December 4, 2009

Carolyn Skirt - Variation on a Theme

The pattern for this skirt started life as Simplicity 5914. I have had this pattern for years and made it several times. Always right from the envelope. The first time I made it The Princess was still in high school, she's been out now for 5 years. Last week Bonnie posted a super cute skirt that she made. I loved it. Had to have one. And since reading your comments about jeans, I decided maybe the way to go was to make some casual skirts for work. (And I swear I wore hose, but they were shredded and I ditched them when I got to knitting.) Anyway. The fabric is a stretch twill with a huge amount of stretch. I cut the skirt on the lengthwise grain so the stretch went up and down rather than around. I quit literally made this skirt 4 times on Sunday. Just this one - there aren't 3 other versions. Sad, no? I started with the simplicity pattern, traced the pattern taking about 2" of flare out of the seams surrounding the front and back pieces. I now you can't see it, but this is a standard a-line, 6-gored skirt. 2 pieces, center front/back cut twice on fold and side piece cute 4 times. So I only took the flare out of the front/back and one side of the side panel. I put a lime green zipper in it and tried it on. Too much flare on side/side seams. Took it off, took about 4" off the bottom of the side seams. Tried it on again, not too bad. I used a lime green gross grain ribbon to face the zipper and sewed it to the bottom to give the hem some weight. Went outside to show JB - he thought the green was hideous! Went back in the house - took skirt off, threw it on the ironing board and went to cook dinner. Sunday I decided to try again. I stated by ripping. All the ribbon had to come off, the the zipper. Then I had to press everything, dig around for a different zipper and start over. Put in the brown separating zipper. Tried it on - still too much flare - seriously?! Took out just a smidge more flare at the bottom and took the seams in at the waist about an inch and a half. Good! Dug through my cottons stash and found a print with a brown background. Cut 5" strips that I seamed to make long enough. Faced the zipper and hem with the cotton print. I also cut the facings from the same print. Very happy with the skirt. Not so happy with how the photos look. Plus can I just say - I tried this one several times in the process, when I got dressed for work on Wednesday with my control top hose - it was too big. A good 2" extra at the back waste. Dang!!

12 comments :

  1. That is really awesome! (See, gauge lies! Just like a rug!)

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  2. I like it! I too like a good 6 gore skirt pattern. And hooray for control top hose, if they'll take 2" off your waistline. I have a favored 6 gore skirt pattern, too, but I usually split the back panel and put the zipper in the back. I don't feel I need the extra lump on my hip from a side zipper.

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  3. First the skirt is really cute! Second that was some re-working and third, for my final try-on I always put the control top pantyhose on...it always, always makes a difference!

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  4. The non-sewer likes the floor accessory in the last photo. No outfit is complete until the basset slings a little drool...

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  5. Sewing can be so frustrating at times for so many reasons. Yesterday I was in the middle of a big project when my iron died. How could this happen? It was only thirty years old!! I had to go out and buy a new iron. How frustrating!

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  6. Finding something to be too big is usually a good thing... not so much here...sorry! Part of why I never took up sewing... lol

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  7. Love the skirt! Have to say though, my eyes glazed over when I was reading all those sewing terms. SNOL I just don't "get it", I wish I did!

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  8. I just realized that this is the exact pattern I use for a 6 gore skirt! I've made both the A & B views. It's a great skirt.

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  9. i love it. you look fabulous! i think you could really dress this skirt up or down easily. i like up - the pears and such are very nice. now you need some boots and a jean jacket.
    miss your face, friend.

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  10. um...that would be PEARLS (not pears). :)

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  11. Great skirt! I have been out of high school for 5 years already... ugh!

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  12. It looks great! Don't ya hate when those seemingly simple projects turn complicated?

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