Homemade skirt and home-hacked fringe

The great thing about all this snow is that being stuck inside gives you plenty of time for crafting. As such, I've finished my first dressmaking project of 2013. Last year was a bit of a damp squib where dressmaking was concerned, I only managed this one dress in the whole year. I'm determined to be more productive this year, and already have my eye on a new sewing pattern when I'm paid. I've also made this new Pinterest board with all my previous creations on, in an attempt to keep up my motivation.

Anyway, onto my latest project. Not only is this the first skirt that I've made, but I drafted the pattern myself. It's nothing too intricate, just an A-line skirt with side zip, but nonetheless, it fit perfect without me needing to make any alterations and looks really sweet, I think.

Boots - Dr Martens, Tights - Primark, Skirt - Homemade,
Jumper - Wallis (via charity shop), Denim shirt - Hubby's

The material was bought from a vintage fair a few years back and is a good heavy wool tweed, it was used as a throw in our living room for a time, but when we decluttered I took it back and always knew I would make a skirt from it. I lined the skirt in white polyester lining material.

I used a different technique to that used before in order to fit the zip. The result is that it took me a little bit more time, but is the best zip result I've ever had. I subsequently used the same technique to replace the zip in my favourite vintage dress, and it resulted in equally perfect results. Since the material is bulky I didn't make a waistband, I just overstitched the top so that the lining didn't roll out, and I also handstitched the hem so that the sewing machine didn't leave a visible line in the thick material.

It's nice to have made something different to a dress, and to have such pleasing results on my return to dressmaking after such a long break. I couldn't wait until tomorrow to share it with you, but I'm still going to be cheeky and link this up to Lakota's Ta-dah Tuesday because it's certainly my Ta-dah of the week.

The eagle eyed of you may have noticed that I took the scissors to something else too, yep my fringe. Gives something of a 1920s look don't you think? I'm pleased, now I can get on with growing it.