Denim Patchwork Skirt

Years of denim from the early days. Mom had envisioned a quilt with squares, and did quite a bit of cutting up from childhood denim from four kids. I took the leftovers...(the good of someone who saves stuff) mainly....and pieced them together.  Plenty of somewhat unorthodox sewing going on to make things fit together on the right...hence a little bunching and some tilt.  Denim patchwork skirt.

I was going to embroider it, after seeing an inspiration piece (that started this project out) of a Chinese embroidery on denim/dark blue fabric from image secured at recent visit to Met, but then the denim piecing took over, and the embroidery seems like it might be a bit much on top.

So...embroidery project to go, but denim fabric ready for skirt ready now. Like I need another skirt....

Mickey Mouse Disneyland Skirt made from Tee Shirt

Saw a well worn Disneyland tee shirt...their classic font......and knew what I had to do.
M-I-C-K-E-Y....

a. Cut across top for straight-ish line.
b. Cut off sleeves.
c. Sew side seams..which really just closes up the holes you made by cutting the sleeves off the
    body...it make a little funky side seaming, but looks like an arrow in a way.  The seam stops at low      hip  (where the cut from the sleeve was), as this tee was circular (no side seams).
d. Cut sleeves in half, sew strips together lengthwise to form waistband for elastic/drawstring.
    You could just fold over the top of the tee, but I wanted "Disneyland" a little lower on the body,
    so I needed to add some "length" via the top to drop the word down.
e. Sew waistband strip to top of tee.
f. Insert elastic or drawstring.
g. Smile.

Found another one...did it again. This time, pictures of process.

Skirting

Ok, enough!  Though one thing lead to another, and the closet is becoming too full. 

First is dyed by my hand -- organic cotton and indigo dye. Easy enough to dye, though the need to be vigilant on dye stuff highlighted by the few times I wasn't be very careful.  Rib makes for easy fit and seemingly good shape retention thus far. Second jacquard paired with color similar color tunic..a few seams for both, very easy shapes. Perhaps too billowy, but will road test and see -- the balance of relaxed and sloppy.  The third silk..decided to cut the longer hanging piece at hem finally...was for "different-ness," but required too high a shoe or prone to dragging.  

The ease of shapes -- the light came years ago while looking at a old garment in a museum some years ago -- very simple, few seams, though drape and fabric made the statement.  The natural fabric do this best ..the silk, the cotton. Not yet into painting them for pattern...though that may come. 

New Leaf

Skirt number two of the weekend. Tapestry type fabric..jacquard.

Leaf and Bird Skirt looking at the Sun

A quick sew as usual, a kind of heavy linen type fabric, good for warm days in winter, which we appear to be having this week.  The sun inset the patio was done when we were kids..one of my sisters......shaped from Styrofoam, and then cast in bronze by Dad, and eventually incorporated here.

Apple Applique -- Wool Skirt

Wool jersey as skirt, wool tweed as apple. Apple placed off center.

Skirt with Gold Metallic

January in sandals.  We do need rain, but the sun is nice. New skirt..gold metallic to go with a specific sweater for a 'winter beige" look with umph.