Monday, September 6, 2010

Simplicity 2305 - Gray & purple border print Cynthia Rowley skirt


***An updated picture of me wearing this can be found here***

Okay, before I get a bunch of comments about how you can't believe I've finished a garment after just having a baby, know that this was 95% complete before I went to the hospital. All it needed was the waistband to be slip-stitched down and the hook applied. Which took me 5 days to get around to so yes, the baby is taking up most of my time.

This fabric was a recent impulse purchase from FabricMart.com. By impulse I mean that I hadn't had it in my wishlist awaiting a sale. And it was such a last minute decision that, for some reason, I only got one yard. What was I thinking? There's not much you can do with only one yard, even if it is 58" wide fabric. Or not much that's very interesting, at any rate. Enter this pattern that I had originally bought to use for view C in a knit. The bottom border print was used for the body of the skirt and the top of the fabric for the curved casing. And I had millimeters of fabric to spare!

I have several Cynthia Rowley patterns, but this is the first one I've used. It went together very easily and I made only very minimal changes:

1. Lengthened it by 2". Even with winter tights an 18" skirt with curved side vents is too short for me.
2. Did not interface the curved binding. This fabric is a rather thick charmeuse, but I really can't see needing a stiffened hemline with a thinner fabric.
3. Finished the inside seams with bias binding for a neat finish.
4. Lengthened the waistband for fit.
5. Made the waistband the same width as the fabric binding.

The back is the exact same as the front. This skirt is really easy to fit since you've only to adjust it for your hips and waist measurements. Here at the side you can see the cute curved hem and fabric bindings that are topstitched in place.

This inside view shows the bias binding used at the side seams. The waistband was slip-stitched and the slanted exposed fabric of the bottom side seams was whip-stitched down.

I'm off to the Labor Day sale at Hancock's to pick up some 50% off notions and a Vogue pattern. Here's a gratuitous baby picture for you. (Thanks for the outfit, mom!)

40 comments:

  1. A beautiful girl and a beautiful skirt. The fabric is beautiful. You really made the most of your yard!

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  2. Please keep the gratuitous baby pictures coming!

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  3. Squeal!!! I love baby pictures. I love your skirt, too. I wish I lived close enough to a Hancock's to go to their sale today, but it is probably better that I don't :) I've already done plenty of damage at fabric.com today.

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  4. Cutie patootie!! Well, your garment is beautiful, and as usual, finished perfectly!!

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  5. Aw what a little cutie! and your skirt is very lovely as well.

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  6. Lovely skirt! I passed on that pattern because the dress is so shapeless, but didn't even notice that cute skirt! It looks great in a border print.
    Your princess is beautiful!

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  7. The side seam is the clincher! I would've passed it by otherwise, I love your version! Love the baby pic, too. Keep 'em coming!

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  8. Gorgeous!!! Your version is better than the pattern envelope pic! And your little girl is such a cutie pie!!!

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  9. Aww! I just love squishey little babies! My littlest girl is 13 months old, and all grown up already! lol

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  10. I love the side picture! That makes it SO cute! It really is the clincher as Kristine said!

    Your baby is so precious!

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  11. OMG she is sooo adorable... That dress is really pretty - I like the curves on the hem...

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  12. That curved binding is cute...a detail that is not even shown on the pattern cover. Thanks for showing us this.

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  13. I like the skirt, especially the binding, that is unique. Such a sweet baby. Her hair is gorgeous. Please keep the pictures coming. :)

    Barb

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  14. Just so gorgeous - she has so much hair. Oh, and the skirt is pretty cute too. The bands are a nice feature.

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  15. Cute! (The skirt and the wee one.) I've seen a few skirts with that sort of hem in stores for this fall, and I wasn't sure about it, but I love yours - the border print works really well.

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  16. Aww, Rachel is beautiful! Congratulations! You will love having a daughter. (They're much more willing to see a chick flick with you or go shopping than sons are!)

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  17. First can I say that I know she's a little bit but she looks pretty big in the picture. I'm sure you are enjoying your little girl!

    Second - I bought the exact same fabric but in both colorways.

    Third - the skirt is really cute!

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  18. Beautiful skirt and your daughter is precious.

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  19. Great skirt, a little of that fabric goes a long way. It took me a while to get used to the styles but I am loving almost all of the Cynthia Rowley patterns out at the moment. Keep up the baby photos too, so cute!

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  20. Love this skirt, especially the sides. Your baby looks quite tall.

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  21. Wow. I love the skirt detailing. Give your baby a huge from me. So cute.

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  22. Skirt? What skirt? Precious baby girl makes me forget everything else :D I want to smoosh her cute little cheeks! More photos!

    ps...her legs look really long!

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  23. LOVE the skirt - I hadn't noticed that bound hem on the pattern - it makes this skirt look very special. Great use of that beautiful fabric.
    Your daughter is SO adorable!

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  24. Love the fabric you used for your skirt!
    Your daughter is beautiful.

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  25. That's an enchanting skirt. Love it. AND the sweather with the ruffles! Your baby is darling. What a head full of dark hair! Adorable!

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  26. Babies are so sweet when they are sleeping! I still can't believe you managed to get your skirt done. It looks terrific!

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  27. That's an amazing skirt, and I still think it's quite unbelievable that you managed to finish it. Beautiful fabric.

    And the baby, she's gorgeous too. And look at those long legs. Or maybe her legs look long because they're slim. I'll bet the double knees will soon follow. :-)

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  28. She's gorgeous! And look at you -- still finding time to sew. Keep it up. Also, keep those baby pictures coming too.

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  29. I love it all! The outfit, the baby, you go girl!

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  30. Aww, so adorable!!! Rachel, I mean! The skirt is amazing too!! Thanks for showing us the side with the binding. I will be taking a second look at this pattern thanks to you!! Was it hard to get the length right with the binding and all? Keep the baby pictures coming, she is just precious!!

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  31. I missed the post of the birth announcement so I'm thrilled to be able to add my congratulations...she's gorgeous! (Skirt is quite a secondary accomplishment,too.) Lina

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  32. Cute skirt and cute, cute baby girl! I didn't realize that skirt pattern had the curved hem - interesting!

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  33. Baby Rachel is absolutely adorable!! How can you get anything done with that pretty face staring at you!! Love the skirt, very different!

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  34. I love your use of print on this skirt. I wouldn't have had the guts to do this one with a print. This skirt is really fabulous.

    Best of luck with the new little one. Love the name, too! (I'm biased though - mine's Rachel as well, hehe.)

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  35. Oh wow, she's so tall!!! Perfect use of your fabric and that curved back hem is awesome.

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  36. Ok...I feel really off because I don't remember ever reading that you were pregnant (not that I've been as consistent with my blogging as i should be) but I guess that explains why I've been seeing alot of dress form pics instead of your adorable self! LOL! The baby is the sweetest and has so much hair!! Congrats!

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  37. Loved the hem an the baby. She's so cute!

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  38. I had completely bypassed that pattern, but it's now going on the must-buy list. Love it! And please keep the baby pics coming - she is so precious.

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  39. What a beautiful skirt & daughter!!! I too passed on the pattern because of the dress...i will definitely will take another look at it!!! Great job and thanks for the wonderful review!!!

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