The Delphine

I mentioned in a post that I just bought a sewing machine, and since then, I've tried to squeeze in small projects here and there as much as I can. Hemming pants and curtains, making little bags and a pencil case....Well, guys, I thought it was time to sew a garment I can actually wear.

I decided to use the Delphine skirt pattern from the book Love at First Stitch by Tilly and the Buttons.

I love my Janome, y'all! 

The book comes with full-sized patterns printed on both sides of a large paper. I traced my size onto tissue papers to preserve the original.

Here it was after seaming the sides and now trying to attach the waist band. I used a cheap craft cotton fabric from Michael's because this was technically the toile (like a "first draft").

Did so many things for the first time for this skirt, such as using an interfacing.

 Although I'm not a perfectionist, I really wanted the seams to be aligned, which was not as easy for me to accomplish. Hence, I had to do some ripping coz I knew the misalignment would drive me bonkers. Well, this was what I ended up with...

My finished Delphine...weeeee!

My invisible zipper is not that invisible, and the waistband got moved somehow so one is slightly higher. The inside is also pretty wonky, but I sewed a skirt! Right!?!?
(For those of you who've been sewing for awhile, don't laugh! :P)

I tucked in my top so you can see the fit on me.

You bet I wore it while out and about even though it's a toile because...well, I just made a skirt!

With Gap jacket and tank top, Converse shoes, Fossil bag

I highly recommend Love At First Stitch to everyone. Everything is so clearly written and very easy to follow. This skirt took me two days just because I had to go to my dealer and buy an invisible zipper foot for the machine, but you can certainly whip this out in a day if you have all the stuff handy (and probably in an hour if you're experienced:D)

Being a beginner, I've been devouring all the sewing books I can get my hands on, and these are my fave:)

1) Love At First Stitch (of course)
2) Diana Rupp's Sew Everything Workshop
3) Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing (This is the library copy, but I'll be buying my own copy soon.)
4) The Sewing Book (not pictured) is a good reference book as well.
I found a super nice sewing teacher who does private lessons, so fingers crossed I can set up an appointment with her soon and learn in a more hands-on way.

Do any of you sew? I'm kinda in love with it now. Knitting and sewing...what more can a girl want?

Speaking of knitting, this is the latest thing I've knitted: a school vest for my daughter:)

Happy Monday, everyone!