EASTER

31 Mar EASTER

When I realized the weather would be too cold to wear my navy lace dress for Easter, I set it aside for Mother’s Day, but I didn’t give up on such a pretty lace making its Easter debut, and made Mimi a skirt with the extra lace from Mood Fabrics.

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During the Mood Sewing Network Lace Challenge, several readers suggested lining the lace with white or nude to make it pop which was a great suggestion!

 To give the fabric the structure it needed for a straight skirt I underlined it with a medium weight silk organza and constructed the skirt the Susan Khalje way – basting the organza to the lace, and catch-stitching the seams to the organza. Then I lined the skirt with navy china silk.

Wow  – I forgot how using these techniques move a garment into a higher echelon of clothing!

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Had I been making the skirt for myself I might have inserted an invisible zipper, but for Mimi the on trend metal zip prevailed. How I would love to find some pretty zipper pulls!

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 I used the K a t i e  Spade Judy Skirt pattern to complement her cute Kate Spade top. Today Mimi wore a chartreuse sweater over her blouse, but for my blogging purposes she set aside comfort and warmth to model the skirt.

IMG_1097 Sew far I can say sewing with lace produces high impact results and I believe I am hooked!

As far as my Easter outfit –  to avoid freezing I resurrected a tired Doncaster suit by reworking the skirt, but next year Easter falls on April 20th – surely a perfect day for a navy lace dress. 🙂

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H a p p y  E a s t e r  to all who are celebrating!

goodbyevalentino
goodbyevalentino@gmail.com
No Comments
  • Becky
    Posted at 18:00h, 31 March Reply

    This is lovely. What a lucky daughter to have a mom like you. You are inspiring me to look at lace!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:50h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you so much, Becky! Sewing with lace is sooooo much easier than I expected. I hope you’ll give it a try 🙂

  • carolinascallin
    Posted at 18:03h, 31 March Reply

    LOVE it! The lace lined in the lighter fabric is perfect 🙂 Lucky Mimi! It looks fab on her. Steph will be jealous – now I’ll have to learn to sew with lace…:)

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:51h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you, Cheryl! Sewing with lace is much easier than I expected – make one for Steph!!

  • Donna
    Posted at 18:09h, 31 March Reply

    Beautiful! I may have to try sewing something lacy myself! Both of your projects were gorgeous!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:53h, 01 April Reply

      Many thanks, Donna! I believe you’ll find working with lace to be fun. The wow factor is built into the fabric leaving you free to sew an easy pattern 🙂

  • Teri
    Posted at 18:40h, 31 March Reply

    So cute! You are inspiring me to try some lace sewing…..Happy Easter!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:54h, 01 April Reply

      Hi Teri! I hope you’ll give it a try. Thanks so much for writing!

  • madrod1
    Posted at 18:41h, 31 March Reply

    Love it! You are soo…… Inspiring!!!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:56h, 01 April Reply

      Many thanks, Madrod1! Give sewing with lace a try after you finish your little black dress 🙂 !!

  • Amanda S.
    Posted at 18:46h, 31 March Reply

    What a great way to use up your excess yardage! I love the contrasting lining/underlining and the metal zip. Your daughter looks stylish and beautiful!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:57h, 01 April Reply

      Thanks, Amanda! The contrasting lining is youthful and perfect for a skirt. I’ll pass your compliment along to Mimi! 🙂

  • Alethia
    Posted at 20:11h, 31 March Reply

    Beautiful skirt! She is just as stylish as you are. 🙂

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:58h, 01 April Reply

      That’s such a nice comment, Alethia! Both of my daughters are far more stylish than me 🙂

  • Lori
    Posted at 20:30h, 31 March Reply

    Beautiful skirt for your beautiful daughter.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 12:58h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you, Lori! Your beautiful skirt looks great on your beautiful daughter too!

  • Carolyn
    Posted at 21:28h, 31 March Reply

    What a great use of the remaining lace yardage! Your daughter looks amazing! Isn’t it awesome to use wonderful sewing techniques on a garment? Don’t you just feel this sense of accomplishment when the piece is done? I will have to remember catch stitching the seams to the organza the next time I underline a piece with silk organza!

    Oh, I did wear my dress with a cardi to church this morning and it wasn’t too cold at all. Happy Resurrection Sunday.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:02h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you, Carolyn. I bet your beautiful wool/lace dress was the perfect choice for Easter Sunday! You’re right – that sense of accomplishment when a piece is done is so satisfying. Mimi watched me scramble around trying to finish it this weekend. I’m not sure she realized what goes in to making a simple ( kind of simple) garment – lots of trying on on her side! 🙂

  • Martha
    Posted at 21:47h, 31 March Reply

    Very Happy Easter to you! I seem to remember Easter as always cold even when it is late. This is a lovely skirt on a charming model. You are right about the techniques.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:10h, 01 April Reply

      Many thanks, Martha! I was a little too hopeful I suppose – just ready for this cold weather to move on!

  • Sharon
    Posted at 22:03h, 31 March Reply

    Perfect way to use the lace, gorgeous skirt and beautiful daughter.

  • Velosewer
    Posted at 23:40h, 31 March Reply

    You’ve used high end sewing techniques and on trend techniques. The skirt really looks great. Happy Easter.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:11h, 01 April Reply

      Many thanks, Maria! It’s always a good feeling when a garment works out just as you hope 🙂

  • Philippa
    Posted at 05:00h, 01 April Reply

    I adore all your lace pieces. Happy Easter!

