FO: Moss Mini #2

Was it really January when I finished my first Moss Mini? Where does the time go?!

But look! Here's my Moss Mini v2!

Thanks so much to everyone who left comments and suggestions following my first version - so helpful! The skirt fits so much better, and is so comfortable!

I needed to grade from a 6 at the waist, to a 12 at the hips. This is usually quite straight forward and was no problem with the back pieces. However, the pockets made adjustments to the skirt front slightly less straightforward.

So what I did was trace and assemble (in paper) the front including pockets in a 12 and added the cutting lines for size 6, and graded the pieces that way (rather than grading them separately).

the shaded bits are what I removed from the skirt front and pocket pieces

Front, side and back views

And for the sake of comparison:

L: first moss; R: second moss

I think we can all agree that it's a much improved fit.

Going up to a size 12 at the hips resolved the pocket gaping (and one commenter helpfully reminded me that the pockets were designed to gape a bit, as they're intended to be functional and so need room for hands!), and it sorted out the massive wrinkle at my lower back.

Is it perfect? Well, no. There are some tiny wrinkles (and some extra space) at my lower back, and if I was being super fussy, I'd say the waist is a bit on the roomy side. But, it's nothing I can't live with, and I don't want to over fit it.

I'm definitely very pleased with how it's turned out.

The sums (for both V1 and V2)
Grainline Moss Mini skirt pattern: £5.40 ($8.50)
2m denim: £4 from a market stall
Buttons x 2: stash
Thread: £1.55
Zips x 3: stash (I broke one during construction)
Interfacing: stash
Total: £10.95  (for 2 skirts - not bad)

Will I make it again. Yes! I have some linen-type fabric in my stash, which would be perfect... should we ever see summer.

~

In other news...

Thanks for the recommendations on sewing machine repair shops. I'll be taking mine along to one on Deptford High Street (thanks Steph!), which isn't too far from me, and they're an official Janome repair shop - hoorah. But this means I'll be without my machine for the Easter hols! :(  And that means I'll be late starting the Archer sew along. *big sad face*

Have a lovely weekend all!

Speak soon
x

London-based readers - can you help?

My sewing machine started acting peculiar last night and no amount of new thread/needle/bobbin or tension adjustments helped. I think it needs servicing. (I've had it for nearly three years, so I think it's due one!)

London-based readers, can you recommend a good service shop/engineer? I've found a few options online, but if anyone has a personal recommendation, I'd be v grateful!

speak soon!
x

Rainy Sunday

Ugh, this rain! I had hoped to share my finished Moss mini skirt with you today, but it's rained non-stop all weekend, and there is no decent light, so I have no photos. So we'll just have to wait a few more days, and hope for an improved outlook.

In the meantime, I'll add my grumble of discontent about the end of Google Reader. I'm not sure what I'll do when Google finally pull the plug.

I've tried Bloglovin', and while I don't really object to it, I can't access it at work (apparently the "lovin'" bit gets caught by the company firewall). I don't spend my working day reading blogs, but I like to dip in at lunchtime. If you're going with this option, you can follow my blog with Bloglovin.

I've also tried Freely, which is ok.

I'm a creature of routine, and I don't like change (I'm still in denial about the end of hotmail). Google, I'm not very happy with you at the moment. Ok?

In other news ...

I'm looking forward to the Grainline Archer shirt sew-along starting next week. This afternoon's highlights include assembling the pattern, making my usual adjustments for length and rummaging through my stash for a suitable fabric.

Anyone else sewing along?

speak soon!
x

My sewing queue

I sometimes feel that I spend much more time thinking about what I want to sew, than actually just getting on with it.

I've been meaning to have another go at the Moss mini skirt for an age, and somehow almost two months seem to have gone by! It doesn't help that I'm so easily distracted.

First I got sucked into marathon sessions of House of Cards and Spiral (now finished), then Tilly released the Mathilde Blouse pattern, which went to the top of my queue. And as soon I was ready for another project, the new Grainline pattern came out, which sent me off in a whirl of button-down ideas!

But Jen at Grainline is planning a sew along, so I think I might hold off for now, and sew along with her. Jen's tutorials are wonderful, and so clear, so I'm looking forward to picking up some new tips and techniques.

So at the moment, this is what my sewing queue looks like:

My first attempt at the Moss mini was far from perfect, and I had lots of great suggestions for improving the fit. But I fell into the trap of over thinking what adjustments were needed, and got quite confused. I've had a while to consider it, so I think I know what I'm doing. I think I'll do a muslin first this time, just to ensure that adjustments I need to make don't throw anything else off.

I'm hoping to get stuck into this over the weekend.

I don't know what it is, but ever since I finished my first Renfrew, I've had an itch to get started on another! This time, I'm going to try view A, with long sleeves. I bought some very dark grey cotton/wool jersey specifically for this.

The Sureau dress was going to be my main February project, but of course as soon as the Mathilde Blouse was released, this got thrown (well, gently placed) to one side. I have some cotton/wool fabric that would be perfect for an early spring dress.

I'd intended to join the Banksia sew along last year, but for some reason or another, didn't. I had an unsuccessful attempt at this when it was first released, but I do really want to crack this pattern - I think it would be perfect for spring time in a Liberty print.

 

In other news ...

I joined the masses and now have a smartphone. I'm still trying to work out how to answer calls on it (why is that so complicated?! I'm such a luddite), but the exciting news is that I'm on instragram! whoohoo. Are you? Let me know and I'll follow you, or like you, or friend you, or whatever the crazy kids are calling it these days.

Have a lovely weekend and speak soon!
x