I made a swishy new skirt…
this beautiful rayon challis fabric was generously given to me by Minerva in the UK in return for a blog post for their site, which can be read here.. however because of course I am in the habit of documenting my makes here on my own personal blog too, then here we are!
For sometime I’ve been wanting to make a maxi skirt, and just thought what the heck, no time like the present! It’s very nearly zero waste, which I am quite proud of. This is the very simple design:
I measured my waist and hips, and gave myself a bit of extra in the hips, and divided by six to get a rough dimensions for a six-gore skirt design, and the width at the bottom hem decided by subtracting my waist measurement from the total fabric width and then dividing by two, and the length of the skirt was determined by the length of fabric I had, divided by two obviously. So first step was to draw up the one skirt piece. Yes, I used the same pattern piece for all six gores!… I planned to fit three of the gores onto each half of the fabric length I had, laid alternately up and down to make the most of the area. This was possible because the print is non directional. Actually, side note, but print-matching as a concept is actually the biggest fabric waster OF THEM ALL, I know, pretty controversial thing to say, huh? Or not, it’s actually quite obvious of course, although no one wants to admit it! 🙂
Initially I thought I’d try to be clever and cut a waistband and pockets from that bit of scrap off the sides, but I quickly realised that pockets and/or a waistband were going to be, respectively; ugly and/or unnecessary. So this skirt has neither in the end.
some progress shots…
when making a skirt of a delicate fabric and bias side seams, I’ve found it a good idea to hang the pieces up for a day or so to let some of that bias drop out before seaming. Otherwise I’ve sometimes noticed that over time, the fabric can grow a slightly “gathered” look either side of that stable side seam stitching.
After under stitching the waist seam I didn’t feel like it was sitting very smooth and neat, so I topstitched around the top edge. Hangs much nicer now I think!
I used a black invisible zip because that’s what I had!
Hemline before and after trimming…
I hemmed using the triple stitched skinny hem, as described here…
I gave it a half lining, because swishy skirts have a tendency to be clingy skirts if they do not have a lining, to disastrous effect. Fortunately I had some yellow lining fabric leftover from when I made my yellow Mundaring raincoat. A lining doesn’t need to be super long to be effective for a main skirt, but now it’s done and I’ve worn it I’ve retrospectively decided I would prefer a big swishy lining too. I may or may not add a doughnut shape to the bottom some time, to get one.
Anyway, it’s still gorgeously swishy! I’m wearing it here with my little hand stitched Alabama Chanin tank top, which is my favourite tank top. I really should make myself another, because I could literally wear this two hundred times a year, easily! I mean, I don’t, but I could, I love it that much… Hmmm *wanders off to the fabric room in search of white cotton jersey…*
this is how I wore it to bookclub…
In non sewing news; we are nicely settled into our house at last. I still have a lot of cleaning out and sorting out to do to get our “family of five”possessions whittled down to be better suited to “empty nesters” state of things *sob* but you know… Work in progress, always!
Oh, one other, this time sewing related thing… Cassie needed a feeding cushion for baby Theo, so I made one using some batman themed cotton drill from spotlight and a European pillow insert. It has a big border so as to use up the entire width of fabric #wastenotwantnot and I put snaps along the bottom to take the insert out for cleaning. Look how cute he is on his cushion! Yes, I made the “Tshirt” here which is actually a onesie, and the pants were a gift from another doting relative that happened to match perfectly 🙂
Until next time!
So fun! Swishy skirts are such a joy to wear – they make you feel special without being super fussy (not that fussy isn’t also fun). It’s starting to warm up on this side of the world – I wonder if I have fabric for a swishy skirt in my stash . . . .
Thank you for sharing!
The skirt is very pretty, but that grandson is over the top cute
Your golden skirt looks divine, Carolyn. However, my heart is melting seeing little Theo again on his cushion, too sweet!,
Stupendous. Love the swishiness and floatiness of your skirt. How long was your piece of fabric? I ask because I’m inspired and may want to make one. I have lots of floaty rayon and summer is coming! Theo looks like the Emperor he is on his regal pillow.
The skirt is lovely, and a clever way of making the pattern! And your grandson is so adorable.
Gorgeous and swishy! I’m in the process of making a skirt with a similar pattern and process—though very different fabric… and of course everything I do these days proceeds at a snail’s pace. Yours makes me want to try it in rayon though!!!
I saw your skirt on the minerva website and loved the swish – nice to see how you made it. It really is beautiful and a type of skirt I do not own but would now really like! Jo x
Aw, Theo! But what book did your book club discuss?
we did Honeybee by Craig Silvey. It’s a great book, very moving and we all loved it, can recommend!
Oh great, thanks, Carolyn. We’re about to pick our books for 2021-22, so I’m making my list!
https://www.seamwork.com/magazine/2021/03/how-to-sew-leather-house-shoes
Some fun shoes to go with your skirt. I saw them and thought of you.
I just love rayon. I’m not a fan of polyester and all those kinds of swishy fabrics because they just make me hotter in summer but rayon doesn’t and it sits so nicely too. Sadly I’ve seen less of it in the shops these days – maybe the others are cheaper but I just won’t buy them.
Nice work, I can almost feel it swishing around my ankles!
And I have to agree, Theo is a cute little button!
My gosh, your skirt is gorgeous!! I now very obviously need to make a swishy skirt myself, if only I had a suitable fabric in my humungous stash that I must use up (grumble)… I’ll just go and check this out on the Minerva website, just a little peak…