Astoria Sweater and Veronika Skirt

Hey Everyone! I have been trying for the last few days to get a few minutes to post about my new top and skirt but time has been really scarce this week. My oldest son tripped over some shoes on Tuesday and he wouldn’t walk after it happened. His foot was swollen but we weren’t sure if he was just milking the accident so that we would carry him around or let him sit on the couch watching cartoons. I thought maybe he would forget about it overnight, but Wednesday morning he still wouldn’t walk so I took him to the doctor and we were sent to get an X-Ray. Today we got the call that he’s got a fracture in his foot. Now I feel really badly for griping at him for all of the whining I’ve heard the last few days! We are also trying to potty train Andrew, which has not been a lot of fun so far.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand! I made this Veronika skirt over a month ago, right after I made my Brumby skirt. This is a free pattern from Megan Nielsen and it can be made in knit or woven fabric. I dove right in with this mystery knit that’s been in my stash for a while. I think it’s a rayon spandex blend, based on the feel. I love this skirt so much. There is nothing like a circle skirt, even when you’re 42 years old. It just makes me want to twirl around like Diana Prince about to change into Wonder Woman.

It’s recommended that the skirt hang for 24 hours before hemming so that the hem can drop. Mine definitely dropped in some places and I tried to even it out, but without a dress form I think it’s really hard to do. My hemline is sort of uneven, but since so full at the hem it doesn’t bother me too much. I tried hemming it with a zig zag stitch on my sewing machine, but it came out wavy and horrible. I ended up ripping it out, which took an eternity, and for now it’s unhemmed. (I broke my jersey twin needle and haven’t replaced it yet or I would have hemmed it that way.) This fabric doesn’t fray or roll at the bottom so I will probably just leave it as is.

I also finally got around to making the Astoria cropped sweater from Seamwork Magazine. I was worried it would fit badly, since my Oslo Cardigan really didn’t fit me well. But after I saw the fantastic version that Teresa from Navy Blue Threads made I decided to give it a shot. I am really surprised at how much I like it. I am planning a few minor changes for my next one– a forward shoulder adjustment, adding an inch to an inch and a half in length, and lowering the center front neckline about half an inch. I feel like it’s hitting me in sort of a strange spot right in the front. I made a size M graded to a L and it’s a good fit. (My bust is 37″ and my waist is 32″.)

The fabric I used for the top is this black cotton/spandex jersey from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. It’s very similar to the Laguna Jersey that I use all the time for knit tops. I am planning to make both of these patterns again. A ponte version of the skirt is high on my list for fall after seeing this gorgeous mustard Veronkia skirt from Meg. And maybe one day I’ll try a woven skirt, but the knit one is just so comfy and quick to make.

Despite this looking like a Fall outfit I’m still working on shorts and t-shirts, too. Are you guys still sewing for summer or have you moved on to Fall clothes?

~Teri