Generally, I’m not afraid of fluffy, ruffley concoctions. Generally, I am making them for Anya, though.
I attempted to make myself a ruffley skirt, and it ended up being a bit too much. I started out with a rough idea of what I wanted to make, and had the fabrics all laid out. I wasn’t sure how much the fabric would really ruffle on a big person, though. I ended up doing ruffled tiers and having three tiers. As you can see from the picture below, it only has two tiers. While you may come to the conclusion that it is over the top as it is right now, just imagine what it looked like with another tier. Crazzzzzy.
BUT…Check out the back! Awesome, right?? This is my first attempt at putting in grommets. I can’t say that the underside looks particularly fabulous, but you can’t see that part, so I don’t think we need to say it matters, right? Right! I actually don’t need to lace this up at all upon wearing, as the fabric is a rather stretchy twill with lycra in it. The waist is just a simple elastic. If it hadn’t been so stretchy I would have made a proper waistband, but it didn’t seem worth it.
I made a matching shirt (of course!). It started out as a pretty simple peasant top, but I did do some pintucking on the sleeves. Then I tried it on and knew it needed a bit more work. It is a woven fabric and it just was a bit too boxy, and I knew it would ride up and not lay very well. Hindsight being 20/20, of course.
Version 1
I added a sash that is sewed on in the center front. First I gathered about 6 inches of fabric, and then sewed the sash over the gathers. I made it two widths of the fabric, which has some stretch in it.
I love how the colors go together…
Next we have another of my cross front tops, but with more RUFFLES. Yes, I am the Crazzzzy Ruffler. Doesn’t it look cute all dressed up, though? I was going out for dinner with the girlfriends. We go out for dinner once every few months, and it is so nice to have a chance to talk and catch up with them all. I made an explanation/tutorial of sorts for how to put this bad boy together. I use the serger a lot in it, so just be warned if you don’t have one.
Here is a shot of my hair. It is all wet here, since when I do all of those twists it is easier when it is wet. This took me about 5-10 minutes and a bunch of pins. It isn’t too hard once you get the hang of it. I also made my jewelry…many, many moons ago when I was actively making jewelry all the time.
Oh, and at the dinner with the girls, one is a bit pregnant right now and found out she is having a girl! I got most of this little newborn hat done during Anya’s dance class that morning, and just finished up the seam and added the pompoms when we got home. You can never have too much fluff when it comes to cute little newborn hats. Such a quick project, with so much return on the cuteness factor. I’m going to show the girls how to do loom knitting in a few weeks, which will hopefully keep the number of knit hats they all want me to do down to a minimum. 😉
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Now these blogs are mostly grown-up woman dressing inspiration, and not sewing inspiration. I love how these ladies have their own sense of style and aren’t afraid to show it. 🙂
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I’m hoping to get some stuff cut out for Kai this week and some outfits started for him. Poor kid has been so neglected. Of course, this is the last week of Sunday School, so I think I need to do something for their teachers. Anya has two high school girls, so that should be pretty easy (some bags, I’m thinking), but Kai has a husband and wife team about our ages, maybe a bit older. I have no clue what to get them, so any help would be appreciated!!
You have been very busy and wow, your outfits are great. Cute hat, too. For the husband and wife teachers, how about making a kitchen set of potholders, maybe embellish a tea towel with the same fabric, cover some magnets to match?
I was hoping that you would put together a tutorial for those cross over tops you have been making. I can’t wait to give it a go. I love how the matching top and skirt turned out. I think it has just the right amount of fluff. Those grommetts look awesome too.
Yeah! Tutorials! I don’t have a serger though…I think I really, really need one.
I love the outfit, especially the corset back. I have a few things I could really use grommets on, too…but I’ve shied away from it. And that HAT! Oh…that is the cutest!
You have such an awesome style!! I wish I could pull this kind of style off. I love the skirt and top and it looks great on you!