Sewing projects

RAIN SKIRT. There was a woman at a Seattle farmers/flea market who was a nurse and who also made rain skirts for commuters, bikers, walkers etc. I didn't buy one when I could have. Then, when I went looking and found her website, she seemed to be done with that project. And they weren't returnable in case I was too short or fat for what I ordered. Looked around for others and they ranged in price from $50 to almost $150 for variations of a tyvek rectangle with velcro to fabulous lined and lovely rainskirts.

So I made my own. Had that old pair of purple rainpants and did the jean-skirt treatment to them. The wedge fabric came from Nancy at Repair Lair and the reflector tape from Treadle Yard Goods. I waterproofed the seams and the whole thing when done. It all still fit into it's own little back pocket.

I wore it on the trip to Peru and can't wait to try it out on the motorcycle commutes to work. Benefits of this rainskirt: 1. Easy on, easy off, 2. No swishing sounds like pants make. 3. Ventilated (duh) so you don't get sweaty legs, and 4. Easy to pee if necessary.

WORK APRON. Blanca and I were a bit obsessed by the aprons the  rural (and usually older) Peruvian women wore. Turns out they are aprons worn by market vendors. We went to the local market in Cusco to find them (people may have thought we were a little nutty to be getting vendor aprons instead of souvenirs) and when we found them we were surprised to find 2 secret zipper pockets in the middle big pocket. I made a pattern from the one I bought, added a darts for shape and skipped the secret pockets. For working in the lab or greenhouse this is great! Keeps me clean(er) and keeps me organized with having all the little bits I need with me (pens, Sharpie, flower envelopes, rubber bands, iPhone, plant tags, small flower clipper, etc.). I made another one with some left over Boras of Sweden fabric of roses on a white background. Seemed appropriate for working in the greenhouse.