Ottobre skirt

From issue 2/2006, skirt number 9. Made in some sort of quilting cotton from Hancock's. The underskirt is an eyelet with a border (that isn't what the pattern called for -- the underskirt is supposed to be batiste and then have an eyelet trim sewn on).



She's wearing a yellow tank top and white sweater with it, by the way -- that yellow bit in the photo isn't part of the waistband.


It took nearly a week to make this. Her previous garment sewing experience was 1 elastic waist Kwik Sew skirt that had 3 tiers (involved gathering ruffles, in other words) and 1 pair of capri pajama pants from Kwik Sew. I have new insight into the often-asked question, "Can a beginner sew Ottobre patterns?" It really depends on the beginner's personality. Is this a person willing to puzzle things out, and decide what is an appropriate course of action? Does this person have access to books or people who can answer questions? Is it a person who can visualize from the written word?

Then again, you could sew many garments, and if you blindly follow directions without ever stopping to ponder "why" you do things a certain way, Ottobre could throw you for a loop. So could the need for diagrams.

Overall, I think she learned a lot, both about sewing and about tackling something that's a little bit difficult. And she's very pleased with the end result.



Younger sister is wearing a dress I made a couple of year ago. She still likes it and it still fits -- at least for the moment.