Summer Vacation Wardrobe Update - The Pictures!

Blue embroidered linen dress I'm working on right now. It's McCalls 6503.

Finished black circle skirt trimmed in black and red plaid.

Black and red plaid pockets for the above skirt.

Partially finished denim high waisted shorts.

Partially finished pink high waisted shorts.

Wearing the red pique pencil skirt to work. Aka my Dr Quinzel Pencil Skirt.

Wearing my brown capris and white bolero to work.

Partially finished red and black plaid bodice.

Weekend Success!

Denim high waisted shorts? DONE.

Pink high waisted shorts? DONE.

Black circle skirt trimmed with black and red plaid? Also DONE. The most challenging part of this skirt was piecing together scraps of the plaid to have enough bias for the hem. I mean, they were SCRAPS. Definitely one of the most frugal things I've ever sewn! I did go for the non-wrap skirt option, with a half elastic waist in the back. I used a Butterick reprint dress pattern for the skirt, and that's the way the dress is done so I figured it made sense to do the skirt the same way.

And my mom's skirt just needs the added bits to be hemmed, which shouldn't take long. Her skirt is difficult for me, because it's hard to imagine what it'll look like on when her body type is so different from mine. So fingers crossed it works out well.

I also: Cleaned my room. Cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes. And started packing for vacation.

Update on My Retro Inspired Summer Vacation Wardrobe

So far...
1. Finished the dotted swiss dress with matching reversible bolero. (unlikely to actually take on vacation since it's you know, white, plus it may be too fancy for vacation)
2. Red and black gingham printed bottomweight high waisted shorts with coordinating top and sleeveless shrug.
3. Red pique pencil skirt. (I still haven't decided if this is going with me or not, because it skirts that too dressy line)
4. Pink and black plaid pencil skirt (Probably not packing. The cotton pique I can argue being not too dressy, but not this skirt as its a little on the sateen side)
5. Star Trek wrap circle skirt
6. White on white striped cotton wrap blouse.
7. Black and white Paris printed cotton blouse.
8. 60s shift dress in pink floral. (Even though its a dress, this is going because I think its casual enough)
9. Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt with pockets and tabs on the waistband.
10. Dotted brown bottomweight capris.
11. Pink plaid-ish shorts. Which gave me issues. Although it was the same pattern as the red and black shorts, these were too small, I think because the fabric lacked stretch. So I took the half done waistband off, took out the zipper, ripped out the center seam, resewed the center seam with a 3/8 inch seam instead of the previously used 5/8, put the zipper back in, tried them on. They were still just a touch snug, so I took out the back darts and made them into little pleats so the waistband is still the same size and they still sit where I want them, but the shorts themselves have a little more give. I'm also thinking that maybe I should have lined the shorts, but its too late for that now. All they need is the hook and eye closure, but I'm going to give them a laundering first.
12. Cropped pullover in blue embroidered linen.

On my to do list:
1. Finish the denim high waisted shorts. I plan to do some topstitching, redo the as of now basted zipper, put on the waistband and launder before I add the hook and eye, in case the fabric shrinks.
2. Finish the black circle skirt, which I still haven't decided if its going to be a wrap skirt or not. Leaning towards not and maybe even giving it an elastic waistband... I've started pinning the red and black trimming on. I had to piece the back piece of the skirt, so I'm going to emphasize that with a line of plaid, and echo it on the front as well. I also have pockets in the plaid for the front.
3. If I manage to finish everything else, I may try to get the blue linen dress finished, even if it doesn't go on vacation with me.

While not for MY vacation wardrobe, I need to finish the conversion of a pair of capris into a skirt for my mother, for HER vacation wardrobe.

This weekend, I need to finish that sewing, do some laundry and start packing.

PS There's pictures over on my Instagram (midnyghtsnow) but I'm on a borrowed computer and I can't get them posted over here :(

Radically Revised To Do List

Since my 2013 Sewing To Do List is obviously not happening, here's what I'd like to do over the next few months, in absolutely NO particular order:

1. Finish my retro-inspired summer vacation wardrobe (black skirt trimmed in red and black plaid, pink shorts, denim shorts, blue linen dress, seersucker blouse)

2. Finish the embroidered quilt top and get it pinned before cold weather comes. Then spend the winter hand quilting it.

3. Start my 18th century outfit, if I could have the undergarments finished before the end of the year I'd be happy. Heck if I could get them started, I'd be happy.

4. Finish my green and gold outfit. I want to make a longer overskirt in green trimmed in gold and a gold underskirt. By Pandoracon if possible. If not, then Ohayocon. Maybe use the wash overskirt pattern?

5. I have this idea for a new steampunk outfit, either in some train fabric I was gifted recently, or some clearance travel-esque fabric I bought a while back in oranges and yellows.

6. Finish a quilt top I started FOREVER ago.

7. And for lucky number seven, make a wash overskirt in my grey satin trimmed to heck with black and silver and red.

8. Oh, and make a skirt from the two yards of wide wale purple corduroy I just bought. Can you say winter work wardrobe?

9. And I'd really love to make a coat. I have a pattern in my stash that's only like 10 years old or so... It's Vogue 7634.

