Tag Archives: skirt

A skirt for the playground

September 21, 2013 Peneloping

top: Gap (thrifted) // skirt: self-made // shoes: Chelsea Crewe // photos by Laney

Guys, meet my favorite skirt. This lovely number is probably one of my most-worn garments (and it’s a solid, go figure) and was oh-so-easy to draft. I saw this Modcloth skirt on Katie of Skunkboy and about died. Pseudo-pencil skirt that goes with everything? Knit fabric? Not zipper? Super comfy? Yes please!

I just drafted a front piece and a back piece with the A-line shape and then the pockets and a waistband. Oh and the over-sized belt loops. I somehow found the perfect gold buttons too! I sewed the pockets onto the front, sewed the front to the back, attached the waistband, realized it would’ve been easier to do the waistband before attaching the front/back, and then did the belt loops last.

So far I’ve worn this skirt with all kinds of outfits. Stripey long-sleeve tees with tights and boots, blouses, tops with cute detailing, tank top with a cardigan, solid top with a drapey sweater, etc.

Laney took these photos for me the same day as these Belladone ones and we had so much fun with this giant wheel. I walk by it pretty often and always wanted to somehow incorporate it into outfit photos so I was super excited that we actually made it work! Semi-nerve-wracking climbing up in heels though..

Shimmer

March 13, 2013 peneloping

top: h&m // skirt: self-made // tights: F21 // shoes: Chelsea Crew // sweater: Modcloth

This might seem surprising but a year ago I owned about three dresses (like appropriate-for-public dresses, not counting the ones only appropriate in Middle Earth) and one skirt. And exactly one of those three dresses was not club-wear.

Then I bought a few patterns and started learning how to make dresses and pretty soon I had a whole closet-ful. But I still only had one skirt!

Anyway, this skirt was my first experiment with pattern-less skirt-making. To be fair, I made a few in high school but they were such ruffled low-rised monstrosities that it’s best to forget their existence and just back away quietly.

I think I might do a tutorial on this one, if anyone’s interested. It’s really simple and only involves the tiniest bit of math. Or, if you’re math-phobic like me, some minor trial and error. I used some kind of gold linen that has bits of sparkly gold woven in. It’s not the easiest thing to iron but it definitely creates a cool shimmery effect.

In other news, I just saw this video over at Maidae and I’m just itching to dye my hair red again.

In other other news, I finally figured out how to use my vintage non-auto-focusing lens for taking outfit pictures! It was actually stupidly easy and now I feel dumb for not having tried it before.

17 Comments outfit gold - outfit - sewing - shimmer - skirt

Flounce bounce

January 22, 2013 Peneloping

I love flouncy skirts. The more spinnable, the better.

belt: yoinked from a Modcloth dress // tights: Hue (I think) // top: blogged here // headband: Modcloth

A few weeks ago my sister and I drove down to my favorite fabric store and sort of went crazy. We ended up leaving with several fabrics with which to make random skirts, because skirts and tights are the best thing ever. And because Seester wanted to learn how to make skirts.

Now, I should explain that I am a terrible teacher. I get frustrated easily and I have trouble remembering what it was like when I was still mastering a skill. So instead of picking an easy skirt pattern (of which there are literally millions), I decided we were going to make a skirt out of Simplicity 1873. Because it’s flouncy and delightful.

Anyway, the moral of the story is I’m pretty sure she still hasn’t finished hers. And I’m a terrible sister.

4 Comments sewing bow belt - burda 7739 - skirt

A Kelly craze

January 20, 2013 Peneloping

I’ve been seeing all kinds of Kelly skirts all over Pinterest for ages. On Friday I went to the fabric store for some thread and somehow left with the Kelly skirt pattern. Whoops.

Then I dug through my fabric at home and found some fabric that seemed perfect for it and cranked out this one!

I used a some sort of twill that I had lying around, and stole the buttons off of a dress my sister gave me that I’ve been altering. Since there’s only one button on the waistband, I added a snap button right below the top button to keep that area flush. I also shortened it by about 6″ because I look terrible in longer skirts.

The waistband is a tiny bit too big but otherwise I love how it turned out!

Then the other day I was at the other fabric store getting some buttons and somehow ended up leaving with a gorgeous salmon-y coral pink linen blend, with which I made a second Kelly skirt. Whoops.

Apparently this one needs a snap button too.

This fabric is lighter and more flowy than the first one, and I shortened the waistband a little so it fits perfectly. The only problem is that now I’m totally ready for spring.

Anddd I may have bought some mustard colored sateen for a third one. Any ideas on what color/kind of buttons to use for that one?

14 Comments sewing kelly - megan nielsen - sewing - skirt