My new Picnic Blanket Skirt

Having been on Tilly's blog, I found this wonderful and easy to follow tutorial about how to make a Picnic Blanket Skirt by using my own measurements. When I saw the skirt I got really excited and wanted to make it immediately. But there was no fabric in my stash that would be perfect for the skirt.

So, off I went to Goldhawk Road to hopefully find some nice linen. At first I couldn't find anything, but then in the last shop, hidden away behind bolts, I found this beautiful navy blue polka dot linen. It was perfect for a summer skirt. I also found some cotton lace in Shepherds Bush Market which would be perfect to sew on the hem of the skirt.

I thought linen is an easy fabric to work with, but when I was ready to lay it out, it was really slippery! It moved around a lot and when I had straightened one end and tried to straighten the other one everything slipped again. Eventually, having spend an hour on the floor with the fabric, I started to cut out and could finally start sewing.

In comparison with the cutting, sewing was quite easy and it took me only one afternoon to sew the skirt together. I wanted to use some white buttons from my stash for the front, but realized that they looked quite boring. Luckily, I had gotten some vintage buttons in a surprise bag the week before - which, I thought, I would never use as they were not my taste at all. But, let me tell you - they were perfect and now I love them! The only problem was that I had only three and needed at least nine! I checked on the web and they were not available anymore! I was disappointed - but luckily I found similar ones on ebay. Saved!

Left: the one I wanted. Center: the one I bought. Right: I just had to have it!

 

That's how the buttons look on the skirt.

My next problem was, that I had not bought enough lace! It was 5 cm too short! I could not believe it. As the Market had already closed (and to be honest, I really wanted to wear the skirt the next day), I stretched the lace quite a bit. It was resistant at first, but I managed to make it 5 cm longer, puh. It is not the best solution, as the lace stretched back after I had sewn it on the skirt. But as the skirt has gathers, it is not obvious anyway.

The cotton lace. Can you see that it is stretched? No?

I am so happy with how the skirt turned out. I love the embellishments and it feels so great wearing it and knowing that I have made it! Thanks a lot Tilly for your great tutorial!

Me on the phone with my mum. And see, matching shoes!