!

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    1. Thanks, Alana! And thanks again for the great lining tip - it worked like a charm.

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  5. This skirt is so great! I am a big time lover of cardigans; the whole outfit is perfect!

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    1. Thanks, Chantal! I'm with you - cardigans are the best outfit additions. My closet is brimming with them!

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  6. Ooh! I have this pattern. I made a denim skirt out of it (the one without the pockets) in denim, and it's my go-to skirt for, well, anything! I should make another one...maybe with pockets. :D

    I love yours. The skirt fabric is perfect, and the whole thing looks great on you!

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    1. Heather, you're another 2343 devotee! Hooray! This really is such a great pattern, isn't it? I have such trouble finding skirt patterns I love, but this one works every time. I've been dying to make the one w/o pockets. The seaming is so cute! It will have to move up my list. :D

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  7. Firstly, I love this! The floral print is cute as a button and the silhouette is divine.
    Secondly, I hear you on the loss of motivation and from a number of blogs I read there seems to be a few of us around. I think after the creative rush of the start of the year it's natural to have a little slump. Some quick, easy to finish projects that provide adorable and practical pieces are just the ticket to get creativity sparked again. Well, that and a lovely martini. But I speak for myself on that one...

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    1. Thanks, Amanda! That theory really makes so much sense - I had so much creative fire starting out the year, but with things piling up as it goes on it's been fading. Also, a martini sounds like just the right cure! ;)

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  8. Love this skirt, the fit looks perfect!!! What is the deal with our loss of sew-jo?! I have several dresses just waiting to be sewn and I just can't make myself! I have found though, with the weather warming up I have more motivation to make something.

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    1. Thanks, Katie! Also, holy cow, sew-jo is the best word ever. That is totally making its way into my vocabulary! My sewing table sounds eerily similar to yours. I have two more version of 2215 all cut out, but nary an inclination to sew them up. Hopefully the warmer weather starts working its magic soon!

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  9. Whoa hottie! Seriously, I love this on you. The whole ensemble is incredible chic!

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    1. Thanks, Steph! I'm already plotting to wear this to RWA in July. You know how we love our power pencil skirts.

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  10. Oh, darling, I just love it! The print is divine - I'm so glad there was enough for this skirt! Love the bit of red lining - I always feel a bit scandalous when my linings are bright and fun - it's like having a delicious fabric secret! Or something like that :) I'm on the trek back to my happy sewing mojo land. I've yet to start on the Pantone challenge, even though I know exactly what I am going to do. I just cannot bring myself to sit down in front of the machine and work for hours on end. I may try a pencil skirt, though, to get back on track - your skirt turned out perfectly!

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  11. "I made it myself" and their response, "Really, it looks so good". I wonder at the shock in their voices. At my local shop says, it is hand crafted, not home made. Lovely stuff you do.

    Liza the Blogless

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  12. This skirt suits you beautifully! I've added the pattern to my list. I love pencil skirts (they are the most flattering) and I love pockets!

    I'm a little stuck just now myself. I'm embarking on a big complicated project - not entirely because I want to either - and finding it a little hard to get started. I've done something similar. I cut out a very simple and oft sewn baby dress to help calm me down while I work out the details of the compicated one.

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  13. So so lovely! And the print is even lovelier! Skirts with pockets are always a love of mine. I too have those quick and easy projects in between hard ones to get my sewing mojo back. We all do it. No need to feel guilty!

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  14. I love everything you make. Do you use a server? Just want
    to know.

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  15. I love this! It is adorable and looks FABULOUS on you!

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  16. If I loose motivation, I watch movies, read, go for a jog, and flip through magazines. Sometimes you need to totally unplug from projects in order to get y our mojo back!! This skirt is totally wonderful! I love your ability to match colors, like your cardigan, with the print! Sweet!

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  17. Lovely as always- I miss your blog entries- hoping you are well,
    xB

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  18. SO CUTE outfit:) Your blog is so wonderful and I will happily follow.

    If you want some décor inspiration from Sweden, check out my blog:)
    Have an awesome week.

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
    (Sweden)

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  19. This is darling. I miss pencil skirts! They are just so not-practical for a sahm. :) So they hang in the closet waiting for "date night." :) We all have our sewing lulls. I dealt with this in April and right in the middle of mine, Kristy at Hopeful Threads posted a challenge to make 100 dresses for Dress A Girl Around the World. I was able to make three and it snapped me right out of my funk! Maybe do a simple project for a local charity would help? Or just eat chocolate until you want to sew again, which is what I usually do. :)

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  20. I LOVE it! The pop of red is fab! And I absolutely agree that "I made it myself!" is one of the greatest sentences in the English language. True. That. =)

    ~Daniél

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  21. Hope you get your mojo back soon, I'm missing your blog posts! x

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  22. It's gorgeous. LOVE the fabric! And the lining...I hate lining things but I love them when they're finished, ha! My mojo has been missing for months. :(

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  23. I like wide high waistbands too, and I change many of the waistbands I make into wider, higher ones all the time. I love the fabric you chose for the skirt.

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