Completed Projects as of July 19 2013

• Finished Suicide Squad Harley Quinn for Ohayocon
• Embroidery portion of my embroidered quilt
• Keeper of the Keys corset
• Baby quilt for my cousin's little girl
• Quickie zebra print, elastic waist skirt
• Pink and white steampunk underwear ensemble.
• Green and gold corset and bustle.
• Green cotton lobster tail bustle.
• Comic print pants
• Striped corduroy skirt
• Teal pintucked taffeta underskirt 
• A new nursing cover for my sister in law in Dutch themed cotton prints (finished before June 3rd). Purchased fabric, stash thread pattern and D rings.
• Red and black gingham shorts (finished before June 13th) and matching bodice (finished before July 17th) Purchased fabric ribbon and zippers, stash thread and pattern.
• Red pique pencil skirt (finished before June 13th). Purchased pattern fabric and zipper, stash thread and lace hem tape.
• Pink and black plaid pencil skirt (finished before June 13th). Purchased fabric and zipper, stash thread and pattern.
• Star Trek wrap circle skirt (finished before June 13th). Purchased fabric, stash thread and pattern.
• White striped sateen wrap blouse (finished before June 13th) Purchased and stash fabric, stash thread and pattern.
• Paris printed cotton bodice. (finished before June 13th) I think I purchased a zipper, the thread pattern and fabric were from my stash.
• 60s shift dress (finished before June 13th) Purchased fabric and zipper, stash thread and pattern. Still ecstatic about my first vintage pattern sewn!
• Dotted swiss sundress (finished before June 13th) Purchased fabric (some may count as stash because I purchased it several months ago), stash pattern, thread, and elastic.
• Green knit shrug (finished before June19th) Purchased fabric, downloaded pattern, stash thread button and elastic (for the button loop)
• Reversible dotted swiss jacket (finished before June19th) Stash fabric pattern and thread.
• Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt (finished before June19th) Purchased fabric, stash thread buttons and zipper.
• Brown capris (finished before June 21st) Purchased fabric and zipper, stash pattern and closure.
• Oh and a commissioned Mad Moxxi costume! (finished by the end of May)

EDITED

• Sleeveless jacket in the red and black plaid. Stash everything. (I think I finished this on July 21st)

Update on my 2013 To Do List

1. I set the goal to try out a couple tutorials I found online. I did make American Duchess' Lobster Tail Bustle, but I haven't gotten around to the Butterfly Bustle Drape on Your Wardrobe Unlocked

2. And I still haven't made my Alison swimsuit. It was going to be part of my summer vacation wardrobe but I just haven't gotten around to it.

3. Nor have I made the1884 Wash Overskirt from Truly Victorian. Although I did trace the pattern, so that's a step in the right direction.

4. The Natural Form Victorian dress hasn't happened either.

5. Or the 18th century costume, starting with the stays. Although I do have fabric for the stays, so that's something.

6. Or the Regency outfit, probably a dress and spencer, based off of Simplicity 4055


I have sewn a lot this year. It's just depressing to me that I haven't made much progress on my 2013 sewing goals.

What Has Miss Wilde Been Up To?

I started the lolita commission. The cream overskirt is ready for a try on and the grey tiered underskirt needs a little work, but it will be ready soon. The red overskirt is on hold because I don't have ribbon for the ties and its too hot to iron the seams. (90s all week + no central air = no ironing, among other things)

Other than that, I've been working to get things finished for my upcoming trip to New England! You know, that whole retro summer vacation wardrobe idea.

So far, I've made:

1. Brown capris (that I liked better when I actually wore them, in case you were wondering)
2. Red and black gingham high waisted shorts with a matching bodice (the bodice just needs ribbon ties on the halter neck before it's finished)
3. Red pique pencil skirt
4. Black and red large gingham plaid pencil skirt
5. Star Trek printed cotton wrap circle skirt
6. Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt with pockets and I'm in the process of adding tabs to the waist to solve a little fit issue
7. White striped sateen wrap blouse
8. Black and white Paris printed cotton blouse
9. Pink 60s shift dress from a vintage pattern
10. White and blue dotted swiss dress

What I hope to make before I leave:

1. Finish the blue linen dress that I've barely started
2. A cropped pullover top from the leftover blue linen (it'd look great with those brown capris!)
3. Another pair of high waisted shorts, probably in denim
4. Black wrap circle skirt trimmed in the red and black gingham to coordinate with the shorts and bodice
5. Maybe another 60s shift dress (I definitely want another one, just don't know if I can get it done before vacation)
6. And if I end up with extra time, that 40s seersucker blouse. Which I have started, I just can't get up the interest to work on it

What's in Miss Wilde's Sewing Basket today? The measuring tape skirt and tabs. The blue linen dress with interfacing (okay, its really leftover poly cotton broadcloth from lining the Swiss dot dress because as you know, I really hate interfacing) for me to hand baste.

After all the sewing is done, then of course comes the best part -- the PACKING FOR VACATION.