comfort clothes
Would it be so wrong to have my wardrobe consist entirely of shirts made from this pattern? Hmn...I wonder. Because each time I make it, and alter it just a tiny bit more to fit just right, I fall in love with it. It's so easy, and soooo comfortable of a fit. It's the perfect shirt - really, I think it is. And this recent version - in a silky soft cotton - makes me so happy with it's tiny white flowers and little green dots, and leaves me happily pondering - red shoes? or green shoes? Oh, I like those kinds of decisions.
{For those who might ask - the fabric is by Maywood Studio - I got mine locally at Marden's - a discount fabric store among other things- and don't click on that link or you will forever have that jingle etched in your brain. I warned you.}
{special thanks to my favorite six year old photographer, who caught me off guard on this one, but it will do}
And speaking of comfort clothes - I have a vintage wrap around skirt that I adore, and therefore wear, um, far too much. So this weekend, I finally got around to tracing it to make another one - just like it. Because I'm all about finding something that works and rehashing it over and over. The grey fabric (it's former life was as a bedsheet that just wouldn't stay on my mattress) is just the right cotton weight for wearing this summer, and I went with a simple bias binding for the waistband and ties. Oh, and lots and lots of topstitching - love the topstitching.
I made the skirt reversible - this side with some IKEA linen that I haven't been quite sure what to do with. I'm happy with it as a skirt.
And for those of you keeping score, this officially makes my skirt count equal to the boys hat count. Which means we're even, and I cannot make myself another summer skirt. Dang. But the good news is that since Adelaide has decided she is done with diapers (oh yes, all on her own, my little miss is quite a determined little gal), skirts are the easiest way for her to manage on her own.
So, you see, now I must make some more skirts.
How clever - the skirt - the outfit - the little girl - the photographer...the whole lot!
Must we keep score? More skirts! More skirts! I personally can't get enough of them! :)
Posted by: Melissa! | July 23, 2007 at 07:24 AM
oh Amanda i love your skirt - very nice use for this Ikea fabric.
I wanted to buy it and embroider some leaves in color...
your blouse is very lovely, thanks for the link.
Posted by: Karen à Toronto | July 23, 2007 at 07:47 AM
I love Mardens (shoulda bought it, when I saw it...): My hometown is close enough to Calais that I used to go there all the time. I'm heading home on vacation next week and fully intend to spend a few hours there, wandering through the aisles, heaping useless things into my shopping cart, only to take them out before I get to the cash.
Oh, and "Yay" for Adelaide!
Posted by: Steph VW | July 23, 2007 at 08:43 AM
I love your blouse and skirt. Do I dare attempt to try your pattern? I know you say the blouse is so easy to make, but I fear I may mess it up somehow.
Posted by: Karen H | July 23, 2007 at 08:44 AM
i love the oh so feminine neckline (and the photograph, what beautiful ivory skin!) thanks for sharing the link!! and yay for A... my son was done with dipes at 19 months and never looked back (double yay for no more diaper loads in the washer!) enjoy your skirts today.
Posted by: camerashymomma | July 23, 2007 at 08:47 AM
I just bought that exact same leaf print at Ikea for my own skirt making studio. (On super sale! Hooray!)
Posted by: Deborah | July 23, 2007 at 09:07 AM
I love those clothes... they are sooo cute.... and what a cute skirt ur little girl has on....
luv Abby
Posted by: luv Abby | July 23, 2007 at 09:09 AM
Love the shirt and the idea of a wrap around skirt - I haven't had one of those in years. Adelaide is becoming a little girl, so cute with you in her skirt.
Posted by: Stacy | July 23, 2007 at 09:33 AM
awesome clothing- very inspiring! i too keep making the same pattern. i think it comes from my true dislike of shopping when i was younger and my mom always telling me to buy lots of the same thing when i found something i liked. it's even more fun to make lots of the same thing- that way you can keep perfecting and tweaking it.
Posted by: Julia | July 23, 2007 at 09:34 AM
pish posh about keeping score! you just keep making those skirts until your little heart (or closet size) is content. maybe you could write a skirt book and then you would simply have to make all that you could dream up, you know, for "work". ;)
and a big congratulations to miss adelelaide, isn't she 22 months-ish? a girl with very big ideas of her own, hmmm... wonder where she gets that from. have a great day soules.
