I love the "denimy" blue background color. The roses remind me of my mother who loved all flowers but especially roses. The motif also reminds me of a couch I once had - ha ha!
The skirt is self-drafted but you can find a similar pattern from one of the big pattern companies or independent pattern companies. I am wearing it with a self-drafted knit top I made some time ago. I would like to make a little woven top to go with it. Maybe in a navy blue or perhaps I will pick up one of the colors from the print. Anyway, I don't know when I will get around to making a top for it. It has been so cool here in the Northeast U.S. It feels like fall weather came way too early. Unless we get a few hot days, I will wear the skirt next year.
Following is a close-up of the skirt. The waistband seam sits at my natural waist. The waistband width is 1 1/2 inches. I was debating whether to make the skirt with chunky wooden buttons from my stash but after consultation with my daughter and with Kyle from Vacuuming the Lawn, I decided to go with the blue buttons. I matched the motif along the center front fold:
But I did not have enough fabric to match the sides which I am ok with. Below are views of the side and back.
Instead of folding the waistband under and slipstitching, I decided to finish the raw edge with a Hong Kong finish. The inside side of the waistband is flat instead of folded under...
so I could stitch in the ditch from the right side. I find this method reduces bulk and creates a polished treatment.
What do you think of the buttonholes? Beautiful, yes indeed!! I got them done at Jonathan's Embroidery, 256 W. 38th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. You mark the buttonhole placement on the fabric and tell them what type of buttonhole you want. You bring a button with you and a sample of the fabric so they can make a test buttonhole for you before they proceed with your garment. They use industrial machines that create beautiful buttonholes. They also use gimp to prevent the buttonhole from stretching over time. The machines punch a hole (in the case of the keyhole buttonhole) and create a little slit. You then finish opening the rest of the buttonhole at home. They charged me $1 per buttonhole.
If you ever have the opportunity to get buttonholes done professionally, do it because it is definitely worth the effort.
Happy sewing!
