I cut, sewed, and completed yet another Loes Hinse Tango Skirt this afternoon, this time View A, the shorter flared skirt. The finished result is above, and the top shown with it is from Talbot's. I've decided that I need to make at least a little time for actual sewing, as it's a right brained activity. Work tends to be so analytical, or left brained, that I have to have an activity that balances out my mind--a release, if you will. Cooking serves the same purpose but sewing yields much more positive results, know what I mean?
I've made this skirt several times, even more than I've blogged here! This time, I just wanted something new to wear that would match these shoes:
Has that ever happened to you? Making clothes to go with accessories? I've actually worn these with the brown tropical outfit at the suggestion of J, my fashionista 20-something co-worker, but it's nice to have something that's a more traditional match. The colors in the print are somewhat of an unusual combination, aren't they?--navy with accents of light blue, slate, green, tan, and lavender? But that's what keeps things interesting!
The pattern envelope states that 2-3/4 yards is needed for this view, I had more than enough, even though I had only a scant 2-1/2 yards of 45" wide rayon to cut the skirt from. I have almost a yard left! I think Loes is a more than a little generous with her fabric layouts. Needless to say, having more than one copy of the pattern piece was very handy and saved me some grief.
The fabric is one of those mystery pieces that somehow found its way into my stash without being logged. That seldom happens, but every once in a while it does. I think it came from Hancock's last year, but beyond that I don't know.
If you've been reading my blog, you probably know I'm not a big one for step by step tutorials, usually because I think "this would be helpful to others" right after I finish the step!! Anyway, here's a photo of how I lay out the pattern pieces before sewing all 10 gores together:
I don't fancy cut any of them, or at least not yet! But I do take the time to lay out all the pieces and plan how they're going to go together. This enables me to break up the print so that I don't end up with a giant blob of one motif or color not quite closely matched across the front or back of the skirt, like this example.
This skirt is a prime example of why we sew TNTs. Once you've figured out the basics of a pattern, it's so simple to recreate later.
7 comments:
What a pretty skirt! And I LOVE the shoes - I often make outfits to go with shoes or purses.
What a great looking skirt. I love that Tango skirt pattern - I think I'll have to whip up a few - thanks for the inspiration!
Love the print. Looks great with the shoes!
You are sew smart! Laying those gores out before sewing them is nothing short of genius. Thanks for sharing that tidbit.
I love the blue shoes, too. I've got a *thing* for blue shoes.
Designing is right-brained but sewing is very much a left brained activity :). It's mechanical; construction related, engineering and quantitative systems thinking. Point A to Point B and problem solving on the fly is very much left-brained type creativity. An anecdotal survey shows it's left-brain types who sew, alter or make patterns best :). I'm always amazed by how many engineers, nurses, CPAs and science related women there are who sew. Not to say there's no cross over of course but I'd hesitate to hire a pattern or sample maker who was a social butterfly and had her nails and hair done in a salon every week :).
Love those shoes! I have made outfits to match shoes, but even worse--I have made outfits so that i can buy a particular pair of new shoes I would otherwise have no use for. Shoes are one of my many weaknesses. That skirt is a great match for them.
The skirt is very pretty and I'm sorry you had to go back in and make changes to the seams...been there, done that! :)
But gurl...those shoes..OMG! Ummm I would so steal those right off your feet if I was near you! Loving the shoes!!!!
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