A woman of many obsessions....

I've been an absentee blogger of late.

Google Reader tells me I have 437 posts to read.

I'm missing out on all that's been going on.

I have no idea what you've all been up to.

I lay all the blame for this period of neglect squarely with my tendency to become obsessed with the latest project.

A couple of weeks back I was all about socks.

Then it was folding paper.

This week I are been mostly revamping Minx's wardrobe (say in Jesse's voice please) :-)

But first there was a little pressie to be made for her classmate's birthday (she strikes me as a bit of a bling girl!).

A recent foray into Minx's wardrobe told me that she had grown. She also tends to be pretty hard on her clothes and therefore looks like a total scruff 90% of the time!!

Minx has told me she'd like clothes and make-up for Christmas - what self-respecting 7 year old wouldn't?!!

An upcoming pre-Christmas family get together had me panicking slightly. Her only smartish clothes are summer ones. I also couldn't afford to spend loads this side of Christmas.

So I dug out a skirt pattern, a denim pillowcase, a length of suit fabric bought 4 years ago and an old bridesmaid dress plus a 1950's vintage curtain from a charity shop haul ages ago.

The pattern is a Simplicity 'Lizzie McGuire' skirt pattern (no.4616) - I've tried to find it on the internets but have failed dismally!!

Made from a thrifted denim pillowcase and buttons from said pillowcase - cost about 25p :-)

The denim one is done (almost) according to the pattern, complete with the button tab detail.

One thing that has occured to me is this. As the daughter of a keen dressmaker I understand fully that feeling of wearing 'homemade' clothes. Now, don't get me wrong - my Mum was a great dressmaker but it was the era of Crimplene and Trevera fabrics when she was in full-on 'sewing for my daughter' mode.

These days the clothes that we see in the shops have that extra bit of detail that make them a little less ordinary. I knew that in order to make Minx feel trendy and happy in her new clothes I'd have to fancy them up a bit.....which led to this one.....

A fluted skirt from the same pattern. Modified with a ruffle round the hem and an appliqued flower - this now has gold bead stamens in the centre at Minx's request :-)

I bought this fabric for me four years ago. I reckon that makes this one cost nothing ;-)


So far so good - both skirts fit like they were made for her...and she likes them!!

....and finally.

A little panelled skirt made from the Laura Ashley wonder that I wore at my brother's wedding 17 years ago. I reckon this one also cost nothing :-)

I modified the pattern on this one by doing flat fell seams on the front and back seams which I then topstitched.

A trip to the fabric shop for a hefty supply of zips led me to buy this pattern.

The combination of this 1950's (I think) barkcloth (possibly?) vintage curtain and that damson coloured velvet had been squirreled away in my brain for an awfully long time.

I'm pleased to say it came out just how I imagined it.

I just hope the little woman likes it too!!

To make sure she looks cool and trendy and not homemade and dweeby, she'll be wearing this with some groovy tights and the fake Ugg boots that she bought with her pocket money last week - for the princely sum of £8 at Tesco's!

Apart from the fact that madam has ordered two pinafore dresses that's just about it for now.

I may allow myself the luxury of reading your blogs tonight.....but then again, I hear the siren call of the sewing machine....

xxxx