Christmas Skirt for Mom (posted in May? No big deal.)

You know what? I'd just like to make it policy on this blog that projects are posted at least 4 to 5 months after completion. That way, I'll never be in danger of breaking rules or disappointing. 

The Christmas budget ran kind of low last year (that awkward moment where you're a teenager with hardly any time to babysit and an insatiable appetite for fabric), so I ended up making a lot of my presents and stash busting at the same time!

Here's the skirt I made for Mom: 

I found this pattern in another Alabama Chanin book (this one here) that was gifted to me for my birthday last year. 

Both the pattern and the stencil are from the book.

I left the hem as a raw edge, NOT because I ran out of time! Please, I managed my time perfectly on this project. (Does anyone know how to convey sarcasm over the internet?). A lot of Alabama Chanin projects are left with raw hems and edges, which I really like the look of in jersey fabric. 

I ended up getting fold-over elastic later and finishing the waistband with that instead so it would fit Mom better. 

She loves the weight of the skirt, warm enough for San Francisco, and it's professional enough for conferences and work! And so very comfy in jersey fabric. 

How does everyone else stashbust their fabric collection?

-Taft WK 

Winter Formal Dress 2015

I know, it's so so so so late, but better late than never! 

This is the first dress that I patterned completely from scratch, completely of my own design! I started with a bodice sloper and altered it to fit me and then added the design details. 

Here's the cutting process: 

And a hella artsy preview picture for Instagram: 

I kept really good notes for myself on the envelope for this project. I'd done it all from scratch and I don't trust my memory to be my only reference. 

The final product!

This fabric is a crinkled, silver taffeta from Britex Fabrics. It was surprisingly affordable considering where I bought it, and the crinkles meant there was a little bit of stretch in it. 

The asymmetrical neckline on this dress was a major design point and was drafted several times before I settled on the perfect shape. It was a little tricky to cut out and position on the fabric, but I'm very satisfied with the outcome. 

Short sleeves. Looking back, I wish I had made them just a little bit shorter, but I was (of course) rushed to finish. 

Both the front and back had darts coming up from the waist. (Is there a technical name for that?) 

THE BACK IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. BUUUUTTTOOOONNNSS. More on this later.

The skirt is a half circle skirt; full enough that it moved well, but not so full that the fabric yardage became expensive.

And the back! I just adore those buttons. My machine *thinks* it can do buttonholes, but it really can't, so I had to hand-bind all of them (while watching Legally Blonde on a babysitting job, of course!). Unfortunately, I made them a little to big and it kept coming unbuttoned while I was dancing! My friends were on the lookout and buttoned me back up whenever they noticed ;). 

Also, shout out to my mom for that epic French twist hairdo. 

Speaking of which, here's my friend Cat and I before the dance! We got some awesome awkward couple pics together. 

-Taft WK 

P.S. Webers! That's GG's crystal necklace I'm wearing. And the matching bracelet too! Beautiful jewelry, I've worn it with all the fancy dresses I've made.