Sunday, September 4, 2011

Making basics

Hello! We were on vacation for 2 weeks in August - pictures coming soon - and I was too busy before we left to do any sewing or posting. Even though we've been home for nearly a week, I am still trying to get caught up and completely unpacked. Vacationing sure is a lot of work.

When my boys were gone to their grandparent's the latter part of July, I had an entire week mostly to myself. I decided to sew some basics. Of course I had a huge laundry list of garments planned, and was only able to get three done. These are the two I actually like.

I normally do not make skirts with yokes. It's not that I don't like them, it's that they never fit my body. They are shaped for a more hour-glass figure, and I am a square. The Selfish Seamstress coined the term Full Waist Adjustment, which I think is funny and needed by me in most cases as well. Too bad I'm horrible at figuring them out in yoked clothing. However, after the success of these shorts and their shaped waistband that fit me perfectly, I think I have found a TNT waistband. 


I ended up using the "slim" cut and my TNT waistband and made a muslin. A few tweaks later and I had myself a great fitting black straight skirt:

This fabric is a black denim from Fabric.com that has a little stretch to it.



I also wanted a white shell top for layering under jackets and sweaters for fall, and picket my TNT shell pattern, Vogue 2925, also made here and here. I do like it, but the fabric I chose had too much texture to really be worn under other items.


This textured polyester knit was purchased from Fabricmartfabrics.com. It is a little big even though I've made this pattern before and didn't do anything differently. The fabric is just more expansive, if that makes any sense to you. This skirt was also made by me and posted about here. I removed the small front pockets so that I could wear it with untucked tops.

And yes, I do have the same pair of shoes in two different colors. I love the yellow ones so much that when the red ones went on sale, I had to have them too.

Even though it's still in the 100's everyday around here, I am so ready for fall clothes. This week while I was suppose to be unpacking, I switched out all the stuff I didn't get around to making this summer (so much!) for the cooler weather items left over from last year. I can't wait to get started!

23 comments:

  1. Love it all, you look great in it as always. You always do such a great job fitting your clothes :)

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  2. Those are both fantastic wardrobe staples! I don't know how you deal with that constant crazy heat, kudos to you!

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  3. Hey Amanda! Hope you had a great vacation. That was a SMART idea to sew some basics---they often get overlooked. Love the skirt and shell and those cute shoes. I still find it so hard to believe that you had a baby not too long ago. You're looking so fit and svelte:)

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  4. I've been dying so sew up that skirt pattern! Yours is sooo cute. Great fit on you.

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  5. So glad you are back! Great black skirt. I really need to make something similar. I also love that textured white fabric of your top.

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  6. Welcome back! Your skirt fits like a glove. Very nice. I know what you mean about finding the perfect waistband. I find that I use a Vogue one over and over again with most of my pants patterns because it fits me so well. I also really like the white top. The texture in the fabric makes it quite eye catching.

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  7. great skirt, a black denim skirt can be worn summer or winter, good idea. I have used that skirt pattern with success as well. Crazy for those red shoes!

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  8. Those are great basics and I especially liking the white top. That material is so cute! I am in need a FWA myself and have a pattern to slash...... ;)

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  9. Both are great pieces and fit you perfectly. I am not at all surprised you have 2 pairs of those shoes - they are gorgeous!

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  10. That is a very neat pencil skirt. It does that thing that I love about skirts, curving in under your bum. Very mad men, and a very elegant combination.

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  11. I think that a black denim skirt is a fantastic wardrobe basic - you can dress it up or down and it goes with absolutely everything. Yours looks fabulous - the cut and fit are perfect - definitely worth the time making and tweaking a muslin because now you have the fit just right you can remake this skirt in so many different fabrics. Your top is lovely - it is interesting how different fabrics can behave so differently but sometimes it's good to have a top that is a little larger and another that is a little smaller. Anyway, your looks great and I really like the texture of the fabric. I don't blame you for buying two pairs of the same shoes in different colours - that's exactly the kind of thing I do - when you find something good, one is never enough!

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  12. Terrific looking skirt. I like it with the white, textured top. It makes a great outfit.

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  13. You look fantastic and the skirt and top fit you perfectly!!

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  14. Amanda, I literally just started cutting this same skirt pattern (as "average") yesterday! It looks so great on you! Thanks for posting about it :)

    http://leahslitandcoffee.blogspot.com

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  15. That is a nice skirt!! And the top is pretty too. I hope you had a nice vacation, and are enjoying being back!

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  16. Aha! It's good to meet another "square"! My waist is almost as big as my hips, it just has an entirely different shape! Have you found that the low waisted jeans of recent seasons fit much better than any jeans have before? I do, especially the ones with narrow legs- normally jeans (and standard trouser patterns) are tight around the waist (or upper hip zone), too long in the crotch (I'm soooo short everywhere) and the thigh part just balloons- it's hard to find me in there! The same fitting problems come with skirts, so I must give your fitted style a try adjusted for my proportions. I'll need the bottom of it narrower and proportional to the hips, as well as a lot shorter than standard. Oh the trials and tribulations of seeming to be the only person on the planet with my size and shape combo!

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  17. Great garments! That skirt pattern is actually a TNT for me. It is my go to pattern for work skirts. I use the curvy pattern pieces though since I have an hour glass figure. Yours looks great - love the denim!
    - Liz

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  18. I also have to do a Full Waist Adjustment! And I just thought it was my middle aged spread! Your basics are fabulous, Amanda...and welcome back!

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  19. Great basics and my favorite is the textured top.

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  20. Great basics! I really like the top--the texture makes it so much more interesting than a white tee.

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  21. Stylish basics. Love the textured top.

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  22. Your outfits are great! I really like the top as well.
    Love the shoes!!

    And... Thank you for your lovely words on my blog Amanda! :)

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  23. Hello Amanda S.!

    Thank you for featuring a Simplicity sewing pattern. We loved the fabric selection and featured this post on Simplicity’s Facebook page. Thanks for sharing your work! Cheers! http://goo.gl/VeAAI

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