Make it Work!

My inner dialogue while I'm sewing resounds in the voice of Tim Gunn. And, "Make it Work" was the phrase in loop for this (last) month. I know today is March, but this skirt was totally done in February. I just decided to spare you artificially lit, late night photos in turn for day-late posting.  I'm allowing myself  flexibility this month, because I'm amazed I sewed anything at all. My attempts were...a spiraling cyclone of disaster. 

Originally, I planned to sew Vogue 5347 view B.  I had the perfect piece of rayon herring bone fabric stashed ready for it! But, when I spread my fabric out ready to place my pattern pieces, I noticed a repeating water/oil stain down the CENTER! Obviously, some idiot at the fabric store had used the fabric bolt as a cup holder, and the perpetrator penetrated multiple layers. The lighting in the store was crappy enough to disguise the  imperfection; I wouldn't have wasted money on something I knew to be damaged goods. But, in natural light, there was no hiding it. 

Feeling I had nothing to lose, I stain treated and washed the fabric. No luck. 

Then, the bargaining started. I decided I could live without sleeves and a couple inches of skirt length, which made it possible to creatively position all my pieces. I felt like I had regained some ground, in the battle, but I was pretty exhausted and frustrated from the effort, so I shoved the dress to the side until Sunday (Feb 26) evening. I grabbed some stashed lining fabric to finish cutting. I underestimated the yardage readily available. Not enough fabric.  

I briefly considered sewing the dress without a lining, but abandoned that idea immediately. I didn't have enough of an allowance for French seams, and I just can't bring myself to sew an unlined garment. (I know it's bound to happen... especially with spring/summer dresses beckoning... for now, I maintain my firm stance). I also considered making a trip to the store after work Monday to buy more lining. But, that majorly gouged the little time I had given myself to sew. 

Instead, I turned to my UFO pile and pulled out a project I knew I would have time to fix/finish.

This skirt and the linen blend fabric I chose to make it with are like oil and vinegar. The fabric loves to crease, but hates pleating. Really, almost nothing about this skirt really lit my fire. Still, I knew I wanted to stick with it and turn something out. I'd procrastinated myself into a corner needed to feel like I'd followed through. I decided to top stitch my pleats down from the waist band- 8 inches.  Then, I hand stitched a SUPER WIDE hem to help give some weight towards gravity. Ultimately, I think I'll be much happier ripping and turning this into A-line skirt rather than leaving it the way it is.

This month, I'm on somebody else's deadline, so I'm not messing around... hopefully... probably not.