Vivienne who?

I've been quite slack with sewing and posting recently - just too tired to do either. I started going to Spin classes last week - I've wanted to try it for ages and a new gym nearby has 9 classes per week. It's absolutely knackering and I love it! No, I don't go to all 9 classes, that would be lunacy. Two per week is plenty. And lunacy. Anyway, whilst my poor body adjusts, the sewing has taken a back seat. However, I finally managed to finish my prototype skirt! I began it months ago just as a small project to work on alongside the bed quilt. I've never made a skirt before, as simple as they are to more experienced sewers, I'm sure. As a fabric addict and print lover though, it's a must. So, I simply went right back to basics and did what seemed sensible - traced around an existing skirt of a similar style which I have in my ( bulging wardrobe ) possession and took it from there, adjusting length as necessary. I used an old duvet-cover rather than mess up and waste fabric which I had spent good money on. And here it is!

Duvet-coverness aside, I wouldn't be ashamed to wear it - which has got to be a good sign. Having said that, I've no idea if the length is ok...I may put it on and go out feeling all stylish and carefree - and then find I cannot walk in it...but walking's very over-rated haha! It's a simple pull-on design with a drawcord through the waistband - the drawcord itself was the most time-consuming part since I made an inside-out tube and then spent ages trying to coax the thing, using a variety of long and pointy implements and finally tweezers, the right way out. I would perhaps do it differently next time. I am very pleased with the drawcord hole thing - hand-made no less! Only because I was too scared to do it on the machine...

The ric-rac trim was for sentimental reasons - when I was about 9 years old, I had a flared green skirt which had 3 layers of ric-rac around the bottom. Ah happy days!

Having got a few mistakes out of my system and realised better/quicker methods, I would have another go at a skirt - probably just as well because over the past months I've accrued so much fabric by saying to myself  ' That'll be perfect for a skirt '.....  Anyway - anyone who sees me wearing this item of clothing - please do tell me how lovely I look, and please forget about the fact that it used to have another life on someone's bed.