Thrifty Angel

New skirt and bag (with other things rummaged out of existing wardrobe)
with the £10 worth of red wool I impulse bought in Nottingham

I don't know what it is - maybe a combination of shorter evenings and the start of a cold, but I've recently been lacking motivation to do much in the evenings, beyond flopping on the sofa.

A few nights ago, I was reading something where the writer talked about having a thrifty angel on their shoulder - who'd say in their ear as they saw something they fancied buying, "you could make that for less!".

Hmm, I thought - me, too! Part prompted by this, and also flicking through the latest Boden catalogue that had dropped through the door that day, I remembered the skirt I'd intended to make myself out of the gorgeous red wool I'd bought in Nottingham, and decided to get started on it.

I'd bought the fabric just because I loved it - the colour, quality and thickness of the wool was just lovely. And, at £20 a metre, I only bought half, thinking I'd just make a small bag or something. That is, until I showed it to my best friend that night, who was adamant I should make myself a skirt from it.

Anyhow, it might seem a strange thing to do, but, as I was already feeling a bit low on energy (first cold of the year and all that) I told myself I'd just see how far I could get in an hour, rather than trying to finish it in one go as I'd normally do.

Work in progress after an hour... and off to bed

You might recognise the finished skirt - as I've used the same pattern again. My thinking being I have loved wearing the linen version I made for the summer, and so stick to what you know you like. And I love it. And besides, with only half a metre to work with, the skirt was always going to be a mini.

Anyhow, I'm glad Dana inspired me to get up off the sofa the other night and make myself something - as for just a couple of evenings of effort and £10 worth of material, I now have a new skirt ready for the cold weather. Oh, and a small bag out of the scraps, too. Just. In fact, a new outfit, as, being classic red, it was easy to find stuff to go with it.

Hip, hip, hurray for thrifty angels!

Last night's double rainbow over Bedford.
(The one on the right looks like it is being beamed out of the Cardington hanger
- famous for being where Batman was filmed, amongst other things)

My Summer Skirt

Just in time for the summer holidays, here is my new skirt.

Summer skirt for ME!

I've had a skirt and top combo planned for a while - having bought the pattern and fabric for both at the same time.  I've been happily wearing the top for a couple of months or so now - but, then got a bit distracted by other sewing projects, and have taken until now to make the skirt.

Here's the pattern I used - I've made a skirt, a top and a tunic from
it now, and am really pleased with how they turned out. I might
try making a warmer, woollen winter version of this in a few months.

The fabric is a light weight linen that I bought at John Lewis - along with the Amy Butler Paisley print for the top that matches it. And, a nice bonus - I didn't need anywhere near the amount of fabric the pattern said I would - so next time round I'll know to buy less.

So here are a couple more gratuitous shots of my new skirt...

 The four mismatching buttons (front and back) are completely intentional
and in no way just as happy accident of what I rummaged through and
found in my button stash. Ahem.

Now I can wear the top with something other than jeans.

I think the skirt - and maybe the top/tunic - are definitely something that someone with a bit of basic sewing experience could have a go at making, and will be making this set of patterns available as an option for people on the Selfish Sewing course I'm planning for this autumn.

Something more elegant to finish with than the sight of me posing awkwardly at the park.
Here's to a long, picnic at the park filled six week summer holiday from school.