But the leather was soft and good quality so I decided to alter it. But first I had to get rid of the lingering odour. I tried airing it, both outside and inside for weeks, but that had little effect. I washed the lining and that diminished the smell somewhat, but not nearly enough.
When you live in the country, you can't just run to the dry cleaner, and specialist leather cleaning is really expensive in the capital. So I washed it.
I can hear you gasping now - washing leather, that is surely verboten right?!
Well, it worked, that is all I can say. I hand washed the whole heavy thing and drip dried it hanging from a line. (It was so heavy I was afraid it would tear the whole line down).
Then I cut it up
, cut off the pockets, shortened it and generally diminished the volume radically. The seams are not perfect, nor did I want them to be. I wanted the skirt to be a little "rough" with a tiny breath of rock and roll perhaps, but still age appropriate and not too short. I left the hem unfinished to enhance that effect. I wore it last night to a big village do - Þorrablót - and I must say I looked rather good.
But you just have to take my word for it. I completely forgot to have my picture taken. I my household, I take the pictures. That is the reason I very seldom appear in the family albums.
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