Last night was my final dance class for the month. If you recall, inspired by Amber and her insane fitness workout, I did a one-month self-imposed boot camp of five day per week dancing (four classes per week and then usually one additional dance thing somewhere). Now that I count it all up, it amounted to about 7-8 hours of dancing per week which in retrospect really isn’t all that much exercise :) Kind of a paltry “boot camp.”
I’m not so good at tracking things, so my final progress report is pretty weak. I don’t own a scale so I have no idea if I’ve slimmed down. And I haven’t been taking any measurements so no known change there. No noticeable change in overall fitness, shape, strength, or muscle tone either. Aren’t you glad I’m updating you on my progress? Super satisfying for you! But ooh, I had so much fun. I’m signed up for more classes for August, but not as many because there aren’t many classes offered in August. Here comes a segue into sewing.
There is, however, notable progress on my long-coveted leopard print pencil skirt:
As you can see, the outer is mostly assembled. The only thing I changed from my muslin was to drop the front center waist about a half inch. I tried it on and it’s so comfortable and it fits so nicely that I really don’t want to line it, even though I had planned to in the first place. As I’ve mentioned, lately I’ve been finding skirt linings so annoying when I’m wearing them. My plan now is to do a facing on the waistband (already mostly done) and a Hong Kong-type finish on the seams. Dan asked this morning if I wanted to go to the fabric store this evening (because he’s getting a haircut and it’s right near his haircutting place) so it sounds like a good opportunity to tag along and grab some bias binding. It’s like he can read my evil mind.
The fabric is a dull stretch satin (or possibly a shiny sateen?), left over from the Drama Queen Jacket, which I ultimately did not love:
Update on that not-quite-right garment, however- I mailed it to my mother, along with the Swallowtail Shawl, and she called me up to say she loved it, which is high praise from my mother who is too stylish to wear something simply because her daughter made it. Even crazier, she said my dad loves it. I have never known my father to voice an opinion on any piece of clothing ever. I guess a little leopard print just does something to a person. I’m certainly smitten with it.
20 comments
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July 30, 2010 at 9:37 am
Nikole
I hope u made sure Sasa wasn’t sneaking into the package to go sit/lie/sleep on the shawl
July 30, 2010 at 9:47 am
CGCouture
Well, as long as you had fun with the dance stuff, that’s what’s really important. So cool that your mom loved the jacket, though, how could she not? ;-) Sounds like the skirt is shaping up nicely, can’t wait to see how it looks on the model, instead of the hanger–I wouldn’t know what to pair it with besides the black cowl-neck top you made a while back.
July 30, 2010 at 10:12 am
Jan
I’m waiting for the photo of your dad in the Drama Queen jacket, lol.
July 30, 2010 at 10:13 am
Tasia
Success! A cute skirt for you, and the jacket goes to someone who loves it. I’d wear the skirt with a colour on top, like bright fuchsia or turquoise but that’s just me.
Yay for the dance workouts and potential fitness progress! Sounds so much more fun that just ‘doing time’ at the gym on a machine :)
July 30, 2010 at 11:05 am
Em
I guess you could borrow the jacket and wear it as a suit :P
July 30, 2010 at 11:22 am
Nancy K
It’s interesting that you should say that your last skirt linings are uncomfortable. Take a look at the newest issue of Threads for the article on drafting a better fitting skirt lining.
July 30, 2010 at 11:52 am
Shannon
That is so neat your mom and dad loved the jacket! Your skirt is great. I must keep an eye out for a animal skin print I love too.
July 30, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Angela
The skirt looks lovely so far! Glad your parents loved the jacket, but how could they not! :)
July 30, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Colleen P.
I just had to click on the link to your mom-I could cry that she got rid of the cream coat! LOVE IT! She will TOTALLY rock the Drama Queen jacket-any chance we’ll get pictures?
July 30, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Karin van D.
Oh dancing. I really, really should start again with dancing. I miss it. Now I only have to find the time (and a boot to kick me in the butt, but let’s not go there). I can’t wait to see the skirt on you. I’m not really into animal prints, but I am sure it will look fabulous when you wear it.
July 30, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Sandi
Have you seen the new Rebecca Taylor pattern for Vogue (1199)? She has a darker leopard print pencil skirt pair with a flowy dusty pink blouse. I like the color of your leopard better.
July 31, 2010 at 4:27 am
Marie-Christine
Good for you! Getting compliments out of most parents is indeed quite an accomplishment :-).
That said, the fabric was great, and the skirt is very promising indeed. I think there’s way too much lining out there, just because you can. But be careful, bias binding that you buy is actually too heavy for a good hong-kong finish. Don’t you have some lining scraps stashed away? That’d be much better. What you need though is to look up how to make bias from a continuous piece of fabric, not to fiddle with cutting strips, and one of those Japanese thingies that let you iron it to perfection in one go.
Feeling better about that nasty coat? There, there..
July 31, 2010 at 7:50 am
Hana - Marmota
Oh, I’m voting for pictures of your mother in the jacket! Please, show us – if she lets you, that is. But I’m sure she must look gorgeous in it. A matching gorgeous-mother-daughter photo of her in the jacket and you in the skirt would be the best, of course. ;)
July 31, 2010 at 9:15 am
Trudy Callan
I love your skirt. I too would love to see your mother wearing the jacket. I’m sure she looks very stylish and beautiful.
I think it is so awesome that you are taking dance lessons. I would love to do that. I am hoping someday, probably in a few years, to take some myself with my husband. I would love for us to dance together. That would be so much fun.
Stop by my blog on Monday. I’ll have the pictures up from my photo shoot of my latest skirt. The pics are really fun and at a great location.
Trudy
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
July 31, 2010 at 1:12 pm
fitzfabulous
leopard is a staple, for crying out loud. that’s what my mama told me anyway. and yours too, apparently.
July 31, 2010 at 10:43 pm
juebejue
wow, you and our mom are the same size! pictures!!!
August 1, 2010 at 9:04 am
Rosy
That skirt is shaping up very well! Adorable photos of your mother, it’s true! she is a very elegant woman
August 2, 2010 at 8:01 am
Leopard pencil skirt finished, goes with everything! « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] fits. I’m going to need a few more of these. Details of the material and construction are here and […]
August 9, 2010 at 2:29 pm
amber
Go you on your crazy dance bootcamp! I keep trying to squeeze in a few dance classes this summer and so far, it’s not been successful. Boooo! So, do you think you’ll keep up with the classes or not so much?
August 9, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Fitness fan
Marvellous and impressive!