Pencil Skirt Not A Big Girl's Friend (But I Knew That)
My word for me today - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34)."
I have a bunch of "not quite scrap" fabric. This is fabric that I have leftover from some other project that is not big enough to make something with by itself but it is too big to consider scraps that I can toss in the trash.
I have wanted to make a pencil skirt for forever (when I was thin and could wear it well). I finally got around to doing it a of days ago and finally bought a mirror so I can take pictures. I will admit there seems to be an art and science to taking selfies that I have not mastered.
I wanted to find a pattern the would allow me to use up all these "not quite scrap" fabric pieces. I don't remember how I landed on this site but I found it and thought this would be perfect for allowing to use this fabric.
I downloaded this free pencil skirt pattern from On The Cutting Floor website.
I hate pasting PDF patterns together and prefer taking them to Kinko's and pay them the print on the big sheets so I can cut it out like one of the big 4 patterns. The last time I went to Kinko's it cost me about $18 bucks to print a pattern and I was too cheap this time. Besides this skirt had only 16 pages and you did not have to overlap - surely I could do this and I did.
The first time I printed I messed up because I did not pay attention and scaled the pattern. The second time I printed I got it right almost. One of the lines on the front side panel was at the very edge and it did not print all the way but I was able to see it and fix it. Not sure if was my printers fault.
Based on the measurements given on the web site I should have only needed to add about an inch for ease but I ended up having to add a whopping 8 inches for the hip area and when I sewed the front and back together I had to ease "the extra" length in because the pieces did not match up.
I don't know if it was a mistake I made in the adjustment or if it was the pattern but I normally don't have any issues making a hip adjustment on a skirt. I have never had to add 8 inches to the hips before either. Anyway I was able to "fixed" it.
What I absolutely loved about the pattern was it's simplicity and elegance. I especially loved the instructions for the waistband and elastic - it was so easy. The instructions were super easy when I looked at them. I really only needed them for the waistband.
The pattern called for a knit fabric I believe but I used a combination of ponte knit and a corduroy print. I used knit for the side panels and the corduroy for the front and back center panels.
I normally have to shorten the length by about 3 inches but I knew the skirt was already above the knee so I did not make this adjustment. I believe I ended up cutting about 5/8 or 3/4 of an inch off the bottom edge because I was having an issue trying to stitch thru a doubled hem (did not have a new knit needle on hand) and did a single layer hem without the top stitching.
The skirt do have top stitching around the seams and I used 30 wt cotton Sulky thread in purple that is really hard to see in the pictures but it is there.
I wanted to try this skirt first to see how things went because there were a couple of other patterns on the site I wanted to try. Will I make this skirt again maybe. If I do I will flair the bottom edge a touch so that it is more flattering for my body. Will I try the other patterns on the site - I don't know.
This skirt without a long top on is not so eye pleasing because it just does not go with my figure but I knew that before I started sewing it. A year or so ago I made a top using the same purple corduroy print and some pique and put it with this skirt and it don't look so bad on me.
Again, I admit there seems to be an art and science to taking selfies that I have not mastered. I have on no stockings and my calves are swollen in these pictures but I am posting them anyway - smile.
I have a bunch of "not quite scrap" fabric. This is fabric that I have leftover from some other project that is not big enough to make something with by itself but it is too big to consider scraps that I can toss in the trash.
I have wanted to make a pencil skirt for forever (when I was thin and could wear it well). I finally got around to doing it a of days ago and finally bought a mirror so I can take pictures. I will admit there seems to be an art and science to taking selfies that I have not mastered.
I wanted to find a pattern the would allow me to use up all these "not quite scrap" fabric pieces. I don't remember how I landed on this site but I found it and thought this would be perfect for allowing to use this fabric.
I downloaded this free pencil skirt pattern from On The Cutting Floor website.
How I Did It
Before I get started I have to admit that I knew I would be taking a risk on this particular skirt because I knew this style would not look the best on me but I wanted to find a way to use my fabric.I hate pasting PDF patterns together and prefer taking them to Kinko's and pay them the print on the big sheets so I can cut it out like one of the big 4 patterns. The last time I went to Kinko's it cost me about $18 bucks to print a pattern and I was too cheap this time. Besides this skirt had only 16 pages and you did not have to overlap - surely I could do this and I did.
The first time I printed I messed up because I did not pay attention and scaled the pattern. The second time I printed I got it right almost. One of the lines on the front side panel was at the very edge and it did not print all the way but I was able to see it and fix it. Not sure if was my printers fault.
Based on the measurements given on the web site I should have only needed to add about an inch for ease but I ended up having to add a whopping 8 inches for the hip area and when I sewed the front and back together I had to ease "the extra" length in because the pieces did not match up.
I don't know if it was a mistake I made in the adjustment or if it was the pattern but I normally don't have any issues making a hip adjustment on a skirt. I have never had to add 8 inches to the hips before either. Anyway I was able to "fixed" it.
What I absolutely loved about the pattern was it's simplicity and elegance. I especially loved the instructions for the waistband and elastic - it was so easy. The instructions were super easy when I looked at them. I really only needed them for the waistband.
The pattern called for a knit fabric I believe but I used a combination of ponte knit and a corduroy print. I used knit for the side panels and the corduroy for the front and back center panels.
I normally have to shorten the length by about 3 inches but I knew the skirt was already above the knee so I did not make this adjustment. I believe I ended up cutting about 5/8 or 3/4 of an inch off the bottom edge because I was having an issue trying to stitch thru a doubled hem (did not have a new knit needle on hand) and did a single layer hem without the top stitching.
The skirt do have top stitching around the seams and I used 30 wt cotton Sulky thread in purple that is really hard to see in the pictures but it is there.
I wanted to try this skirt first to see how things went because there were a couple of other patterns on the site I wanted to try. Will I make this skirt again maybe. If I do I will flair the bottom edge a touch so that it is more flattering for my body. Will I try the other patterns on the site - I don't know.
This skirt without a long top on is not so eye pleasing because it just does not go with my figure but I knew that before I started sewing it. A year or so ago I made a top using the same purple corduroy print and some pique and put it with this skirt and it don't look so bad on me.
Again, I admit there seems to be an art and science to taking selfies that I have not mastered. I have on no stockings and my calves are swollen in these pictures but I am posting them anyway - smile.
Hello! I followed your link from pattern review and was hoping to get your permission to add your pretty skirt to my 'Jungle January' animal print post this week. May I?
ReplyDeleteprttynpnk.com
Yes feel free - and thanks.
DeleteI love the colour blocking with the print. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThank you - I appreciate you taking the time to comment,
DeleteEvery body is a pencil skirt body! Especially if that body sews. You've made a fabulous skirt here, and I hope you wear the heck out of it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind and thank you. I will be wearing this skirt.
Delete