Happy PURRSDAY everyone!
Meow Meow

Hooray! I am finally posting a finished item for the Pattern Challenge! I have to admit, it wasn't one of my 'goals' that I set out at the beginning of this challenge....but hopefully I can still include it!

Anyway, if you have been following the blog a little (and if so - thanks!!!!), then you will know that I have been sewing (for what seems like an eternity) a simple skirt. I used McCalls 2220:

• The pattern was pretty much easy to follow. A few things I was not 100% sure of, but I would put that down to this being the first pattern I have ever followed so the terminology is new to me. Luckily I have a mum who is a seasoned pro at sewing and she explained a lot for me

• The hardest part for me was definitely the waist band (of course - the rest is just straight lines on the machine!) - there were a few strong words exchanged between me, the sewing machine and the fabric at times when trying to join everything together on a curve...fun times! I also somehow ended up with the front button section NOT overlapping (eh?! How did that happen??!!)...so I made a little loop out of the red material and use that as the button closure. Ironically, it actually makes a nice feature and adds a nice pop of colour!

• The pattern doesn't include a contrasting band at the hem, but I decided that (after I had cut it out - tut tut) that it was too short for my liking. So I found a little bit of lovely red cotton in my stash and added it myself. The funny thing is that I wasn't really feeling the love for this skirt the whole way through making it, think to myself "well, I probably won't wear this as it's a bit boring but I'm making it to learn how to sew" - and as soon as I added the red band I totally fell for it! Amazing how adding one small thing can change something completely!

• The main negative I have for the skirt is that the dark blue cotton attracts white fluff like bees to honey and it gets crushed the moment you put it on which is a big pain.

Right, as I work 8-4 in an office most of my wardrobe for SSS will have to be 'business' attire and therefore I need to choose pieces accordingly. Luckily our dress-code isn't too strict so I won't have to make myself a full-blown tailored suit! I also have to remember that it will be September...in Belfast. Sometimes we may have to odd burst of sunshine but I think I need to prepare for wet and cold weather!
So what I think will help me get through SSS and ensure that I still look decent is:

1 or 2 pairs of trousers
Looking for patterns I have so far found:

If you didn't realise, last month was 'Me-Made-May' - didn't you know?! Thought up by the lovely Zoe from 'So, Zo...'. The concept was to go the whole month wearing only clothes which you have made yourself, or, a lighter version, to wear at least one thing made by yourself. I watched with great interest and admiration some of the many bloggers who partook in this event - there are a lot of talented seamstresses out there (for example Tasia from Sewaholic.net)!!! All very inspiring.

And now Zoe has announced a new project: Self-Stitched-September!



After some consideration and thought I ended up signing up for this project! Eek! Am I totally insane?! I have made one skirt in half a year....not very productive (and I haven't even posted about it yet - a disgrace no less!)...how will I cope with wearing at least one item of clothing every day which I have made myself? Hmmm....I may end up wearing that skirt to death I fear! But, I thought - why not? This is the perfect kick-up the bum I need to finally get all those ideas out of my head, through the sewing machine and onto my (slightly squidgy) body!!!

So therefore I announce:

'I, Suzanna Wilson at starfishesbelfast.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavor to wear at least 1 handmade or refashioned item of clothing and/or accessories every day for the duration of September 2010'

Now comes the fun part...the part I am very good at....the thinking and the planning. Oh how I love the planning.....it's the carrying out of plans which I'm not so hot at!!

So tomorrow I'll post about my thoughts on what I will need in my Self-Stitched wardrobe (currently consisting of one skirt!) and what patterns I may be using.

xxx