Does this dog make me look fat?

As you can see in the sidebar, I'm gamely trying Kitschy Coo's Sew-Along where we draft patterns based on our own measurements and then sew grown-up garments for ourselves. The first project is a skirt (due March 20th!) I have mixed feelings about this project. I'm glad we're doing it first because it was pretty easy to draft and even easier to sew. But I'm bummed about it because I don't really wear that many skirts these days. It's too hard to sit on the ground in Kindermusik or chase around the park in a skirt. But then there's always Moms' Night Out! And so I soldier on.

I just finished the first "draft" (well, technically second draft since I chopped about 3 inches off the length) and like all my first drafts, I really hate it. I'm just trying to put my finger on WHY I hate it so much.

Here's a picture. It doesn't show the skirt well at all, because the only big mirrors in my house are a) on the closet doors b) a little old and warped and c) filthy. And also I suck. But this picture so perfectly captures my failed attempts at self-photography that I thought I would include it so you can laugh at me.

Please don't leave comments telling me you can't see the skirt. I know you can't. That's why I suck.

Lessons learned from this first/second draft.

1. Drafting patterns (so far) is super fun. Geeky domestic bliss.

2. I learned how to sew in an invisible zipper. It was a bad place for the book to say "see illustration" and then not have an illustration. But I got it on the 2nd attempt.

3. I think I got the sweep right. There was enough room for me to kneel down and change the horrifically epic diaper that Rylee was cooking up in the above picture.

4. I do like the length I have now. The first length would have suited Carolyn Ingalls on a saucy day. Way dowdy. I could have chopped off a bit more, but since I'm raising the waist I think I'll leave it as is.

5. I either bought the wrong kind of bias tape or the invisible zip had a bigger seam allowance than I had. The zipper doesn't go all the way to the top so there's about 1/4" gap at the waist closure. Next draft I'll measure both those things and adjust accordingly.

I think these are the reasons for hating it.

1. I did the waist too low. The author of the book said something about "this is where most of us wear our clothing" but I think she meant skinny people. I need the waist to be closer to my true waist. It looks like a tube on me. An hourglass figure, albeit it closer to the Wicked Witch's hourglass than an egg timer, is the best thing I've got going right now. So might as well work it.

2. Similarly I think I was too generous in the measurements. Again, the book author said to be sure to be generous so the clothing wouldn't pinch. But fat compresses comfortably a little bit. :-)

Happily, the twill I used for my "muslin" was only $2.99 at the cheapy fabric store. I used 2/3 a yard for the first (too long) draft. Throw in a 49c zipper and half a package of bias tape and this little bit of learning set me back only about $3.50.  I have a super pretty Amy Butler twill coming today that I will use once I get this right. Squeeeeeee!

Back to the drawing board.