Australia meets South Carolina | Megan Nielsen Patterns / Axel Skirt

Megan Nielsen's lovely pattern Axel Skirt has been made.  A skirt style that at first gave me pause, but absolutely love and adore now that it is all finished and time to be worn!

One of the things I love most about blogging in our lovely sewing community, is that it connects us to wonderful people all over the world.  I have been blessed with a sweet friendship that began over a Cadbury Vegemite Chocolate Bar with the ever lovely Carolyn who sews the most beautiful clothes at Handmade by Carolyn. 

Recently she sent me this lovely pattern...... along with a box of wonderful Australian goodies.....but those will be things to show another day, as today it's all about the super cute Axel.

Megan Nielsen is an Australian designer and this is the first pattern of hers I've made.  You can see more about this pattern at her website here.  There are three versions of this cute skirt, and I chose the one on the very far left, Version 2.  What I found most interesting about this pattern, is that it's built on negative ease and the waistband has nary a piece of elastic nor zipper.  It's all about the knit fabric holding everything up and all together.  I had a piece of Hobby Lobby knit originally planned as a drapey top, but thought it'd make a great Axel skirt.  And I think it did.  Wanting to stay true to the pattern, I made it as instructed, with the exception that I had to narrow the side seams to 1/4" from hip down as I felt it was too tight.  Then afraid my drapey spandexy knit might be too clingy and curve-showing, I lined mine with a poly interlock purchased from my local Wal-Mart.  I cut a Small.

Wanting to work with my fabric in a different way, thought it might be interesting to cut the front panels on the bias and make chevrons down the front and feel that was sort of achieved.  Good enough anyway!  This was slippery, slidey, slinky knit fabric and at one point I even used my clunky Bernina Walking Foot.  That helped until dealing with the narrow seams.  The hem is simply turned under and zig-zagged.

After the skirt was made and I was trying to figure out what to wear with it, felt that a form fitting top, like the NewLook Pattern 6108 might work.  I've made this top before and love the way the knit bodice hugs the body with the graceful drapey cowl.  Sort of makes this ensemble look more like a dress, than separates.  You can read about this cute top's info here.

I like wearing the tie more to the side than straight down the front.

This is a super form fitting outfit for me, so thought it might be fun to accentuate the sporty look with a pair of white Keds and felt right at home and at ease at the Lake this morning.

Did I mention that it is form-fitting?!  This outfit will encourage me to continue exercising and eating right!

And here's how I began this day.  The coral thrifted cardi complements the blue/white nicely.

And a big Thank You to my daughter who spent the morning at Lake Jocassee with me helping me with pictures.  Oh we had such fun!  Even surrounded by *gasp* people!  To get these nice water with distant Appalachian Mountain views, we had to position the camera right by the canoe/kayak putting in point..... and you would not believe how many people needed to put in and/or take out right when we spent all of 15 minutes standing here taking pictures!  Ordinarily it would've been too much for me, but Melissa helped me relax, laugh and have fun.  We had a snack at the picnic tables before heading home.

Thank You ever so much sweet Carolyn for your long-distance friendship!  You mean ever so much to me.  xx :)  You can see Carolyn's gorgeous Axel Skirt she made out of pleather here.

Happy Sewing Everyone!  :)