I saw this awesome world map fabric in Spotlight and just couldn’t resist. Novelty fabrics just make the best mini-skirts for summer. Simple and understated but still interesting and quietly eye-catching. Best worn with a plain white top.
The fabric was sold by the panel, and I used Vogue 1247, splicing the pieces together to make one solid front and one solid back. I put the invisible zip closure in the left side seam, so as to have as much seamless and uninterrupted flow of map happening as possible, and wrapped the button closure just a bit further along from the side seam and around the corner to the back. Believe it or not, this looks much better than having it right boom on the side seam, less bulky and gives a more streamlined look.
The waistband is faced with plain ice-blue lightweight Rowan cotton, bought from purl soho about two? three? years ago. Unlined, because it’s practically summer; overlocked raw edges and a bias-bound and hand-stitched hem. Australia is on the front.
That’s it.
Oh, and also, um, so yes. It can be seen that my Constant Companion has had a haircut. A rather drastic one. The tail. That was a shock. Did not expect that. I’m still not used to it, and am hoping it will actually grow back! Think I’m going to have be a heap more specific when liaising with the dog-groomer from now on! In the meantime, she’s answering to Miss Rat-tail O’Skinnypins, thanks very much.
But what do I know; she’s pretty happy. Puppy-like frolicking ensues 🙂
Details:
Skirt; Vogue 1247 modified, printed cotton drill, my review of this pattern
Top; the bamboo shoot top from Pattern Magic, white linen, details here
Sienna in summer attire
LOLOL. I LOVE that skirt in that print!!!
What a novel skirt. This looks great and is sure to be a conversation starter. Poor dog, hope she's not feeling too embarrassed. Lucky it will grow back.
I LOVE that skirt! It looks like I'll have to get on down to Spotlight very soon :-D.
When we lived in the northern territory we'd get our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel completely shorn. He loved it and it made him look like a little puppy again.
Now Sienna doesn't have to sweat in too much in the heat.
Clever print choice too. This skirt will become a conversation starter on the ferry.
I saw this at the last sale and decided against it, because I have such a large stash already. It looks wonderful though on you and I am keeping my fingers crossed for the doggie 🙂
the only thing worse than an entirely shorn tail is when there is just a puff of fur left at the end… we had a longhhaired cat once that needed medical work done on a bite wound to the tail, and the vet shaved most of it but left a tuft at the end… poor kitty was mortally embarrassed, and we had a hard time not laughing at our new improved poodle cat.
Your skirt, on the other hand, looks absolutely summery and delightful!
I love the skirt. You look very worldly, lol! Great thinking outside of the square! Sorry, I couldn't resist that! Seriously though, I love the uniqueness of your new skirt. I was thinking about using some home decor fabric to make a skirt but a map is actually quite clever.
I don't think Sienna will mind her haircut, in fact, she will probably be quite grateful as the weather heats up. My poor dog got taken to by my daughter with the clippers today. She looks so much better.
I love the fabric ! It's really fun !
lovely skirt! when i saw the pictures, I thought you got a new dog. 🙂
I would never have thought to buy this fabric for a garment but it looks fantastic.
Wow. The geography teacher in me LOVES this. I saw it too but didn't have a plan like you.
You may have cut the fabric upside down. Shouldn't Australia be on top?!!
Whenever you get the urge to travel you can just put the skirt on and go exploring. It looks wonderful, and I love it.
I thought that fabric was pretty cool too, but couldn't work out what I'd use it for. I love the way you've used it – what a great summer skirt.
Woo-hoo!
Mappage, baby! That is just fantastically brilliant.
Actually, I fell for a similar fabric and made up a Donna Karen dress from it.
Wow, that is an awesome skirt!!
Great skirt – wish I'd seen that fabric at Spotlight!
Great skirt! Our retriever used to love getting his summer trim, it always took years off him as well.
That skirt I so cute. I don't know about sitting on Africa though. Miss Rat tail will appreciate it wit the warmer weather,
hehe, I'll be sitting on Mexico and South America actually 😉
I adore that fabric! I will be searching for it online.
I think Sienna looks adorable, and is probably so much more comfortable. I am sure her tail will grow back.
I saw that fabric and thought it would also look great as a skirt! So glad you made one.. just love it
Great fabric!
I want one! You know I'll be on the lookout now for map fabric! LOL
That is a brilliant skirt and I really want one now. It is a great pattern too – I bet you fall back on that one all the time. Jo x
I love your skirt and this is exactly my kind of fabric! Also your dog looks even cuter than usual with the short haircut 🙂
skirt is wonderful ;9
Love this print! GAH! SO good. And now that I've made a few of these Vogue skirts I may have to make one sans pockets next time….
Great idea, I love it
{ Love } this fabric – too cute!
Love the print! Sienna's tail will grow back…she doesn't seem to mind at all. I have my springer spaniel clipped in the spring, even though he shouldn't be, but he gets so hot in the summer and he seems to like it. It all grows back when he gets his winter coat on. 🙂
Lovely skirt, and it looks even better with the simplicity of the top.
that is so cute, love it. I have to restrain myself, novelty fabrics always call out to me when I am shopping. great use of it here.
