IKEA sheets part 2...

You may remember this post where I expertly crafted old IKEA sheets into a lovely skirt.

Well, I've done it again.  In a pretty blue this time.

This skirt is a little longer than its predecessor, but I don't mind.  I think this fabric looks better a little longer.  (Or maybe I'm just wearing it lower?)

Anyway, I used the same pattern and I'm very happy with my two "new" skirts. 

Thanks IKEA!

IKEA sheets...

Have some old IKEA sheets?  No you don't.  You have this fashionable skirt!

So I'm sure you figured out that I had some old IKEA sheets which make pretty decent fabric albeit a little thin.  Well, I decided to make a skirt. 

With some minor alterations to Simplicity 2207 (because I have like no skirt patterns here):

I ended up with a pretty decent skirt if I do say so myself.  It's the perfect length for wearing just about anywhere.  I'm really happy with it.

Edit: Extra happy because this style of skirt is really trendy in Japan right now and it's unlikely I could find one to fit me.

Butterick 5679...

Hello!  I had no obligations today (for once) so I decided to make an easy top from some knit my BFF gave me before she left Japan.

For this I used Butterick 5679:

I made B.

Here's the fabric:

Cute, sparkly, but also see-through!  It didn't look like that when it was all folded.

Here's the finished product:

As you can see from the photo, I'm quite happy with how it turned out.  For some reason the cowl neck ended up being smaller than the actual neck and even with stretching I couldn't get it to fit.  I ended up just taking in the back seem an inch or so.  After that it fit just fine.

That's all for today!  I feel so accomplished that I can sit and watch TV for the rest of the day.  ;)

Simplicity 2054...

Well, Halloween is over and I can get back to sewing for fun and fashion.  First on my list is to use up some of the fabric my BFF left me when she left Japan.  Two kinds of lovely knits (of course my favorite kind of fabric).

Today, I tried to take a nap but couldn't fall asleep, so the obvious course of action would be to get out of bed and make a dress.  Duh.

I decided to make Simplicity 2054:

I made dress A but upon learning that the neckline wasn't high enough, I decided to attach a cowl neck (different from the one in the pattern) directly to the neckline.  I'm happy with how it turned out.

Here is a close up of the fabric:

It's hard to tell in the first pic but it's a black and glittery gold.  Lovely!

That's all for now!

Happy Halloween!

Well it's the most wonderful time of the year!  No more secrets kids.  This year's costume (unfortunately I only had time for one) is...

If you guessed...

Belle from Beauty and the Beast you are correct.  If you said Alice (in Wonderland), Maria (von Trapp), or Mary Poppins please watch your films more carefully next time.  Just had to get that beef off my shoulder.

Anyway, for this costume I used Simplicity 2539:

I made two slight adjustments.  I made the arm facing bigger and I made a lining for the neck facing.  It sat much smoother than the regular facing.

For the top I used Butterick 5711:

I made version C or the light purple one.  I made it without buttons and secured the neck with a snap.  I did this for two reasons.  One is to hide my tattoo and the other is because no buttons are visible on Belle's shirt.  Now before you get all up in my face, I know her shirt is a V neck but this is the pattern that I had, and yeah I had to hide my tattoo.  Also, you can't really see the bow in the above picture but I had it.

Next year's costume is already swirling around in my head.  I hope you had/have a great Halloween!  Until next year...

Halloween Hint...

Here is the first half of my costume in the cutting stage:

Today, I cut the blue pattern out, but couldn't do more because I am a bit achy.   I'll try to get sewing on it this weekend, depending on how much my homework tries to kill me.

I know that's not much to go on but that's all you get!

Another try...

The second is always better than the first with sewing isn't it?  You can see the first attempts here and here.

Here's another Simplicity 1427:

I am super happy with the way this one turned out.  It even inspired me to fix the underskirt on the white one.  Even after shortening it before it was still too long and hung out rather ugly like from the tulle.  Now everything is all fixed.  Black is the last version of this skirt I'll make.  Stay tuned!

Now ask me if I feel like a ballerina.