Pages

Thursday 7 July 2016

Think Pink! Brumby Skirt

I'm back with more pink, and not just more pink but more pink skirts. This takes me up to a total of 3 pink skirts, with plans for another 2 already! This is definitely my new favourite skirt and I have a feeling it will quickly become one of my most worn items of clothing.  In fact I'm wearing it today and I feel so comfortable and confident in it. Isn't it amazing what clothes can do for you?!








The fabric is just such a gorgeous bright shade of pink, which sadly these photos don't truly reflect. I'd say the best representation of the colour is in the photograph above. I bought the fabric from Ray Stitch 3 or 4 years ago and I think it was described as a pink twill, although it doesn't seem as heavy as the pink Liberty twill of my Wildwood Flower skirt.  It's possible this is the fabric here, it certainly looks like a similar colour.
The pattern is the Brumby skirt by Megan Nielsen, gifted to me by Veronica Darling as part of a giveaway she did to celebrate her birthday and her 1000th blog post. I couldn't believe it when I won as it was the most amazing prize! Amelia (the talented lady behind Veronica Darling) sent me a box of goodies - fabric, trims and other goodies, as well as a Megan Nielsen pattern of my choice for me, and to be sent to her.  I chose the Brumby skirt as it had been on my wish list for a while.  You should also go check out the lush green velvet version Amelia made - I think I might need a velvet version for the winter! The pockets, ah the pockets! That was the first thing that attracted me to this pattern and they don't disappoint, they're roomy and such a good shape.  Then there were so many nice versions popping up, some of the ones that inspired me to try this pattern were Morepleasethankyou's in denim, Very Kerry Berry's in denim, Noble & Daughter's metallic voile version and Jasika Nicole's ladybird version.



Worn here with my favourite Grainline tiny pocket tank




This make took me ages overall as when I sewed it up first time round I attached the waistband upside down. This wouldn't have mattered if it was a straight waistband but the shape is very curved so it really hugs your waist, except mine didn't, mine went out. I wore it once as I loved the skirt so but it just looked ridiculous with the waist flaring out.  So I had to unpick it all, trying not to unpick all my neat hand-stitching and my pretty good lapped zip. Then it sat in my sewing pile, for months, and months, until, 2 days before my holiday, I decided it had to come with me. I'd originally cut the size S waist but as it sits quite high I found this too tight so I retraced the waistband pieces in the size M then reattached it, upside down again! Argh, at this point I only had one night left to sew before our holiday. I unpicked and re-sewed, the right way round this time. Amazingly, with a bit of fudging I managed to just hand-sew the rest of the zip back up and although it's not nearly so neat at the back now I don't care as, as I said before, I love it so! I ended up doing the last of the hand-sewing round the zip while on my holiday, sitting on the balcony. I think I need to find more hand-sewing projects for holidays as I really enjoyed it.


So, it's finally finished and I love it. Another Brumby skirt is now top of my summer sewing list, after the Inari tee dress and the bright pink shorts I've got cut out.

Details -
Pattern: a gift from Veronica Darling, as part of a wonderful parcel she sent me to celebrate her birthday (aren't sewing bloggers the best?!!)
Size: I used size M for the waistband and size S for the skirt pieces. I sewed up Version 1.
Alterations: Added length (sorry I can't remember how much as this was cut out before I started keeping a notebook for all my makes). Used a lapped zip rather than an exposed.  Sewed the waistband in a different size to the skirt pieces.
Fabric & notions: Pink twill from Ray Stitch, approx. £12 a metre, used 2 metres. Pink thread & pink overlocking thread, approx. £4. Interfacing from stash.
Were the instructions clear: Yes, I found it easy to follow the steps. The waistband issue was lack of concentration on my part as it's really quite obvious which side should be top and which the bottom.
Any changes I'd make next time: I'm going to try sewing a slightly bigger seam allowance on the waistband as it is a bit looser than it's meant to be, but the next size down was too tight, even with a smaller seam allowance. I'd like to try an exposed zip as I've never done one before.

Total cost: Approx £28









a close-up of the pocket


Pretty neat top-stitching


Not so neat lapped zipper.

12 comments:

  1. I love that you love pink. I'm so afraid of it! And you look awesome in it. It sounds nice to have "found your groove" with fabric choices and colors. That is something I struggle with.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ah thanks Claire! You could totally wear pink too though! It's surprisingly hard to match up fabric and pattern buying choices with what you would choose if you were buying clothes from a shop. I do feel like I'm getting there but still get too easily seduced by cute prints I'll never actually wear!

      Delete
  2. its fabulous and really looks great on you. Think i will take hand sewing on hols too this year. Something to do in the sun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Louise! I'd definitely recommend taking some hand-sewing with you, it was nice and relaxing.

      Delete
  3. You look so cute! The skirt pairs perfectly with that black and white tank. Good to know that the skirt passes the "trampoline test" for wearability. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Becca! I had forgotten how much fun those big trampolines are!

      Delete
  4. looks great! pink is definitely your colour! this reminds me, though, that I have this cut out too (I got that far last summer!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shivani! haha that's funny you've had it cut out for ages too. What fabric are you using?

      Delete
  5. This looms fab! I am so tempted by this pattern, but as I already own the Zinnia and at least one other gathered skirt pattern (and I've just figured out how to make a gathered Kelly), it feels a tad superfluous. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to win a copy one day! :) Love this colour on you! Hope you had a fab holiday! X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ha I know what you mean, it's so easy to buy a new pattern before realising you've already got something quite similar.
      It was a great prize to win that's for sure!
      I had a lovely holiday thank you!

      Delete
  6. I've made a pink Brumby too! Yours looks great - I bet you will get heaps of wear out of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh my goodness I just checked out your Brumby, I remember seeing it when I first started looking at the pattern - maybe it slipped into my subconscious must.have.pink.Brumby. Your version is gorgeous too!

      Delete