Back in the Swing

Jeff and I moved last week soI took the week off. This week, I'm expecting a HUGE faric shipment and in addition to this week's skirt order, I'm beginning preparations for my Skirts and Sweets Party at the end of the month. Be on the lookout for more pics this week.

New Skirt Style

Last week I worked up a new, long skirt. It has a clever drawstring at the back that gathers the fabric and creates a small, modern bustle.

Back Detail

Back View


Front View

Press!

Vive la femme and Redskew are featured in today's At Play section of the Chicago Tribune!

Backing the picture train up, Part 2

And here are the ribbon straps for the sundresses.

Backing the picture train up

Here are the skirts I finished a week and a half ago. If you're interested (and local) the pink swirl will be on the floor at vive later this week.

And back to skirts

I'm back on skirts this week. I managed to procure more of the tone on tone red print I posted about early on, so I'll be using that this week for the current skirt incarnation.

Dresses, Round 1

Last week I put 1 dress style in 3 fabrics on the floor - a brown floral print, a lime green with pinks and white flowers, and a turquoise and green Hawaiian floral stripe. I added cute ribbon tie straps, but you'll have to wait for a picture of those.

Here is a pic of the brown floral print on one of the dress forms.

On the Dockett

I got another round of skirts on the floor at vive last friday - in the pink and blue prints I previewed in the last post. I received a supply order earlier than I expected, so this week I'll be making some kicky little sundresses , kind of like this....

Still in the bag

Waiting to be brought to the studio...

Next steps

Since May 8th, a couple more skirts have sold, including an aqua one that was photographed for potential use in an article in a local publication... I'll let you know on Thursday what the word on the street is.

I've also received and cashed my first check from vive la femme. What a Thrill! Thus far (hey, it's really only been a month) I've had a really positive experience and am VERY motivated to forge ahead with this whole thing. Good thing, because it looks like I'll be quite consistently busy for the summer. Stephanie has ordered new skirts to be ready for every Friday thru August!!!!!

First step... let's go shopping!


Stay tuned for a little fabric preview.

Whirlwind!

So... The first round of 14 skirts were all on the floor Thursday May 8. The store was beautiful...


I saw lots of lovely ladies trying my skirts on....

And by the end of the night, half of my skirts had sold... so I'm feeling pretty great about my new venture!

multi directional scarf

multi directional scarf
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

So, in between sewing, I've been working on my first multi-directional scarf. I used Noro Silver Thaw in Color 2 - purple, greens, pink. It's a very easy pattern, great for the bus, and I REALLY dig how the long Noro color runs work with the pattern. I will have used 2 hanks when it's all done, yielding a cozy, long scarf.

The scarves I make for myself - very few, surprisingly, tend to not be the long cuddly kind. Once finished, I'll get to pine away for it until it gets cold in the fall :)

SOLD!

SOLD!
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

So, Tuesday, May 6 vive la femme sold two Redskew skirts. Here's a pic of Mary, the very first person to buy one of my skirts! She was kind enough to let me take her picture with the skirt. YAY!

Skirts, round 2

Turquoise floral fabric
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

This turquoise floral fabric has been sewn into skirts already, but you'll have to wait until after Thursday to see it all done up. I'm onto my third fabric in this skirt style and looks like I'll be quite ready for the party on Thursday.

Skirt on Body

Steph modelling
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

This is the lovely Stephanie Sack, owner of vive la femme, modeling the yellow floral skirt with a magenta Schaart canvas jacket.

Skirts, round 1

Yellow floral fabric
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

This is the fabric I chose for the first round of skirts. This fabric ( cotton with a little lycra for stretch, typical for this design) is a sunny yellow with magenta, tangerine, pink and lime floral.

Revamp

Patterns
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

So, last week I got some very good advise from another designer, which resulted in revamping my approach to meet my deadline. The first skirt has been simplified and I made sturdy chipboard patterns to cut from. Onward ho!

Almost ready to sell....

Almost ready to sell....
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

I'm still working out some kinks in the design, but I should be ready to go by the 8th. A lot of sewing got done last week, and I figured out the hang tags for the first run. I'm waiting on a fabric order. I'm anticipating 2-4 different colors/fabric patterns to be available in the first round of this straight forward A-line skirt. For sale beginning May 8th at vive la femme.

First Fabric

First Fabric
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

Here is the first fabric I'm preparing for my skirt line. It's a two tone red floral print, cotton and lycra.

The patterns

The patterns
Originally uploaded by redskewknits

Here are the muslin patterns, hanging in my studio, from which I make the skirts.