The skirt is awesome, the tail a bit weird… I guess summer hairdress for dogs…
Oh my gosh!! I LOVE this fabric on a skirt!! It's crazy how well it works!! And poor pup! At least she seems relatively unfazed by her new (temporary, I'm sure) look!
I'd love to make one like that, and embroider little stars over the places I've visited. It would be a conversation skirt and a work in progress!
LMAO about Miss Skinnypins' new haircut! Every time my little poodle gets groomed it's a bit of a laugh for us, too, because he comes back looking shockingly neat and trim – so different from the way he goes into the groomer's shop! I really wanted to comment on your perfectly wonderful map skirt, but your comments about the haircut sent me laughing in another direction. 😀 Your creativity is always inspiring, Carolyn!
map fabric! how awesome. i love looking at maps (though i was always terribly bad at geography) so this is super cute!
great fabric, love it
Love novelty prints for skirts. Your vision was spot on with the world map – very cute positioning Australia on the front. I always love how much thought you put into your sewing. Sienna looks like a lioness to me.
Love the map fabric skirt & I think Sienna looks cute.
What a great skirt! I love maps — how cool to be able to wear one! We have an Australian shepherd who has to be shaved in the summer (he is so uncooperative they actually have to sedate him!). He spends a few weeks looking like a bobble head:)
Wow, what a great shirt! I've been on the hunt for some fabric like that for a while, so I'm jealous you found some. That skirt is probably going to start interesting conversations.
You wear Spain on the hip, so we are not so bad as Mexico! 😀
Both Sienna and you look ready for the Summer. That fabric is AMAZING!
And the pattern: I treasure it because I know I will be using it again!
i saw that fabric in spotlight the other day, and was podering what i could possibly do with it!! NEVER did i ever think to wear it!! That is really awesome! I may need some….
Jessica
I Love the map print. Such a great used of it. You look stunning as usual.
Love it!!
A great piece of fabric + a fabulous pattern = one amazing summer skirt! Love it!
Such a fun summer skirt and Sienna looks so young, she will be a lot cooler.
Very interesting skirt!
Love the use of the fabric on your skirt – very cute! And Miss Rat-tail O'Skinnypins is rocking the skinny tail look!!
The fabric is amazing! We have a map in our family room and we are always referring to it!
Love that print!!!! It looks great on you, the whole outfit is soooo cute!!!!
Well done Carolyn! Another garment I would absolutely LOVE to have myself. I wish I was as creative as you – the use of a map as skirt wouldn't have occurred to me but it looks fabulous. The pattern magic top looks great too.
As does Sienna who I am sure will appreciate being cooler for your summer. (If I could only borrow her old coat here in the UK this morning I would be happy too 🙂 )
I use old maps to wrap gifts…well, outdated road maps of the recent era are used this way. I have a book of maps from the 1940s that I couldn't possibly cut up! Love the skirt and that top. Envious of your summer and your beach. Pity your poor dog – that head doesn't look right on that body. But if she's happy, I don't suppose it matters at all…
Ooooh, Globe skirt!!!! I love this! Nothing like having the world on your *ss is there? LOL. I actually also made a world night sky map skirt that actually GLOWS IN THE DARK! It's here if you want to see it: http://gjeometry.com/2013/04/08/bowie-sewalong-make-and-it-glows-in-the-dark/ 🙂
Love, love, love it! Perfect pairing of fabric and pattern, and so fun.
I love your skirt. How original! Wishing Spring was here too 🙂
I love this! I saw some bright map fabric in a cheap poly cotton in London this year and really wanted it but couldn't deal with the cheap fabric. I'll have to check out my local Spotlight, very exciting. I hate to say it but puppy looks a lot younger.
Great fabric find, Carolyn. It makes a perfect summer skirt. Poor Miss Sienna, what that groomer did to her tail! Inexperienced groomer, perhaps? Sienna doesn't seem to be letting it bother her one little bit.
Heh, that's some pretty international fabric! (Pun intended…) I recently walked by it in a local fabric store, after already having seen it on Andrea's blog (she's from Canada). 😀
Now I'm thinking I should have bought some – love the look of your skirt!
I also saw a similar fabric in the london shop.. liked it a lot, but resisted buying it, as I didn't know what to make out of it.. Now know! Vey cute skirt!
Adorable! I want, like everyone else.
LOL you are sitting on Mexico! Nice cheeky Texas placement. So adorable!
Alright…I yield! I spent sometime going through my local Spotlight looking for that awesome map fabric, and managed to come out with ONLY the 5 McCalls patterns currently on sale for $10 (and feeling quite proud of self…serious bargain-age).
What section was the map fabric in?!?!!!
You got the patterns!! yay! the map fabric was piled up on the cottons table, in that jumbled haphazard way distinctive to Spotlight… sorry I can't be more specific! Maybe ask the staff?? sometimes some gets cut for a customer and then they leave it beside the counter because everyone's too busy to put it back on the floor…
I'm surprised you didn't turn the fabric around and put the southern hemisphere (and Australia) at top. 😉
Love this skirt and that print! It's -10F here now and I'm ready to pack up and visit you with your beach and warm weather!