Posted by: heather | July 23, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Have you seen the Sew What! Skirts book? http://www.amazon.com/Sew-What-Skirts-Fabulous-Fabrics/dp/1580176259/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0576306-6917664?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185197860&sr=8-1
16 different skirt designs that you can make without a pattern, just your measurements. I'm in love with it. We drink champagne together.
Posted by: Jeannette | July 23, 2007 at 09:38 AM
What a coincidence! One of my contacts on Flickr was giving away that pattern and I snatched it up! Woohoo! Thanks for showing me the possibilities :)
Posted by: Erin | July 23, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Oh, I love all of it! And more and more I am tempted to get that pattern and try it myself. I just wish the shipping charges didn't make the cost of it all so crazy. I have to try and find it locally... I'm all about doing something I love to death, too. More skirts!
Posted by: Lisa Clarke | July 23, 2007 at 10:08 AM
The photo of you and Adelaide, standing, is one of the best photos I have ever seen.
Posted by: Beth | July 23, 2007 at 10:17 AM
I love the Ikea fabric on the reverse!! I wish you'de make them and sell them for those of us who are sewing machine challenged. I would buy them all. But then, you wouldn't have as much time to be living you cool life and bloggin about it. I'll just have to become a better seamstress.
Posted by: Madeline R | July 23, 2007 at 10:27 AM
I love your skirt and top. Your daughter is too cute.
Posted by: Mefuza | July 23, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Love your red shirt and the reversible skit... so cute! I'm jealous that Adelaide is done with diapers! My almost 3 year old isn't loving the potty training thing...than again, I'm not either!
Posted by: Julie | July 23, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Yay for cutey-cute skirts! And for little Adelaide!
(We just finished up the potty training here and it is such a relief.)
Posted by: Alicia A. | July 23, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Talented girl. You slay me :-)
Posted by: Stefani | July 23, 2007 at 11:24 AM
love that red fabric & wow - no more diapers? i'm jealous!
Posted by: kelly | July 23, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Beautiful!! I am envious of your abilities.
Posted by: Visty | July 23, 2007 at 11:31 AM
I too have fallen in love with this shirt pattern. I have made three so far! Your skirt is lovely and a skirt to go with my new tops is on my list.
Posted by: EvaB | July 23, 2007 at 11:49 AM
so cool. so very cool.
i'm totally inspired here.
Posted by: kristin | July 23, 2007 at 11:55 AM
hey, I have that same linen from ikea that I bought to make a skirt! I love black and white! And your little miss is adorable. It's always wonderful when they make up their own mind to do something!
Posted by: susie | July 23, 2007 at 12:05 PM
I love that IKEA linen side to the skirt!
Congratulations to Adelaide! What a big girl! That photo of the two of you in your skirts is just too cute.
I have a question about the shirt/shirts in general ... as a nursing mama, I always wear t-shirts for nursing ease. Do you find nursing in a more fitted blouse to be a problem?
Posted by: Grace | July 23, 2007 at 12:31 PM
love your top! i would have a hard time deciding between red and green shoes too. i'd probably go with green, though.
Posted by: erin | July 23, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Just ordered that pattern...feeling the need to sew :).
Posted by: Ali | July 23, 2007 at 12:47 PM
I feel the same way about that pattern. Love it.
Posted by: alicia | July 23, 2007 at 01:04 PM
ps: I love your new banner!
Posted by: Grace | July 23, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Nice new banner! And I'm all about making the same pattern over and over in different prints----if you find something you like, go for it! I have that pattern and I haven't gotten around to making it. I need to now!
Great job Adelaide! And that means no diapers for you, too! ;-)
Posted by: Amber | July 23, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Okay, love that skirt and shirt! this remind me of a pattern I used to have somewhere that I made like 5 or so shirts from before I finally retired it, maybe I should pull it back out and give it a go again, it was such a cute shirt pattern!!!
