Snow skirt

A while back, my friend gave me an outerwear fabric that is meant for an outer shell. The outside blocks wind, and the inside is lined with a thin fleece material. 

I thought I would make a jacket with the fabric, but I had a different idea and executed it. 

This is a snow skirt! 

I would be wearing it over a pair of pants when I go outside if I have to be outside for an extended amount of time. A layer of this fabric blocks the wind from going through my pants, as a result my legs should stay warm. 

I had to make sure I measured my waist with a fleece or hoodie because I want to wear it like a jacket for my leg. 

I do have a long down filled coat that goes almost to my ankle, but that coat is so hot. I have to wait till it gets below -20 degrees Celsius before I wear it. So, I wanted to make something that is suitable for the in-between coldness. 

I reused an open-ended zipper from an old jacket that I saved when the jacket was no longer viable as a jacket. (I kept all the zippers from that jacket.) That is why the colours do not match, but the zipper does not show while I am wearing the skirt. 

You may ask, "Why snow skirt?" This is because if I have to take off a pair of snow pants, then I would have to take off the boots. That can be quite a lot of work if I am bundled up with a heavy jacket, scarf, and huge mittens. Once I take off my mittens to undo the boot laces, my hands get cold, and when I take my boots off, the toes may freeze off! But with this snow skirt, since I can unzip it all the way down and it separates at the bottom, it's just like taking off a jacket. I don't have to take off my mittens and boots. 

I wore it for a walk of 1.5 hours at -18 degrees Celsius, and it kept me warm (with jeans underneath). It was not in the way of walking at all, and it was like having a longer coat covering my legs. This time, we did not stop at a cafe at the end of the walk, so I did not have to take off my snow skirt. 

I think it will be used quite often this winter. 

Train cushions

These are a set of pillows with a train fabric. The outer layer has a zipper, so if it needs laundering, it's easy to wash.  

I was a little concerned if I had enough matching thread... This is what was left when I finished. Phew. 

Shoulder bag and pouches

This shoulder bag is for a special boy who loves trains. 

With the remnants, I was able to make a couple of pouches as well. The fabric is mostly grey, so I chose a colourful zipper to make it a little more fun. 

Jeans waist adjustment

I had to adjust the waist of the jeans to make the pair fit my shape. If I forget to use a belt, the pants kept on lowering, and that feeling is just not good. 

I saw darts in the yoke of her pants on my friend's handmade pants, and I thought, "Why not darts on the yoke?" This means I can adjust the waist of the jeans without touching the side seams (where there are often rivets at the end of the of pocket openings). 

 It's hard to see above the two darts. So, here is another photo. 

I put two darts and I cut the waist band in the middle to fit the new waist length. On the right side, there is a belt loop, so no one sees the waist band seam at the centre back. 

Now the pants fit me well. 

I had bought these pairs a long time ago (about 10 years ago?), and I don't know why I bought a stretchy pair. The stretchiness was one of the reasons that the entire pants feel like they don't stay. Now they stay on better, but I feel like I am just wearing a pair of stretchy leggings. Ten-year-younger me must have thought it was good to have some stretch, but now I feel I should have just bought jeans with no stretch. Well, the next pair of jeans I own will be the pair I make myself! :)

A short sleeve raglan top

I have made myself a top. It has short raglan sleeves, and it's really comfortable to wear. Since I am of the age when it gets hot and cold many times a day, it is always nice to be able to layer. 

I am running out of photos of what I have made in the past, so the blog posts will be made less frequently now.