I think every year I seem compelled to make for myself one skirt in some extremely garish shade. This year isn’t get away scot free either.
I bought this brilliant daffodil yellow pin-wale corduroy from Spotlight a few years ago. And I apologise for my painfully predictable choice of another Vogue 1247 skirt.
So, I put some thought into thinking of something new to write about the pattern here. I’ve used it a lot so clearly its got a lot going for it and so it shouldn’t be hard to write some fresh and original new praise for the pattern. Truly I wish I could expound long and freely and with poetic abandon upon the multitude merits of the humble Vogue 1247 skirt. But the well of words has run dry. So my love just has to be expressed wordlessly and in the mute evidence of the sheer number of them that have rolled off the sewing machine.
OK, lining. I can say something about that. I wanted to line it, so I could wear it with tights during winter. So, when in Spotlight recently I checked out the lining situ-bar. It was poor. But they had something called Dancetime Satin which was both cheap and a not-terrible colour. See, here’s the thing; my most favourite-ist skirt lining of all time has been the ivory satin I used in my curtaining skirt; another Vogue 1247. It’s been a sheer joy to wear this skirt, every time, and part of it is in the quiet hidden luxury of the rich lining with its sheen and its cool slipperiness. But there’s satin and then there’s satin.
Like a fool, I fell for a low price.
I have some hard-won advice for everyone; do not ever, under any circumstances, EVER, buy Dancetime Satin. Unless you are planning to set fire to something quickly.
Dancetime Satin is like demon’s spawn, put on this earth in order to torment the unsuspecting home seamster. Truthfully.
Really I should have given up on it, sought out some regular polyacetate lining from Fabulous Fabrics. But I struggled on with the Dancetime Satin lining, and because there was some leftover I made some bias to finish the lower hem.
I’m hoping it proves itself nice to wear, at least.
Details:
Skirt; Vogue 1247, lengthened and lined and more A-line, yellow corduroy, my review of this pattern here
Top; the twist top from Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi, charcoal ponte, details here
Tights, self-drafted, black merino knit, details here, and my tutorial on how to make your own custom fit tights here
Shoes; Django and Juliette, from Zomp shoes
Not that the back view of this skirt is particularly noteworthy, but I’ve realised I’ve pretty much never provided on my blog a back view of this Pattern Magic twist top. I love this top. I want it to last forever.
That is a great outfit. I like to line skirts too but I have never treated myself to satin, sounds wonderful (but not the one you have warned us about obviously!) Jo x
Thank you for your wisdom regarding the satin. Why is a good lining so hard to come by around these parts? Love your skirt, don't be sorry for sewing what works for you.
Beautiful skirt Carolyn! Love the cheery shade, I don't think it's garish at all. I try to stick to Bemberg lining but once used a terrible satin and I find it too hot and sticky to wear…shame, because I think the dress is great. Your top is one that I would want to last forever too, so flattering.
What a fabulous pop of colour for the coming winter. Your whole outfit looks fantastic.
Fantastic skirt, love the colour and I've just cut out my 3rd version of this pattern and agree it is a fantastic pattern.
What a great color! Dancetime satin sounds like such an innocent name. Bwah ha ha!
It looks like you eliminated the horizontal seam on the back of the skirt. I just tried on my skirt yesterday and it makes this horizontal lump across the derierre that is not attractive at all…I will eliminate that seam next time!
Kyle; Thank you for your comment, and NO, I did not eliminate the horizontal back seam, the pattern is made up just as it is. The only modifications I made were as stated in the "details", namely to lengthen and line it, and cut it to be a little more A-line.
Yellow and grey is such a fab combo – I've got some lovely Japanese spotty satin in the stash, also from Spotlight, waiting to become linings. Now I'm a little bit scared…..
Yes, this is a wonderful combination of colours/garments. Love it all!
Your skirt looks good and will brighten up a winter's day.
Luckily I have never considered the Dancetime satin. I am however considering using Spotlight's more expensive polyester satin ($9.95/m?) for lining for a coat I'm making (Mccall 5525 actually). What are the potential pitfalls? I have sewn with the fabric before – for a rather complicated costume – and my only complaint was that it's polyester and so can't take high heat. But things may be different with a garment I hope to wear for a long time. I realise it will pill sooner or later. What else?