Posted by: kate | July 23, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Grace - the shirt isn't all that form-fitting, so it doesn't seem to interfere with nursing, though I guess at this point, I'm pretty adept at nursing in *whatever*! ;)
Posted by: SOULEMAMA | July 23, 2007 at 02:15 PM
i love, love the skirts and the fabrics you used! you are such an inspiration, amanda!
and little miss a decided she was done with diapers? wow!
Posted by: Veronica TM | July 23, 2007 at 02:38 PM
so beautiful...that first picture of you, the third picture of you and A. all lovely.
Posted by: molly | July 23, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Lovely...
Posted by: Jen | July 23, 2007 at 03:21 PM
Absolutely adorable! Both the outfit and the little one. I remember those days with my youngest one. Early diaper rejection is a good, good thing in my opinion.
I'm going to have to go find that shirt pattern. It's sooo cute.
Posted by: Sarah | July 23, 2007 at 04:18 PM
i love the shirt !! absolutely my favourite and defenitly red shoes! haha
congratulations on the bye bye diaper time !! wauw so soon!! she's determined that's for sure !! Linde (2) is still not interested.
Posted by: Ilse | July 23, 2007 at 04:24 PM
If you ever get bored with the black and white of the IKEA fabric you can always colour it in (http://theshoppingsherpa.blogspot.com/2006/11/random-late-night-post-with-far-too.html) or get the boys to do it for you!
Posted by: The Shopping Sherpa | July 23, 2007 at 06:52 PM
Those are great--I love all the clothes you make!
Off-topic, but if you're not familiar with the music of Mirah, check it out, http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=43799713
We just went to her concert, it was very cool--I think you might like her music.
:)
Posted by: katie | July 23, 2007 at 07:39 PM
hello Soulemama,
i love your blog! i have a question about your new skirt. you mentioned you `traced` it? does that mean what i`m imagining? did you simply trace the outline onto a piece of paper? i`m a super beginner at sewing so please forgive if this is a ridiculous question.
thanks
Posted by: cyndi | July 23, 2007 at 08:25 PM
Hi Cyndi! Yes, by 'tracing', I meant that I literally put a skirt that I knew fit on top of a piece of fabric and traced and cut the shape. If you are just beginning sewing, perhaps the the skirt book (mentioned above in the comments) might be an excellent place to start! Best of luck!!
Posted by: SOULEMAMA | July 23, 2007 at 08:32 PM
Absolutely lovely! I love those kinds of shirts; indeed, they are the best!
Your photographs are always quite lovely, by the way!
Posted by: Melissa R. Garrett | July 23, 2007 at 08:38 PM
Love your blog, Amanda. That is an adorable shirt and inspired a trip to Joanns where I found it for $1.99. Thank you! Am nervous to sew myself a shirt though, as I've only been sewing 2 months. Oh well, what's the worst that can happen? ;-)
Posted by: Shelley | July 23, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Time to buy more hats Amanda!
Posted by: Gwyn | July 23, 2007 at 11:23 PM
funny how that happens sometimes. Izzy did the same thing. I refused to even think about training her until she was two. Took about two days and she was done. That girl is something else -- all or nothing you know. cheers
Posted by: QueenMum | July 24, 2007 at 01:45 AM
Our little monkey just decided diapers were not for her also (at around 23 months) so I've been busily reworking all her clothes. I'm also nursing someone not in diaprs for the first time which is great, more time to cuddle a cute little bum.
Posted by: katharine | July 24, 2007 at 07:58 AM
have you seen this dress? http://www.untitledbroadcast.com/JCGALL17.HTM
Posted by: stephanie | July 24, 2007 at 09:32 AM
No trip back home is complete unless I visit Marden's. I have tried to explain it to people here in CT and it just doesn't translate.
Posted by: Heather | July 24, 2007 at 01:30 PM
Oh, I so love your blog. You write beautifully and I love your photography (especially your in-house little photographer!). You make life with 3 kids look easy (watch it, you could be responsable new addition to families reading you). Oh, and I can't wait for your book to come out.
Posted by: celine | July 24, 2007 at 03:08 PM
What everyone else said!
And: I LOVE your shoes. All of them.
Posted by: kimba | July 25, 2007 at 06:44 AM