The Pencil Skirt

To me a black pencil skirt is the staple of a working wardrobe. So why for the last year has my wardrobe not had one? Good question. Something to do with my last one shrinking. Yes, strange, after wearing it happily for a couple of years it just shrank. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

When I opened up Gerties New Book For Better Sewing, and saw the pencil skirt I knew it was for me. I cut it out a while ago, but seem to have been so busy this summer that I have hardly had time to sew. Plus I am also training for a Marathon in the Fall and the extra time training in the evenings takes away from my sewing time, (yes I know, excuses, excuses!!).

The skirt was easy to construct, I especially like the fact that you sew the back seam and then baste fit the sides so that you can get the exact fitting that you want.

I used a vintage closure from my stash for the back of the waistband instead of doing a button hole.

I lined the skirt with black Bemberg and I also added boning to the waistband as I had boning left over from the Polka Dot party dress I made at the end of May.

I am planning many ways to wear my new pencil skirt to the office:

1. Plain white blouse Mathilde Blouse

2. Portrait blouse 

3. Black and White Pendrell

4. Other versions of the Pendrell

5. Red Turtle neck

6. Cream silk blouse

7. White Long Sleeve tee and a scarf

8. Red leather jacket

9. Grey sweater

10. Black and white striped shirt

Etc, Etc, Etc........

The Portrait Blouse

I have finished something. Yeah! First time in a while!

This is my version of the Portrait Blouse from Gertie's New Book For Better Sewing.

The fabric is a soft lawn like fabric that drapes nicely. I picked it up for about $3/m on sale at the Peterborough Fabricland a while ago when we were visiting friends at their cottage. I originally had a blouse with ruffles in mind, but then remembered I am not a ruffles person, so when I saw the Portrait Blouse, I knew it would be a better style for me.

With side bust darts and two tucks at the front and two at the back, this sleeveless blouse is very quick and easy to stitch up. For the sleeves and bottom edge I did a very narrow hem and the neck has a facing.

I tried it both untucked and tucked in and both ways look good I think. I will be able to wear it with trousers or a skirt for work, under a little jacket

Now off to finish the Pencil Skirt, also from Gerties Book! Just the hand stitched hem to go.

Toronto Sewcialists Meet -Up

On Saturday (August 10) a group of Toronto Sewcialists met up in Toronto. The lovely Funnygrrl from Falling Through Your Clothes was in Toronto for a visit, so had put out the word about a meet-up.

Funnrygrrl, Seraphinalina, Gillian

I unfortunately could not make the earlier part of the day (the shopping on Queens Street part) as my running group was doing the weekly long run on Saturday rather than Sunday this week. As we were doing 29km I didn't want to do this by myself the next day! 

Gillian, Meraj, Sandra

Probably for the best as I haven't been sewing much for the last couple of months and have enough fabric to be getting on with! So I just admired other people's purchases!

Sandra, Jagoda

Chloe, Debbie

Anyway I got into the city just before noon, just in time to join everyone for lunch at La Neuf Cafe. Well I don't know if the other patrons knew what was happening, There were 11 of us around the table and when the fabric and the patterns came out for the swap, the noise level just rose!!

Gjeometry has something of interest there!

But great fun was had by all and by the time the food arrived I think we all had some new goodies. I have a piece of mauve fabric that is going to make a lovely dress form a pattern I also scored here, and a piece of grey fabric that is going to make a lovely pencil skirt.

Seraphinalina, Gillian

If I missed you in a pic or your blog, let me know!

Until next time... which I believe might be Ottawa Street in Hamilton in the Fall.