A walk in the rain. Style 2642 skirt, rambling

After the thoughtful comments on my last post, I have decided to be optomistic about my daughter's sewing future. I consider sewing a life skill, so I am prepared to "force" her to sew to the point that she can alter purchased clothes or make simple garments, in the same way that I will "force" her to cook until she can put a healthy meal on the table, but it is unreasonable of me to expect her to share my passion for sewing as a hobby. I do not have the same hobbies as my Mum! This does not stop me being wildly jealous of the people who have a fellow seamstress in the house. A shared interest is very good for a relationship. Did I tell you readers, that I deeply appreciate the internet sewing community?
Today, I worked quite hard at my sewing. I am making a coat. This means that I have very little to show for a full Saturday spent in the sewing room. (I do like having a sewing room, just let me gloat a bit)
Instead, I will display for you this quick and easy wrap skirt, Style 2642 (oop), which is my sarong alternative. I use ties instead of buttons as closures, which is very useful after Christmas.( There is still a box of chocolates left, but it will not last long)



I am the wrong shape for a traditional sarong, having child bearing hips and generosity of backside. I made this for my beach holiday at the beginning of December. I had intended to make the full length, A line, wrap skirt (with darts at the back) in order to prevent sunburnt legs. (Hmm, this was the skirt I made several times for early pregnancy, don't you love adjustable ties). Unfortunately, I had been cheated of fabric when I purchased this "sarong length" of Indonesian cotton batik on Arab Street, the Singapore fabric district. I had 1.7 metres, not the 2.5 for which I had paid, so made a knee length skirt instead, which is a very good length for walking in the rain.

I did not write about the Singapore fabric district after my visit in August, because I did not care for it at all - finding the vendors very pushy and the prices expensive. I also felt that I would have been stared at less, had I been wearing a bhurka. My husband pointed out to me that my calves were receiving a great deal of attention - I just wondered why I was feeling quite uncomfortable. (High necked blouse with near elbow sleeves, knee length skirt). I wonder how the Muslim men in the fabric district cope with the Chinese Malay girls in miniskirts? After discovering the fabric shortage,I now admire it even less as a shopping destination. Fortunately for my peace of mind, this was my only fabric purchase in Singapore, and now I have used it all up.

I very much like the batik print. I pieced it at the front as the panel of the sarong that is designed to fall straight down the front looked quite peculiar cut out as an A-line.


Behind me is the bridge to the South side of town, now 14.something metres under water.


My two younger children are now stuck in Brisbane with their grandmother until the river goes down. They think this is just fine, and are off to the movies tomorrow to see the latest Narnia film, which has not made it to our local cinema yet. City life is so exciting.
Here is the basketball court in our local park - you can just see the top of the backboard.

I dont' think I will be seeing many people at work on Monday. Maybe I could take in a bit of hand basting......