The Skirts!

[shiredancer]

I have no idea how this is going to work -- but here is an attempt to show off The Skirts, using this newfangled ScrapBook and Gallery stuff that I discovered here in LJ-land. So, behind the cut...

	Some of the skirts Kidlet in the middle with the red songbook.
	More skirts. More of the group, before the carolling began.
	Kidlet Kidlet posing. Notice that green taffeta? *Sigh* Very proud of that one.
	Thirteen skirts (and the girls who wore them!) All but two of the group.
	Kidlet My Little Woman.

I didn't have them finished by Thanksgiving, and yes, they haunted me over the four-day holiday, just as I feared. I stayed up until midnight Sunday and Monday, catching the last fittings at rehearsals ("You! Stop. Put this on. Hold still. Thanks!) and zipping home to put in hems. I handed out all but one on Tuesday -- *one* last fitting, then went to finish the last hem on the last skirt during rehearsal -- and there was a huge *crunch* sound and my sewing machine stopped dead. I wore the poor little thing out! So I did what any good seamstress would do -- with one more yard of skirt to hem, I whipped out a needle and thread and finished it by hand, *and* in time to return it at the end of the rehearsal. Thank goodness, the sewing machine only needed some serious oiling -- because I still had Kidlet's hem to do on Wednesday night. "Oh, I see where *I* rank in your priorities!" "Honey, I can finish yours at 2 a.m. if I have to. But the others had to get to the girls."

So tonight they carolled at a downtown event full of lights and poinsettias and Santa and lots and lots of music, and I must say I was *enormously* proud of those skirts. And for the first time in almost four weeks, when we got home -- I didn't have a single commitment to meet. La!

Comments

[magickalmolly.livejournal.com]

Ah honey, I'm so proud of you. Those skirts are gorgeous, and I know whay a pain it is to sew a slippery fabric, so I'm also quite impressed! You actually gathered all the waistbands! I would have flipped them over and added an elastic, ahhaha.

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

*Blush* Thank you, my dear. And yes -- that slippery fabric was a *pain*! The burgundy ones were the only ones like that -- they're actually made of that polyester, fake-sateen lining fabric (you know what I mean). But don't they look *rich*?

Since I was using three 60" wide panels for each skirt, and was too lazy to cut them down (I just used selvage-to-selvage, didn't have to finish any seams that way -- hey, I was cutting corners!), I was afraid an elastic band would get way too bulky around their waists. The gathering actually worked like a charm -- the plaid taffetas were amazingly easy.

Thanks again!

[realdaisygamgee.livejournal.com]

Holy shit, Sally! That's...wow. Seriously, I'm all aboggle. *applause*

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Now that's high praise, considering some of the projects I've seen *you* turn out! *curtsies* Thank you, lovie. I'm so *glad* it's done.

[nonniemous.livejournal.com]

Wow, those are simply gorgeous! As is Kidlet. I'm totally impressed.

Of course she accused you of having skewed priorities. That's what kids do, no matter the actual logic of things.

And lovely to not have anything hanging over your head for once!

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, I know how it is with kids. And she totally accepted my explanation. We're raising quite the little trouper, here.

Yes... I can return to my usual degenerate ways now, whoot!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

They are beautiful! I can only imagine how much that must have added to the enjoyment (of the carollers and their audience). Like stepping back in time.

You must be so proud of yourself - you did it!

I hope you get to relax for a while now. And I'm really glad your sewing machine just needed oiling. What a relief!

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

*Curtsies* Thank you!

And yep, I'm feeling quite proud -- I was beaming all last night. They had the best outfits of all the carollers there. *Preens*

Yeah, I was relieved about the sewing machine too. I could tell it was grinding more and more -- I really work that thing. It's just a cheap model, but I like it, and it's lightweight so I can haul it to my weekly sewing group too.