Hello Friends!
It’s almost Christmas! Yay! 🙂
And yes…. I’m still sewing for myself! In between preparing all of the trimmings that make this time of year magical, I’m still doing my selfish sewing. I’m actually going to be sewing up my two quick-sew Christmas gifts later on today, but I’m not making this year a handmade Christmas like some past years have been. I’m a bit of a procrastinator sometimes and I don’t like being rushed to do things, so I figured that I would just stay away from giving myself Christmas sewing deadlines this year. The two projects that I did choose to sew will take me just a few hours, so I’m fine with that. I’d rather be relaxing and enjoying the season than stressing out over getting stuff done.
I didn’t actually make this outfit for Christmas, but to wear out around New Years Eve in San Francisco. The sweater is one that can easily go casual with a different skirt or some jeans, but I can’t imagine myself wearing this shimmering skirt as an everyday skirt, therefore it’s a party skirt. Every girl needs special dress-up clothes in their closet!
[source: BlueGingerDoll Patterns]
[source: Vogue Patterns]
My sweater is a cotton/poly blend sweater knit with a heart design purchased from Fabric Mart. The skirt is a bronzey orange silk dupioni also from Fabric Mart.
If you haven’t worked with silk dupioni before, it’s very malleable, which can work in your favor, or not. This skirt has been pressed, but it will go into whatever shape you want it to go and crease ways that you don’t want it to. If you want your silk dupioni to look perfect all the time — it just won’t happen. You just kind of have to realize that it’s going to go it’s own way, but that you can fold it and lay it to make it how you want. It’s probably best to make something more tailored with it — like a jacket. I’ve made several little bolero style jackets with dupioni and it works wonderfully. As it doesn’t drape and is stiff, it just kind of does it’s own thing when it’s made into a skirt like this.
I took these indoor photos in front of my grandma’s Christmas tree. I put it up and decorated her house last week. This tree is from the 60’s and pretty much all of the tree trimmings date from the 50’s/60’s. This room is called the “Red Room” [due to it’s red carpeting…] and is pretty much only used at Christmas time. I opted not to put a tree up at my own house this year. I’m not in a Scrooge kind of mood or anything — I just didn’t feel like it. Here’s a post of my tree from a couple years back and you can see that I am not a curmudgeon, even though my mom thinks I am. 🙂
I was happy to see that this skirt wasn’t too short on me. When I was making it and trying it on, it felt like it might be, but I guess that was perhaps the fabric misbehaving or something along those lines. I did sew a very narrow hem to avoid losing much length. I generally prefer my skirts/dresses to hit about my knees. That’s the length that I’m most comfortable with. When I wear this one next week, I’ll be sporting some tights or pantyhose. It wasn’t very chilly when I took these photos and I didn’t feel like putting any on and overheating.
You may also notice in the above left corner pic [and the photo following this paragraph] that I put the neckband up upside down. The hearts go the opposite way… I decided that I didn’t care when I noticed it. I do have them going the right direction on the hem band, which I, of course, did not show you…. I usually share photos of my garments on my dress form so you can see them in a different light without being styled and view the innards. I didn’t do it with this one as I’ve had some other clothing on my form and just don’t feel like moving it. The insides of this outfit aren’t really interesting anyway, although the inside view of the skirt doesn’t look much different than the outside. 🙂 Yay for French seams and disappearing thread!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!
Happy Sewing!
- Sweater: BlueGingerDoll Bonnie in black/cream hearts print cotton/poly blend, made by me
- Skirt: Vogue 8886 in bronze silk dupioni, made by me
- Shoes: Calvin Klein
- Jewelry: BaubleBar
I see I never commented on this! Silly holidays made me forget to comment. But I just love this skirt/sweater combination and it looks so amazing on you. The silk dupioni is so so very very gorgeous! 🙂
Ooo. I love that bronzey/orange colour on you! Hooray for swishy skirts that do whatever they want 🙂 That sweater is going to be so versatile. Great fabric!
You look so beautiful. I feel like rushing out to look for some silk to make a swooshy skirt! Merry Christmas xxxxx
Very cute Christmas outfit! I love the orange-gold of the skirt, festive but not too Christmasy! The sweater is very cute too, I think it would look fantastic with jeans! Merry Christmas to you, your family, and the sweet dogs 🙂
I love the way silk shines! It does have a mind of its own, but it can be tamed a bit in the laundry. I use a vinegar/water spray to help discourage wrinkling. And, I steam during pressing. The softer and more malleable the silk becomes, the less likely it is to misbehave. It will always wrinkle a bit during wear, but these things help. You look beautiful, as usual!
Merry Christmas!
Another beautiful outfit! That silk just glows, it is beautiful. I love dupion. I use it as an outer fabric for corsetry as it is strong and the variety of colours are amazing. I love the shot ones. It is great to work with, my favourite fabric. Nice top too and the hearts aren’t upside down they are a “design feature” 🙂
Here’s wishing a fabulous Christmas to you and yours and all the best for 2015 when it comes. Kelly xx
I love this skirt! I’d twirl around and around and around in it like my two year old does.
I bit off more than I could chew for winter holidays. I knit a cowl and mittens for my brother-in-law, I sewed a tea cozy for my stepmother-in-law, a dress for my daughter, two Valencia bags for friends, and I’m about 90% through knitting a vest for my husband. Then I had a brilliant idea last night that of course I could finish sewing a Moneta between knitting and packing before we leave on the 24th. I’ve finished putting the bodice together, but if I manage it, it will be a photo finish. I wish I’d decided to buy more of Christmas this year.
Fabulous as usual! Thanks for posting all the time. It’s inspirational. Merry Christmas!
I love this. I recently bought Simplicity 1282 which seems similar. I feel like for party clothes it would be great in taffeta also, but I bought for a wool plaid with lots of body.
What a fun outfit! I don’t know if you plan to wear it this way in real life or not, but I love the fancy skirt with the cozy sweater. Its perfect for new years, it will be way to cold to wear just a fancy dress. I’ve been thinking about sewing something for new years, since the plan is to go out on the town in Santa Fe, but I’m not sure what yet. Mind you, I still haven’t finished the dress I started for my company’s christmas party that was a week ago or the sweater that I am making for my sister for Christmas. I’m a horrible procrastinator!
I’m glad to see that I’m not the only procrastinator!!! Yes, I’m planning on wearing this outfit just like this — except with tights. Pretty much styled the same although I may wear ballet flats instead. It’s mighty chilly and damp in SF I like to be warm! 🙂
Oh yes, i’m sure it will be so cold in santa fe (and probably snowing) that I’m already regretting committing to having New Years there!
Oh, it will be fun!!! 🙂
Tanya, you look so happy lately. Your eyes just have so much joy in them. I really like the skirt, and the sweater. This outfit is perfect for New Year’s attire.
Thank you, Alicia! 🙂 I usually am pretty happy. When I don’t look happy in my photos it’s usually because my husband is taking them and he rushes me…. Thank God for tripods!
You look fabulous! I love the color combo.
Thank you, Leslie! 🙂