The '90s are Vintage?!?! A Plaid Top and Skirt

Note to Self: Everything becomes vintage at some point.

Briefly: This is the draped skirt, without the drape, and the top I made to wear under an open necked shirt (another experiment) because sleeveless tops don't fly solo here in the winter.

practicing good posture

 The top is New Look 6393 circa 1995. I made the dress view that same year, the summer I spent working in Norway House. (I'm always amazed how things are catalogued in my brain. I had a grand time while I was there. I went up the first time in the early spring that year. When we were approaching the airport that first time, I was somewhat worried as I could see no sign of a town. The residents of Norway House used the Nelson River for most of their travel so the majority of the houses around 'Government Point' are spread out along the river.)
I first made the top last summer from an apricot-coloured double gauze with a laughing hippo print. I wore the top to my mother's 80th birthday party (as one does) but I can't find a picture right now, and it is tucked away until spring. (Marie made her beloved a pair of pyjama pants from the same fabric, if you are at all curious about what this laughing hippo double gauze looks like.)

Ok now, focus on the current project! (Apparently I don't do 'briefly'.) The front of the skirt is still partially on the bias.

 The plaids match in places, (rather amazing since I just cut down the draped front to a straight skirt,)

and at least merge slightly on the other side.

The pullover shirt the sleeveless top was made to go with.

 It looks better in this photo. (That's the difference between taking photos before rushing off to work and on a Saturday morning.)

It's more 'edgy' and 'structured' when you make a top from a felted wool instead of the recommended knit. And that is soooo important, because your know, I am am all about wearing clothes that are 'edgy'. :P I've used the top from this pattern a number of times. The skirt, not so much, as I don't do ruffles, and I have yet to try the faux wrapped front.

Here is a rather bad selfie of another version, with long sleeves.

yes, that is an oar hanging in the background.

Apparently, unbeknownst to me, this look is becoming quite trendy. Hot Patterns has just released a pattern along these lines. Go have a look and see what a I mean. I'm un-accustomed to being on the bleeding edge of anything. Tho' come to think of it, the Geek and I were way ahead of the super-short-haired trend too.

There are a great number of asides in this post and very little actual information. I thank you for your patience.

The Draped Skirt Experiment

Note to Self: This experimenting thing is fun. I don't know why I always avoid it.

Briefly: A few months ago (in November to be exact) Kate from Fabricated posted pictures of her draped skirt projects. She draped some on the stand and then posted instructions about how to make a draped skirt from a skirt block. I was intrigued.

So I  used my TNT straight skirt pattern to make this ...

The Geek was quite perplexed as to what this might possibly be.

In my stash I some nice wool (but not so nice that I was reluctant to use it on an experiment) in the recommended plaid so I gave it a whirl.

While it wasn't a total success as I used french seam (my serger thinks I shouldn't air our dirty linen in public and is acting up again) resulting in a overall seam allowance of 3/4 of an inch rather than 1/2 an inch. I agree this doesn't sound like much but I lost a crucial half inch of ease in the process and  have gone from a slim skirt to a snug skirt.

Snugness aside, the larger draped section sits right the widest part of my hips. When I try this again, I will move it, likely down, a few inches.

I didn't get as far as ironing the side seams as I knew this wasn't going to work as-is.

Despite the front being cut on the bias, I am somewhat tickled about how the plaid pattern is working along the side seam. It isn't quite matched but adds some interesting detail, especially on the draped side.

I'm going to try to rescue this skirt but taking it apart to try cutting the front on-grain from the current bias-cut front. It would be a shame to let that pattern matching across the back go to waste.