KathleenS.
Hello KathleenS; thank you! I think the more expensive satin would surely be better quality than the super cheap Dancetime! I find generally speaking, the more you pay the better the quality, although there are exceptions. I used an approx $10/m polyester satin to line my ivory trench coat, also a McCalls 5525, and it has been excellent in every day 🙂
"way" not "day" for that last word….!
Thanks Carolyn, that's reassuring. Now all I need to do is make up my mind!
KathleenS
Yellow and black !!! I love tour skirt, and is color !
You look great! Simple black and yellow are classy colors put together the way you have them here. I would want that top to last forever too! And I finally got my hands on Vogue 1247 and can hardly wait to jump on the skirt bandwagon! You have inspired me with so many of your lovely creations of that pattern.
P.S. Cool choice of backdrop for your photo(s)! 🙂
I love it! I want that fabric!!! I am quite besotted by yellow at the moment. I made a pair of short/skort in that same colour a week or so ago and am just waiting to blog it! I think your outfit is fantastic, especially that bit of brightness for winter!
Oh shazzam! What a wonderful colour! And you made your own tigbts? Of course you did! SO impressed!
The perils of potential lining fabrics! Thanks for warning us off the dancetime satin. I used to use the cheapest linings from Lincraft back in the day when I made myself work outfits, and found that they all wore out, so I started buying the expensive stuff – you know, the lining that usually costs twice as much as the fashion fabric? It's so worth the extra expense though. Fabulous skirt, as always, I'll bet you're glad you persevered with that lining.
Oh okay! LOL ! I have that skirt pattern, even have it pulled out of the envelope, but haven't made it yet. Today it shall be started!
the skirt looks great in this color! yellow skirts are on my mind lately, as i fell in love with a yellow skirt i spotted on someone at church on sunday… may need to put a yellow mini on the shortlist! and personally i love it when someone makes the same pattern repeatedly… i do the same thing!
That colour makes me sooooo happy! I've made a few of this pattern by now as well – it's really a perfect garment. And your lining looks perfect even if you did struggle!
He, he, demon spawn fabric. I think I have some of that, but not Dancetime Satin. I will stay clear of it. Thanks for the warning!
The skirt is beautifully cheery.
Beautiful outfit Carolyn – and yes, Spotlight has lots of little lurking demons in their fabrics – thanks for the hint, I would have fallen into that trap too 🙂
I've also sworn off dancetime satin for anything except dressups, and then I dip it in starch first. Spotlight sells another satin, I think it's called Sandwashed, and you can feel the difference. Softer, drapier, lovely. I've sewn with that and it's a great fabric, and I've used it as a lining, although I had to use the wrong side, not the sandwashed side. Love the skirt and the gorgeous bright colour!
Love the bright yellow. And love the photo backdrop, too! Fun outfit.
I was going to comment that your new skirt will brighten up any dull autumn days. Then I realised you probably don't get those where you live! So I'll stick with saying it would definitely brighten up any wardrobe. Lovely shape, too.
Wearing the sun today? Lovely! 🙂
Love the colour and it looks great on you! And your lining?¿?¿ OMG it´s perfect!
Wonderful colour Carolyn! You are going to extend the summer feeling down under just by wearing it. Seeing your twist top has reminded me just how lovely it is – I will drag out the PM book and get drafting 🙂
The color combo you've got going on in this outfit is just awesome! Your skirt is really cool, and I love the pop of color, especially for Fall/Winter.
But, it looks so innocent, "dance-time"
I just hate working with devilish fabrics, big reward for sticking with it. Wonderful bit of color!
Certainly not garish more cheerful! Why save the cheerful colours for summer! Another lovely version!
Oh that sounds like a Venus Fabric-trap… an innocent name and it's so pretty, it lures you in and then torments you once it has you in its grasp! I hope it wears well, though – it looks very pretty, and you did such a lovely job of the binding 🙂
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