When it can't be mended...

Project 333 has given me some valuable tools for evaluating my closet, and for making good choices for my clothes.  Which brings me to my project for today: a corduroy skirt.  You'll recognize the fabric from the skirt I made last year.  I wore that skirt heavily last fall and winter, and wore it quite a bit this fall, but there are a couple of problems with it.  First is that it has become too big in the waist.  This normally would be an easy fix--just pop the waist band off, and cinch in the darts, put the waist band back on, bob's your uncle.  I really debated about doing this, because it seemed like a slow-fashion kind of thing to do.  Make do and mend and all that.  

Unfortunately, the second problem was less fixable, which is that the corduroy has worn badly in the front across the center seam.  I (naively) used Hong Kong seam finishes when I made the skirt, and the seam allowances have pressed into the front, leaving visible creases in the fabric on the front in the middle.  I also don't like the patch pockets, and the bias binding is starting to wear through in places on the pocket edge, and while I could take them off and put in something different, I can't fix the worn spot right in the center front of the skirt. 

 I decided that the best thing to do was rather than spend a lot of time and aggravation trying to fix the fit issues on a skirt that was clearly wearing out was to just start fresh with the same fabric.  I've learned a bit about skirt fitting and making since I made that skirt, and while it has been a great piece for me, it is time to retire it and move on. 

(And by retire, I mean donate.  I don't donate worn clothing because I think someone else will get great use out of it; I donate it because places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. are able to recycle fabric in better ways than me putting it in a landfill to compost.  Textiles can be recycled for insulation, rags, or rugs.  There is a whole different discussion to be had about the sheer quantity of unsaleable fabric that these places have to process, and what it does to Third World economies, but that is something best saved for another day, I think).  

So, I needed a new skirt.  I used my vintage Anne Adams 9481 again, as I like the straight silhouette better for this season, and 2 yards of the same heavy weight corduroy as last year, since I like the weight and color so much.  I added yoked pockets, and put the zip in the back, even though it isn't my favorite place for a zipper because a side zipper insertion with yoked pockets on this heavy weight fabric just wasn't going to fly.  I really need to draft or find a two-piece yoked pocket for projects like this, because while I love the all-in-one Hollyburn pocket, there are times that a two piece pocket would be helpful for reducing bulk on the side seams.

 

Not much to note about construction--I learned my lesson last year and just zig-zagged the seam allowances.  Having only three main seams helped a bit.  I used narrower ribbon to stabilize the waistband, and I might go back at some point and redo it with 1" petersham; I still have about 1/2 yard of fabric left and could easily recut a slightly wider waistband.  I imagine I will need to take this skirt in at some point, so I'll probably make the change then.  For now, however, I like the narrower waistband.  

I do need to move the hook and eye a bit, as there is a small gap at the top of the skirt. I like the little decorative buttons to either side--I debated using them, as I have four, and I hate to have orphan buttons, but I decided I wanted a little something special to finish the skirt.  I had intended a button closure, but goofed when I was trimming down the ends, so had to make it a flush closure. (Another reason to possibly make the waist band wider at some point).  

Oh right, I made a belt for this blouse that I never got around to showing.  I did end up taking the buttons off the blouse to make it more versatile (and also, one of my kids got poked by the sharp edges one day and I thought, life is too short for that nonsense).  

I was a little worried about the weight of the buttons pulling a hole in the fabric anyway.  But I kept the belt, at least for now.  The blouse looks just fine tucked it, but sometimes it is nice to have an option.  

Just the facts:

Rust Corduroy skirt: Anne Adams 9481, heavy weight Robert Kaufman corduroy, rust colored zip and vintage rust buttons, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon for waistband

Autumn flowers blouse and belt: me made

Rust cardigan: JCrew (Jacqui), via ThredUp

Knee Socks: Sock Dreams (O Socks in hunter)

Boots: Modcloth

Earrings: etsy

Amber necklace: etsy