Monday 8 April 2013

Simple Skirt - A Learning Curve!

I was inspired by the A line skirts made on the Sewing Bee programme last week. 

I especially loved the flowery one Ann made, and as I have some nice material with red roses on it, I thought that a new skirt made from this would be a fun idea.



Right well, I don't have a pattern - so I thought "How hard can it be?"  (LOL)

I didn't cut straight into the roses material of course and so instead used this jolly stuff...  (an ebay "bargain"!)  



I started by measuring: my waist; my hips at the widest point; the distance between waist and hip lines; and finally the total skirt length. 

Easy so far.

I then worked out how much material I'd need to loose in darts - taking most of that out at the back.  I then added a seam allowance and a little rise on either side of where the zip will go.  And that was my pattern!


I ruled the dart lines directly onto the fabric..... 


Then stitched it all up and even added a zip - let's face it I need practice with zips!


Now before I put it on, I thought it looked fairly alright....

BUT once on, I could see that I had been much too generous measuring my waist.... I had thought I didn't want it too tight... hummm... at least the bum fit is better.


Little darts on the front - almost invisible -or is that because the photo is out of focus?


Anyway, this was a bit of fun!  And has given the girls a giggle....  Now I just need to apply the obvious changes and have another go with the roses material.  Watch this space!



8 comments:

  1. I think you are on the "right track" ... only slightly adjust your waist measurement and add a waistband ... this can be a great skirt! Love the print, so original.

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  2. Thanks Rosy... I re-measured my waist and believe it or not got a measurement 5cm less than last time!!!! I have no idea WHAT I did before! Duh!

    As for the fabric, I have metres and metres it (blame the ebay clicky finger!) so I was really just using it as a mock up to check the pattern before I cut into the roses material.... It is fun fabric though.....

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  3. How brave to attempt to make your own pattern. The Sewing Bee is fab, am just off now to watch last nights on catch up with a nice cuppa ... Lovely Blog ... Sarah x

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    1. Thank you! :-) A few adjustments and I'll be good to go with the roses fabric...

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  4. Sally, I have a hundred A-line skirt patterns (well 2 or 3) which you are more than welcome to have and use. Really good try though. You are drafting - which is a whole different ball game to sewing! Don't like to make things too easy for yourself, do you?

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    1. Thanks Ruth... but I think I'll persevere cos the next attempt can only be better! LOL Famous last words.....

      & I've gotta live dangerously some-how - now that I'm not teaching!

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  5. From a first dress to pattern drafting a skirt - very impressive! Can't wait to see the progress :-)

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    1. Funny thing, but most of my sewing has been self-drafted ----- ie little dog coats etc. Patterns are nearly more scarey! Really need to get going again on this skirt project...... :-)

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