The Tale of Two Turtlenecks

Hello, strangers! Part of the reason I've been absent is I've been living sans internets. But the Comcast guy came yesterday, and we're back in business!

(Green lights of glory)

So now I can not only read my blogroll and email but respond and comment as well. No more trolling darkened streets after work just to get my internet fix.

On to the sewing! It feels like forever that I've shared something with you. I had these two wool turtlenecks. The first is something I grabbed out of the boy's donation stash, a charcoal gray sweater.


The second I thrifted because I was trying to figure out how to utilize a gorgeous yoke knitted and given to me by my crafty gal-pal, Jessica, after I'd been oogling this pretty sweater of hers.


And voila! An outfit from two turtlenecks.


What I did: I cut up the gray sweater using the Sew U: Homestretch skirt pattern and whipped it up in a matter of minutes. I used (and tightened) the lower rib for the waistband, which folds over and can control the length. Though I've been too lazy to do it, I would add some elastic to keep it snug since it can shimmy down with wear.

But honest-to-goodness, I love this skirt. It's so simple and it feels like I'm wearing sweatpants while avoiding looking like I haven't left the house all day. I can throw this on over leggings, tights, or knee- or thigh-highs and cuddle up at home or run out for errands.

For the top, I just laid the yoke on top and stitched it in place using a narrow zig-zag, then cut the excess (north of the yoke) and serged the edges. I cut off the ribbed sleeve openings and reattached them on shortened sleeves, and I also took in the sweater a few inches on the sides.

Look at how special Jessica's yoke makes an otherwise plain top:

The first time I wore it, a friend immediately complimented it. Though it seems perfect paired with skirts, I love that I it can also dress up jeans. I've worn this at least weekly since I whipped it up. To use Sarah's mantra in her Thrifty 365 pledge, this is definitely Useful, Meaningful and Joyful. It fills a hole in my closet, it was partially constructed by a friend, and it makes me happy when I wear it.

I've really only been able to steal moments here and there to sew, but here's a few small things I've been up to:


Lemon pillows! Also Useful, Meaningful and Joyful. I needed new pillows and the fabric comes from my friend Shelley, who's now in Melbourne.


Guess what that is? Self-drafted pants pattern! So. Excited. Though I had problems with my self-drafted skirt pattern, I really wanted to own one good pants pattern that fit my body perfectly. This is especially true after my saggy butt drama and the fact that I keep thrifting pants and want to alter the leg and have no consistent way to do it.

Though I've yet to make a muslin (and I'm sure I'll have fitting issues with the waist, hips, crotch), I learned a ton by drafting these. It really made me think of my measurements in two dimensions and why pants patterns have the shape they do. Ideally, I'll have a single pattern to refer to for slim-fitting capris, ankle and floor length bottoms.


Finally, I'm utterly inspired by Susannah's Fashion on the Ration challenge!

Happy sewing all!