#1 Crush: A Colette Mabel for the 90's Teen in You
So 1995 called and it was like, "hey girl, what you need is a crushed velvet mini skirt."
I've been trying to get back in the sewing groove lately, and Colette's Mabel skirt promised to be a quick weekend project. No closures, no pressing, no sweat. Plus this pretty, wintery velvet (from Fabric Outlet in the Mission) was calling my name. I did have some trouble keeping the pieces lined up as I assembled them (maybe I'm just lazy, but I rarely pin before I stitch), so I used hem tape to hold this slippery fabric in place. It worked amazingly well, and I may start using this technique for all of my projects.
Now excuse me while I turn on the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack and dream about forming an all-girl alt rock band...
Purple Haze: Colette Ginger Skirt in 60's-inspired Print
When I was a little kid growing up in the early 90’s and sporting bike shorts, LA Gears, and scrunchie socks, I was fairly certain that our generation had invented neon colors. I was even so presumptuous as to ask my dad what life was like before the invention of my then-favorite color: harlequin green. He promptly schooled me on the history of the neon palette, including its use in the psychedelic rock posters of the 60’s and 70’s, and his own airbrush art. My dad is the coolest.
Fast forward 20+ years, and I am finally realizing my childhood dream of singing in a classic rock band, thanks to the folks at Blue Bear School of Music and some seriously talented band mates. For our showcase, I wanted to create a mini skirt in a bright 60’s pattern using Colette’s Ginger pattern – and in the process finally conquer that nemesis of an invisible zipper. I’m happy to report that I was successful on both fronts.
I found the neon orange, black and purple floral print at Britex (97% cotton; 3% lycra, made in Italy), and sewed the whole thing up in an evening. The fact that I invested in a proper invisible zipper foot (instead of the crappy plastic one I had on hand) made a world of difference. I probably only dropped the f-bomb five times the whole night! Progress.
