After my first self-drafted A-line skirt was such a success I simply had to make another one. I used the same basic pattern and adapted it so that it features a waistband, button front placket and inset pockets. It results in a very different look. I am really enjoying this pattern drafting business and am already dreaming about yet another version that may or may not include a lined vent.
This skirt was inspired by the Colette Beignet and Megan Nielsen’s Kelly skirt. Instead of spending money on a pattern and a lot of time getting it to fit right it seemed much easier and faster to draft my own and it was.
I used a denim fabric with some stretch that I can only describe as looking splotched with bleach. The pattern placement looked rather random so I did not attempt any pattern matching and I think it turned out fine (May and Patrick might disagree though). The buttons are from my stash and I think they are a perfect match for this fabric. The waistband closes with a hook. I sometimes struggle to get my buttonhole foot to behave on parts that are a bit more bulky and I didn’t feel like doing that yesterday.
I made the pockets a bit deeper on this skirt than on my previous version and I think this is an improvement. The opening of the pockets is finished with my coverstitch machine as was the hem. I just love those neat rows of double stitching.
For the finish of the waistband facing on the inside I tried something new. In some of my RTW jeans the bottom edge of the waistband facing is finished with bias tape and I really like that detail. It is a neat finish and because the seam allowance isn’t folded to the inside of the waistband to hide it, it is far less bulky than what I used to do. It made topstitching the waistband a breeze. It also adds a fun touch of colour that only the wearer of the garment will see.
I am probably not the only one that loves to have a look inside other people’s garments:
For those of you that would like to add a button front placket to an existing skirt pattern I’ve made a schematic that shows how I changed my pattern. The important things when drafting are how wide you want the waistband to be and how much overlap you want between the front skirt pieces. For a 4 cm overlap you first measure 2 cm (so half the measurement of the final overlap) from the center front and then add another 4 cm for the facing. I interfaced the facing before folding it to the inside. Don’t forget to add seam allowances to the top of the skirt and the bottom and center front of the waistband after cutting the pattern in two when you are working with a pattern that has the seam allowance already included in each pattern piece.
Giveaway winner
Then finally, we also have a winner for the Sunnyside quiltfabric giveaway! My boyfriend was so kind to draw a winner on Wednesday night and I took some photographic evidence:
I’ve already contacted Selma and I hope she will enjoy making her first quilt!
I love your skirt. I had a similar designs, but it was Ready to Wear. I love to draft straight and A-line skirts. It seems to take almost as long to make as cutting out and adjusting a purchased skirt.
Thank you! It was definitely a fast make because I already had the basic pattern that fits well.
Great skirt – fits and suits you so well and the finishing inside is so neat. Essence of May and Patrick is definitely in the air at the moment ; )
Thank you!
Great skirt and the colourful finish on the inside waistband is so fun! Thanks for linking the lined vent sew along too.
Thank you! I think I’ll include the lined vent on my next skirt (am waiting until all the post are up because I want to know all the steps before I start sewing) and I thought this was a nice way to direct other skirt sewing people to the sew along.
I love the pattern and I love the fabric. You made it such a good fit!
Thank you! It was really nice not having to fit this skirt anymore because I had already taken the time to do so for my previous one.
Good planning always works!
Looks great inside and out! I like the waistband inside! Great idea….now May and Patrick WOULD like that! Lol
Thank you! This is definitely the waistband finish I am going to do from now on in unlined skirts. Would May and Patrick also like it if it wasn’t included in the instructions?
No, they probably won’t! No added pockets tho so surely a bit of bias may be ok???
Who knows? At least my stitching was pretty straight and close to the edge!
Me happy!! I never win anything, this is a very good first!
I love the fabric of the skirt to.
And you’re definitely not the only one wanting to look inside other people’s garments. Sometimes my hands itch to undress people, but somehow that seems a bit indecent most of the time.
I was a bit flustered about who Patrick and May are. But then it hit me! How could I forget? Especially since I so much agree with with Lynda’s hand-sign for him. For those still flustered; keep the telly tuned on BBC Two at Tuesdays 20:00 GMT. You’ll love it!
I sometimes catch myself staring at interesting seamlines on other people’s clothes and always hope they didn’t notice.
I think a lot of people turn on the BBC on Tuesdays these weeks, so much fun.
I love the skirt! It’s a very fun fabric as well. Thank you for sharing the bias tape on waistband idea. It does look very neat. x
Thank you, I still love wearing it! The biastape really does create less bulk so I can really recommend it.