Pastel Paisley

I have been meaning to make this skirt pattern for YEARS.  I started with the blouse view about five or six years back, and then finally completed that project a few months ago after I found the bag with the pattern inside (which was what I was looking for).  All the project needed was buttonholes and a hem, so I took care of that.  Thankfully, I had kept the buttons with the folded up project so I didn't have to go searching for them.

And once that was complete, I started on the skirt.  I picked up this bottom weight cotton at a fabric swap a couple of years ago.  The fabric design has grown on me over time, and what I originally thought would make a good wearable muslin of some dress or other, needed to be something I was really going to wear and love (hopefully!).

I have pulled the yardage out a few times when trying to pair fabric with a pattern, but nothing seemed quite right.

And then I started working on this sweater and realized the colors would be perfect together.

I have been getting a bit more brave about machine buttonholes as of late, but I decided to take the time and make bound buttonholes for this project.  I also thought that the lower buttonhole on the waistband would give me grief with the added bulk of the seam paired with this substantial cotton fabric if I tried to make machine buttonholes. 

It was during this project that I ran out of fusible interfacing and finally decided to splurge and get some quality interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply.  And it's definitely better than what I had been using!

I even had enough leftover yardage to make myself a matching top with this fabric (not the design I had originally conceived of in my mind because there wasn't that much extra to work with) which I am pretty pleased with as well.  So that's two tops that match back to my new skirt.  And the blue blouse I made with this pattern also matches the blue in the design, so I guess that makes three!  Which must be some kind of record for me!!