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10.15.2014

Once more with feeling

This is the part where I would make some further "Buffy" reference if I'd watched more than one season of that show. I tried guys but it was too much teen angst for this 35+ lady. Truth is that "Firefly" is always gonna be my go to Joss Whedon series. This girl was raised on sci-fi and cowboy movies and the marriage of those two genres fills me with glee.
Also on my personal scale of hotness Nathan Fillion is an 11, whereas David Boreanaz is too vaguely neanderthal like to be anything higher than a 2. Sorry David, at least you have that "Bones" money to keep you warm.

Anyway I thought the title of the "Famous/infamous" musical Buffy episode was perfect for today's post because I've got sewing repeats to share. Yes you've seen these garments on me before but not with leather jackets and switch blades. OK, maybe not with switch blades either. Mal told me to misbehave but that seemed to be taking it a bit too far.

First up the denim Beignet I mentioned making back in August. Look dudes, actual follow through on blog plans. I owe it all to my Frog task master who dug around the stash and found an oddly narrow piece of stretch denim. It turned out to be the perfect amount for a Beignet skirt.
Worn with Nettie, a Target Scarf and that Leather jacket I sewed back in 2012
The sewing process went a lot faster the second time around. Partly because all the pattern pieces were traced and partly cause I knew how all the parts fit together.  The only construction change was to piece the pockets together with a lighter weight fabric to cut down on bulk. The pocket was cut about 2" away from where it connects with the side seam. Seam allowance was added to both sides of the cut and, Ta Da, a two piece pocket. I used a scrap of cotton/rayon for the majority of the bag and the self fabric at the edge.
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The lining used on this Beignet is also a repeat from the stash. Is it an animal print? Is it a mod leaf print? You decide. Just know that you'll be seeing it again because it seems to be regenerating back in a dark corner of the stash cave. Wonder if it will teach this trick to certain other pieces of fabric.
One other thing to discuss, turns out that when covering buttons with stretch denim the color gets lighter. Maybe I should have tried interfacing the denim to see if that limited the amount of stretch. Oh well, that smart idea just occurred to me now instead of presenting itself to Past Heather. Curse you brain with your tardy brain storms! 
Enough about my anal retentive issues with button shades which no one else will care about. How cute is this with tights and boots? It's exactly how I'd pictured it. Guess Froggie knew what he was doing by making sure I followed through on my sewing plans.

But wait there's more, on to skirt number two. Remember how I put a black denim pencil skirt on the Fall Essentials Sew-a-long?  No, yes, no? Well I went with remaking Burda 127 pencil skirt with my hacked "lips" waistband.
Worn with a Target sweater, luxulite brooch, and a RTW suede jacket.
This denim is also medium weight so the facing was switched out with, gasp, more of the polka dot remnant. What can I say, that polka dot fabric is a shameless hussy when it come to jumping to the top of the scraps box. Only thing I'd change on the waistband is to use a heavier weight interfacing to help keep the "lips" standing up. One side always seems to be flopping over when ever I peek in the mirror.
I used stretch denim again so this is nice and comfy even with the heavier weight fabric. I fear for the state of my invisible zipper every time I pull it over the waistband seam hump, but otherwise this is an easy wear item. You'll have to take my word for it that the skirt has nice top stitching on the princess seams and the waistband. I wouldn't skimp on top stitching like I would on photos.
I'm starting to make decent inroads on the Fall Essentials Sew-a-long list now that everyone's immune systems have stabilized. But we can talk about that on a later date when the males of the household aren't looking at me longingly hoping I'll magically make some food appear. The small one warns me that I'm arresting his development and that it's a serious issue. Better start dinner before he calls child services on me.

40 comments:

  1. Both skirt look great! I like the fit - not loose, but not tight. And the outfits? I swoon.

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  2. Nathan Fillion rocks! I used to like David Boreanaz, but then saw him on Leno/Letterman and he was such a meat head idiot it turned me off forever. Nice job on you FESA!

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  3. Amen for your first two paragraphs!

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  4. Fillion forever!!! Have to say it's a bummer when an actors personality totally kills your crush. Heard Chris Evens on a podcast once and he came off like a drunk frat boy. Ewwwwww.

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  5. Haa haa! Fist bump Anita. No to teenage angst, yes to caption tight pants.

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  6. Thanks man! Stretch denim is the shit as far as I'm concerned.


    So we'll see how long I actually wear these sort of outfits. I'm pretty sure that I'll be piling on the wool pretty soon.

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  7. Awesome outfits!! Lady you look goooood.....! How bad is it that I don't know either of these guys???

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  8. I think you need to learn about Nathan Fillion. You can forget all about David and his sub-par acting. :)

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  9. The first two paragraphs of this post are everything. (And also your makes are really cute and awesome, but you had me at Firefly.)

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  10. Great skirts! I love them with tights and boots, and those awesome red shoes! I'm totally with you on Buffy (and David Boreanz) - I tried so hard to get into it, but I just couldn't. I way prefer the movie version with Luke Perry and Kristy Swanson.

