Quick and Dirty Sweater Modification

The last few months have been very busy and we are now rapidly approaching the Christmas season, so there hasn't been much time for sewing and other projects. I did feel the need tho' for this one quick one in the hopes I will be inspired to do others.

I really like this sweater. The colour is cheery and it is warm and cozy.
Unfortunately the lambswool / angora blend make the turtleneck extremely scratchy. While I was loathe to damage the sweater by changing the neck, I wasn't wearing it in its present state, so I felt I had nothing to lose.

I debated whether to cut down the center or off to the side, but the side seemed to add the most interest.Should it start to fray, I will run a line of stitching down either side of the cut. If I ever do this again, I will do the stitching first, and then I won't have to worry.I like the way it looks now, and it does not muss my hair as much when pulling it on. (Why this should matter to a woman who does not comb her hair, I cannot tell you.) And now it will be worn, rather than being a wallflower in my cupboard.

Variations on a Theme

I lamented not too long ago how hard it is to find a rayon knit;this top is a rayon knit circa 1989. I can't remember what pattern I used but it is not my usual fare.
The skirt is a linen/cotton blend and is that same pattern as these skirts, with some modifications.

I lowered the waistline by about three inches, then used the waistband from this Vogue pattern.

Lovely Fabric, Wrong Style

Earlier this spring I found this skirt at a Jones New York discount outlet. After all of said discounts had been taken, I $7 for a linen/rayon blend with a pattern I found to be quite interesting was not outrageous. The skirt, however, was a size 18 and I usually wear a 12. That wasn't a deal breaker, so home it came.

First I tried to be lazy and just tuck in the waist a bit. I should know better. It looked....bizarre. Plus the hem hit me at mid-calf, which is never flattering.
So I cut off the waistband and about 3 inches from the bottom. The bottom band of fabric became the new waistband and,
voila!
I really need to learn how to smile, even if my teeth do dry off while I wait for the camera timer to count down.