With all the sewing I did leading up to opening our shop and with the orders I have done since, I haven’t had any time to sew for myself. As much as I love sewing lovely things for others to enjoy, I also truly enjoy making lovely things to keep for myself.
Having recently quit my day job we seem to be getting by just fine, but our budget is tight… which is tough for a girl who likes loves clothes. I’ve been fighting every impulse in my body not to go out and buy some of the latest fall trends! But a tight budget does not hold me back from adding new pieces to my wardrobe. My solution: sew them myself.
This pretty little pleated skirt I refashioned from a dress I found at Goodwill for just $9! As I got halfway through ripping the dress apart I realized I forgot to take a “before” picture, but trust me when I say it was hideous. It was straight out of the 80’s with giant shoulder pads, lace trim, puff sleeves, and a very unflattering silhouette. Really, the only good thing about it was the fabric.
The dress had a very full skirt so that is the part I used. After separating the skirt from the bodice I pinned pleats in the fabric. Now if you want to get specific with this part you can but I just eyeballed the pleats to fit my waist. I then attached the skirt to my waistband, added the zipper, and then hemmed the bottom. One tip I will give about making a great skirt: use interfacing in the waistband! I’ve made plenty of skirts now to know you do not want to go without it, especially if you carry a little bit of weight in you mid-section like I do. Adding interfacing to the backside of you waistband with give it a cleaner look and sturdier feel. No wrinkling and bending.
I simply adore how it turned out! Don’t you?
In other news, since quitting my day job I’ve absolutely loved being home full-time with my 2 year old, but WOW has it been an adjustment! I forgot how completely tiring and (I’ll be honest) a little lonely it can be. I’ve come to really realize how important good friendships are; and being relatively new to my area, close friends are still quite few. My husband is quite honestly my best friend, but would I be wrong in saying that sometimes a girl just needs another girl? No! We women and mothers thrive on the support and friendship of other women. When I was first married I might not have agreed, but now I find it absolutely vital. However, sometimes it is hard for me to reach out to other women for help because it seems like a sign of weakness; or maybe they might actually find out that I’m not super woman like they appear to be. Sometimes I feel I may be rejected. Sometimes it just feels easier to stay at home and tell myself I can do it without them.
Am I the only one with these fears when it comes to making new friends?
Unfortunately this has been my attitude this week. There is something about being close to “that-time-of-the-month” that makes me a depressive recluse. Time to bust out of my shell and make some friends, ones that go beyond acquaintances. Any advice or tips?
Linked to: http://www.shoppingmycloset.com/switch-style-wednesday-13/, http://stylelixir.com/2014/09/face-serums-review.html; http://www.delineateyourdwelling.com/2014/09/link-it-or-lump-it-party-56.html; http://dcinstyle.com/stripes-denim-linkup/; http://elizabethjoandesigns.com/2014/09/designs-time-28/; http://www.mabeyshemadeit.com/tell-tuesday-42/
Umm I’m just dying over this whole outfit! Way too go!
The skirt turned out beautifully! Love the whole outfit. Thanks for sharing with us at Your Designs This Time. Welcome back to linking up with us!
Thanks,
Emily & Erin
Beautiful! I LOVE IT! <3
That skirt is lovely, sometimes old baggy dressy are the best source of fabric.
I completely agree about needing to spend time with other women. Mums and Tots groups were a lifesaver for me and I made friends that I still see most weeks (and my youngest is 15!)
All so cute! Especially the belt and skirt!
You look lovely! I love the mint polka dot skirt, great mix with the rust colored cardigan, has a vintage feel to it!
from the link up
please stop by, jess
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I absolutely adore this whole look! You are so talented, I wish I could sew like that. I would probably save some money ;).
Tamara
http://www.trulytamara.com
I can’t believe that adorable skirt came from an 80’s dress. Ha! Good job! I absolutely love it and I’ve been looking for a midi polka dot skirt and can’t find one anywhere! Guess I need to go take a look at Goodwill. 😉
Sara, you are simply amazing! Love the skirt. You are social enough that I’m sure you will have a handful of girlfriends in no time. I have lived here for just over 1 year and still don’t know most of the women in my ward. I just got comfortable with knowing who the presidency was! I however, am very much an introvert. I really am ok with my situation, but I do rely on Facebook and the phone to have my girl time!
Believe me Havalah, it was! My husband laughed out loud when I took it out of the bag to show him what I’d bought haha. I have a feeling we might tend to think alike 😉 20 minutes is close enough for me, we should have a lunch date sometime!
Love the skirt; I’m sure the dress was a looker ; ). I totally agree with you about needing friends. Wish we lived a little bit closer : ). Making good friends is so hard, especially ones who think the same.
Thank you Chelsea, and I totally feel you! Close friends are hard to come by, but I suppose it takes being a good friend to have one (something I’m trying to work on). It is hard because often I get so wrapped up in my own agenda that I am only a friend when it is convenient for me. Any good relationship takes a bit of sacrifice and selflessness from both parties. I guess my fear is that I’ll put myself out there and give, give, and give and still have no close friends. Ah, if I could only get past my fears and selfish self!!
I love this skirt so much! Polka dots are my favorite 🙂 I’m sure adjusting to being home with a little one all the time is definitely an adjustment!
I love this outfit and how well the skirt turned out!
Unfortunately, being chronically ill, I have a huge problem with making friends as well too now that I’m out of college. It’s hard to get out and when you do, what do you say? “BE MY FRIEND!” haha. I can’t do a lot of things other people my age are apt to want to do like go partying, so I’m scared if I do make new friends, they’ll just bail like the friends I did have. I think it’s a huge necessity to have friends around you, especially supportive ones, but where do they come from? ha. Maybe I’ll just stick with the senior citizens I volunteer with!
Love the transformation! That skirt is so classic!
Liz @ ShoppingMyCloset.com