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  11. Totally with you on Mr. Fillion. And I actually like the slightly lighter buttons!

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  12. Great new shirts, I like them both on you so much and they will be great in your wardrobe.

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  13. Both skirts, gorgeous! But the first few paragraphs! Oh how I love the sewing community :-) I never really got into firefly, and only recently watched buffy. Just nerding out here =] =] =] thank you for sharing

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  14. You're SO CUTE. I'm dying over these outfits! Of jealousy. Time to get me some stretch denim!

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  15. I love the Beignet skirt and I really didn't notice that the buttons were lighter until you pointed it out. I love the outfit around it as well. The black skirt also looks good. And stretch denim? Rocks!

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  16. Firefly is definitely my Whedon-verse of choice, too. I did watch the first 4 seasons of Buffy (when it first aired, and teenage angst was fun because I WAS a teenager), but her first year of college kind of killed it for me. But I do love Firefly. And Dr. Horrible, and Castle, because Nathan Fillion. Anyway. Great cool-weather outfits, and kudos to you for covering all those buttons with denim. I think the last time I attempted to cover buttons was for the wedding dress, it drove me crazy, and I gave up and bought stuff. And that was with dupioni, not thick stuff like denim!!

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  17. Love the skirts! I need a denim skirt in my life now. :)


    Also, I am a Buffy fan, but David Boreanaz is better off the show than on. And Mal is a muuuuch better character than Angel!

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  18. Haa haa! Thanks. "They can't take the sky from me."

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  19. You know, I have to agree about the movie version. Luck Perry isn't bad in that even though he was never one of my pretend boyfriends.

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  20. You are making me feel better about my buttons Morgan. Thank you.

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  21. Thank you Lori. I'm already reaching for them a lot. It does pay to sew basics occasionally.

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  22. There are so many fun nerds in the sewing community Elizabeth. I love that too. Fillion forever!

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  23. Thank you Jo. Froggie says he can hook you up with some stretch denim. He only requires payment in the form of chocolate. ;)

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  24. Helena you are telling me what I want to hear about the buttons.Thank you! Stretch denim is the bees knees, unless you're covering buttons. ;)

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  25. Yesss, high five Becky. Firefly is number one but Fillion is so funny in Dr. Horrible..."The hammer is my penis." Snort giggling just thinking about it.

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  26. You do need an denim skirt in your life Andie. Make it sew. ;)
    Agree with you 100% about Mal being a better character. Oh Mal, why can't you be real.

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  27. Look at you taking care of business! These are seriously cute and super wearable! I've never seen Buffy (I wasn't really into TV when it first aired) and... OK... forgive me... BUT... I tried to watch Firefly but I thought it was boring and just couldn't get into it! Feel free to cut me out of the will! Veronica Mars gives me my fix of teen angst so I probably won't go down the Buffy road.

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  28. Don't worry, I'll still love you even if we can't agree on Firefly. ;) Have to say that I enjoyed the first season of Veronica Mars a lot more than Buffy. Though it always made me laugh when she was moaning about being an "outcast". I'm like, girl you have at least 3 guys interested in you at all times.

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  29. OOH don't you look amazing! Both are super great!

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  30. Thanks Emily. So now I have a few things done for the Fall sewing plan. How is yours going?

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  31. You look great! And the skirts, too! Who's the photographer?

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  32. Thank you Christine. I have no photographer other than myself. :) I use a tripod and the self timer on my camera.

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  33. Gorgeous! Seriously loving your style but must confess to never having watched firefly but with a description that includes sci-fi AND cowboys I'm gonna have to fix that. In between S3 of Arrow, S1 of the Flash and Gotham. Not to mention Dr Who. Autumn = awesome telly!

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  34. Um... I need to look at it again? I got the two pieces done for the contest and the tunic I wanted. Then I went off plan and made a Lola and a tunic top with another Lola cut out. Do you think that will make up for the jacket and pants? I have no mind to work on complicated things like jackets or pants right now...

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  35. www.tresbienensemble.comOctober 17, 2014 at 11:55 AM

    Fabulous outfits! I really love the denim covered buttons. I may need a replica skirt in my closet to prevent me from tracking down and stealing yours. :-D

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  36. Yes! Don't make your self sew things you're not in the mood to sew. Will only lead to disaster.

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  37. That is a lot of awesome telly. Feel like us geeky people have finally taken over. :)

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  38. Haa haa! If you do steal mine I'll think it's in the laundry long enough for you to make a clean get away.

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  39. I am in total envy of your denim stash. Good denim is like gold dust where I live. Excellent skirt duo.
    I wish I could have gotten into Firefly (I've tried twice) but it just isn't doing it for me. Nathan Fillion is too ingrained in my mind as Johnny from Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place :-)

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  40. Sounds like Froggie needs to organize an emergency denim drop stat!

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