It’s definitely been a hot minute or two since I posted here. But I’ve found myself in that magical, nebulous period in between Christmas and New Year’s. You know what I mean – where we all seem content to turn into piles of goo and have a collective agreement to get nothing done. You can browse the sales, rewatch cute cat videos in your pajamas, hand sew a hem or two, and feel apathy towards anything productive.
I‘ve definitely been taking advantage of this glorious time where I seem to be able to while away the hours guilt-free to catch up on my dreamiest sewing projects. I have many, MANY tailoring and repair tasks calling for attention, but also quite a few new ideas percolating. This year has definitely been a slower one for sewing – too many other things seem to be demanding my time lately. But, when I get just the right idea… I definitely work to make the time.
As you’ve probably learned by now (if you’ve been following for awhile), I tend to stash photos of vintage pieces in the back of my mind (and on my desktop). This serves a dual purpose of being a list of ISOs should I be lucky enough to snag the vintage original, as well as a folder of inspiration should I decide to flex my sewing muscles one day and recreate it.
One such item in that folder was a Jonathan Logan – I fell in love with it for its simplicity. The black and cream tones, the piping that really defines waist and makes the vertical lines of the dress pop. I knew I could do a twist on a panel skirt and make my own version of this cutie…
As you can probably tell from above, it’s been a busy year, with limited time for sewing projects, let alone documenting them in meticulous detail. So, this is sadly not going to be the usual step-by-step tutorial. But, I’ll talk you through the basics – and if you have any questions please pop them below in the comments. If you want to make your own version, I highly highly recommend making a toile first and adjusting from there. I did a mini-toile to focus on the waist area (no need to make a full length one and waste fabric)
I opened for a 15 panel skirt – but sky is really the limit. It takes a little bit of math, but isn’t all that hard to work out. If you just imagine your waist is a circle (mine is 28″), I drafted a panel piece that was 2.62″ across at the waist – this is 28″/15 (1.87) plus a 3/8″ seam allowance on either side. The top of the panel is the same – just your underbust measurement / 15 plus seam allowance. Then, I went with my standard 30″ hem length, but assuming each panel was 1/15 of a circle (ie, 24 degrees).
Before I stitched each panel together, I added Wright’s 1/2” bias tape maxi piping to each seam. For this, you just sandwich the piping in between two layers. I like to add it to one panel first, add the other panel (right sides together), and then flip to follow the piping stitch line – you can see a video I posted of it here if you work best with a visual.
One you work out the math, it comes together really quickly. I lined it in the same plain black cotton and was ready to hit the town.
Winter in North Carolina is really a curious time – one day it’s 71 and sunny…and the next it’s in the 40’s. The morning can give you a perfect, cloudless azure sky, only to be pummeled with rain in the afternoon. I think it’s a way for the state to keep us on our toes, ready to pivot at a moment’s notice.
To help me combat the ever changing weather, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect raincoat. While this is an easy task for most people, my need for a nipped waist and a full skirt has always made this an arduous task. But, enter my new favorite company: RainSisters. I completely fell in love with the silhouettes – jackets in whimsical prints with full twirly skirts? Where can I sign up?
I admit, the price tag on this polka dotted cutie gave me pause. I hemmed and hawed for ages before taking the plunge on this purchase – and was lucky to scoop her up in the sales. But I could not be more impressed with the quality of this coat – impeccably made, with a fully detachable hood, stunning silhouette, and a perfect fit. Not to mention that I could order it in tall – Amazonian women rejoice! In an era of fast fashion, I was so excited to get a high quality garment (which are getting more rare) and am more than happy to pay for quality.
The end of year always seems to make me reflective – on the good, the bad, and the really bad… While 2025 has certainly had its ups and downs, I’m proud to be finishing this year still carrying a bit of hope. For all of the awful things that we’ve been hit with, I’ve seen so many small acts of kindness and resilience. So many ways (big and small) that we are building community and working towards the greater good.
I saw a meme recently that said,
You’ve been strong all year,
so don’t finish strong.
Finish rested.
Most of the time, I see a meme and keep on scrolling. But this one really resonated. I definitely want this to be the theme of the week, as we head into the new year. To not focus on what we will do or achieve the minute the clock strikes 12:01. To instead give ourselves permission to rest and recharge. To feel done.
To all of you out there – here’s to rest. And kindness in 2026.
xoxo
Construction Details:
Pattern: Self Drafted
Fabric : 6 yards of Kona cotton in black
Piping: Wright’s 1/2” bias tape maxi piping
Outfit Details:
Top: from the depths of my closet (similar)
Skirt: Made by me!
Raincoat: Rainsisters (+ matching belt)
Brooch: vintage (similar)
Handbag: Mary Frances
Shoes: Aquazzura, thrifted (similar here & secondhand here)
.
instagram // twitter // facebook // pinterest
.
Any items marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review and/or feature on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.