  • Jacqui
    Posted at 06:27h, 01 April Reply

    Very beautiful and the skirt is nice too. Your adventures in lace are very beautiful and encouraging for me to try lace as a material.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:14h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you, Jacqui! I believe you’ll enjoy working with lace 🙂

  • Carolanne Washburn
    Posted at 09:10h, 01 April Reply

    Positively gorgeous and as always, I love following your blog. You inspire me to try new techniques, take chances with fabric and improve my sewing skills :))

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:16h, 01 April Reply

      What a nice comment, Carolanne! It’s so easy for me to get in a sew in all areas of life, but I’ve learned even when trying something new doesn’t work out , it’s usually worthwhile 🙂 Many thanks for writing!

  • Sheri
    Posted at 11:00h, 01 April Reply

    The next time you are in NYC, try going to Pacific Trims on 38th St between 7th & 8th. They will make a zipper while you wait, any color, any length. And they have a display a all kinds of zipper pulls to choose from.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:16h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Sheri! Will do. 🙂

  • craftysheri
    Posted at 11:04h, 01 April Reply

    The next time you are in NYC, try out Pacific Trims on 38th St. between 7th and 8th. They will make you a zipper while you wait, any color, any length. Plus they have a display of zipper pulls to choose from.

  • Cissie Wellons
    Posted at 12:03h, 01 April Reply

    I was wondering what you were wearing to church on Easter Sunday! We were at the coast and it was quite breezy so my sleeveless new dress stayed in the closet, too.

    Love Mimi’s skirt — and I’ll bet the sweater is great with it.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:20h, 01 April Reply

      Thanks, Cissie! I should have known it would be chilly – guess I’ll look forward to wearing the dress in May 🙂

  • Janine Whisler
    Posted at 12:29h, 01 April Reply

    I’m so glad you had enough extra lace to make this skirt, I too was on the nude/white lining wagon. I am sure your daughter will get loads of wear out of your creation and the sun will come out again soon for your own lacey debut!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 13:23h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you, Janine! Right after I cut out my navy dress, I saw a photo of Kate Middleton in the most beautiful navy lace dress with white underlining! Then I really had second thoughts ………….. Mimi loves her skirt and I’m glad I had enough fabric to try it both ways 🙂

  • Calico Stretch
    Posted at 15:12h, 01 April Reply

    Ah, being chilly for a photo shoot is perhaps small price to pay for a lovely skirt! And I love that the details of the lace can be seen so nicely with the light interlining. Gorgeous. I bet it will get plenty of wear.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 16:18h, 01 April Reply

      Thank you! I completely agree with you and I don’t think she minded the chilly weather at all 🙂 I’m glad I was able to try it both ways!

  • gingermakes
    Posted at 15:54h, 01 April Reply

    Gorgeous! It’s such a simple silhouette, but it really looks expensive and chic– the couture techniques really paid off!

  • sewruth
    Posted at 16:10h, 01 April Reply

    Now on second thoughts…. the lace looks great with a contrasting underlining. Do you have enough left to make yourself another item with a contrasting inside? Just wondering….This skirt is beautiful.

  • goodbyevalentino
    Posted at 16:21h, 01 April Reply

    Tthanks Ruth! I’m all out – Mimi is going to have to let me borrow it 😉

  • lbrundage
    Posted at 19:15h, 01 April Reply

    So pretty, fresh and classic at the same time. Happy Easter!

  • danvillegirl
    Posted at 05:28h, 02 April Reply

    Wow, lining with a lighter color definitely took the skirt to a different level. The underlining and lining truly gave this a top of the line look. Beautiful daughter, just like her mom.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 07:25h, 04 April Reply

      Ahhhhhh……….. very sweet, Danvillegirl! Underlining works wonders – if only I did it more often 🙂

  • AJW
    Posted at 21:51h, 03 April Reply

    The dress was stunning, and so is the skirt. I love the idea of a high-contrast lining — I’ve seen some neat combos in ready-to-wear (yellow w/black, for example) that look quite special. You have turned into a lace expert — lovely results for Mom and Daughter.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 07:27h, 04 April Reply

      Many thanks, AJW! But, I’m no lace expert………… I’m working on one more lace project and burned 4 holes through the nylon portion of the lace before realizing what was going on. Lots to learn here! 🙂

  • CherryPix
    Posted at 06:10h, 04 April Reply

    A beautiful skirt for your beautiful daughter! I’m with you on applying couture touches….makes things feel so special!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 07:28h, 04 April Reply

      Thank you, Anne! If only I used those couture techniques more often 🙂

  • Carolyn
    Posted at 11:12h, 04 April Reply

    Absolutely beautiful skirt, and she looks super happy with it. How lucky you have a gorgeous daughter to sew for, and she to have a talented mum to make her such delightful things!

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 18:57h, 05 April Reply

      Many thanks for your nice comment, Carolyn! I am lucky indeed to have not one, but two daughters. My oldest lives farther away so it is not as easy to sew for her, however I’m willing anytime we can work it out 🙂

  • Natalie
    Posted at 03:08h, 05 April Reply

    Love your dress and daughter’s skirt. I was curious about the suit you wore for Easter and what you did with the skirt. You have a real talent for making garments over.

    • goodbyevalentino
      Posted at 19:02h, 05 April Reply

      Thank you, Natalie! I started to write a post about my Easter suit but ultimately decided against it. My 15 year old skirt was a little snug around the waist. When I realized the waistband had two elastic inserts I removed the waistband, took out the elastic and reattached the waistband. Fortunately the waist fit perfectly after the adjustment. Then I repaired the ripped lining followed by redoing a very sloppy hem that was held together by safey pins. While I didn’t have a new Easter outfit I at least looked presentable in my very old suit 🙂

  • Javie
    Posted at 18:46h, 08 April Reply

    Love the lace skirt! Besides basting the lace within the seam allowances, did you attach the lace to the silk anywhere within the S/A? I have never worked with lace before but wanted give it a try.

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