Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Wear Selvages!

When the grass begins to green up and I think about putting away my wool sweaters it only seems right to sew up a few new spring outfits.  Lula likes that idea as well!
 Last fall I was intrigued when Shea made a cute selvage skirt for her little daughter. I've been thinking about trying it myself ever since. I couldn't really find an A-line skirt pattern in Lula's size so made my own using this McCall's pattern as a guide. I cut out the skirt from some Kona solid and covered the front and back with pastel selvages sewn on the diagonal.
 I generally cut my selvages from the yardage with one inch of printed fabric along one side.Beginning at the bottom of the skirt, I over lapped the selvages about 1/4 inch before stitching close to the bound edge. A favorite pink Aneela Hoey print made a sweet waist band.
 For Lula's slim figure, elastic in the back made fitting easy. If making an adult size skirt, I'd want to use a zipper opening.
 The skirt has a nice lined appearance with the Kona fabric inside. After zig zagging the seams, I top stitched on either side of the seam to keep the inside neat. As you can see, a length of selvage made perfect hem tape!
 Lula's new spring skirt is ready for the wearing when the warm weather arrives   for good!
 Last week, we were blessed with a rogue balmy afternoon while Lula and her sisters were spending several days in my care.
 With the daffodils beginning to bloom, it was nice to get outdoors and try out the new skirt.
 I think it turned out pretty adorable. I wonder what I should make next?
Maybe Jane would like a skirt too, or a new top to wear with shorts!
Pearl, on the other hand, looks happy no matter what she is wearing! I can't believe she's having her first birthday next week!
If you're enjoying some spring days, I hope you have the delight of seeing a bee with yellow pollen on it's legs. Now that's exciting!
Tomorrow: Some quick selvage ideas you might not have thought of.

14 comments:

  1. Lula looks delighted with her new skirt! And what an adorable model she makes! Love the concentration on Jane's face and Pearl- a year old! How did that happen?

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  2. So totally cute, and the skirt is really nice too! What beautiful children. What a fun idea for the girls.

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  3. That skirt is just darling! And the girls are all beautiful, too!

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  4. What adorable little girls and skirt! The birthday's comes fast don't they?

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  5. I am loving all your selvedge sewing...and so glad to know you have "restocked" :) All your grandies are day brighteners, always:)

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  6. So fabulous!! And your little girls are beautiful. You are an amazing grandmother.

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  7. Just adorable! You're so danged talented with the sewing machine, and that camera. Lula is just as sweet as can be in the picture of her wearing her skirt. I can tell she's proud of her Lolly. Oh, and that Pearl... the precious face. Hmmm. I could just guggle her to bits. Sweet, sweet girls.

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  8. How CUTE!! It is adorable :) Wonderful job and what a fun project to work on :)

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  9. What a cute skirt. Your granddaughters are so sweet. My oldest daughter is a red head and she now has a seven month old. We keep watching her hair, hoping for some red, but it is fairly dark at this point. We keep seeing some red highlights when she is out in the sun so we still have hope.

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  10. What a fun idea. And of course it looks fabulous on such a cute little girl. One of these days I just might break down and make something from selvages too.

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  11. How sweet Carla. And such beautiful little dollies!

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  12. That skirt is one the cutest things I have seen made from selvages!!

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  13. It is adorable. With the skirt's double layer of fabric, she could wear it on cooler days too with a pair of tights.
    You must have an amazing (but shrinking) selvedge collection.
    Cute kids!

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  14. Beautiful skirt for a little girl. Beautiful little girls too! The baby is adorable.

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