Giftwrap Love

Pinstriped skirt

When I got my first "real" job (the kind that meant working in a school wearing blouses instead of running around a summer camp smeared with war paint), I bought a pair of grey-and-navy pinstriped pants. They were comfortable, practical, and matched just about everything.

And so, of course, they got worn and worn and worn out. Not too badly - just a little scuffing around the hems and stretching about the knees. But they just weren’t office material anymore.

Then I thought to myself – I can fix that!

I took out the inside leg seams and cut everything to match the shortest point, just below the zipper.

 

I suppose it was technically wearable at this stage, but I really don’t want to be that kind of intern. So, avoiding the worn hems and knees, I cut some panels off the legs and sewed them together. I was planning to do something with tiers and maybe ruffles, but after quite a bit of experimentation I learned an important lesson: when working with pinstripes (and plaid), you cannot combine tiers and ruffles without evoking a certain kind of schoolgirl look. You know, the kind with... questionable morals?

I know, I know, I'm a prude. But I also work at the national offices of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. I have to take some care.

In the end I sewed my panel on straight, with just enough angling in the segments to give it a tiny flare.

Take a bow, Harley.

I think he and I are both pretty pleased with ourselves here.

The best part about making a skirt out of pants? Real pockets! Ah, the elusive union of practical and cute.

Ophelia Lace edging pattern

Ophelia Lace

Materials
* Crochet cotton
* Fine crochet hook

Abbreviations
Ch = chain
Hdc = half double crochet





 

How to do a half double crochet stitch
Yarn over
Insert hook into stitch to be worked
Yarn over
Pull yarn back through stitch. Do not pull through loops (as you would for a double crochet)
Yarn over
Pull through all three loops

Starting chain
Ch 7

Row 1
Hdc in third chain from hook, Ch 1, skip next Ch-1 space, 2 Hdc.

Row 2
Ch 2 for height. Hdc in second stitch, Ch 1, skip next Ch-1 space, 2 Hdc.

Repeat Row 2 until desired length is reached.