A Tale of Two Skirts

An article by Rachel    1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a new shirt. Which prompted the thought of, “This skirt would look great with a skirt. i bet I can make one”. I even bought the fabric. In fact, I bought fabric for two skirts, because it’s impossible to walk away from the fabric store with just one piece of fabric.

Memorial Weekend brought rain and cold temperatures, perfect sewing weather. On Friday, I set out to draft a pattern. Now this was probably my first mistake. Last summer I made two skirts, successfully I might add, from a drafted pattern. In my mind’s eye I saw a knee length skirt with a ruffle on the bottom. Sew What! Skirts suggested using an A-line pattern with a ruffle. Bad idea! By the time I was done, I had puffy skirt, fitting for bouffon in the Nutcracker. (No pictures available. I’m trying to erase the images engraved into my brain.)

Plan B. I took the skirt apart, cut the fabric into a straight skirt, and sewed it back together, easier said than done. Result?

It’s better, but not perfect. All the manhandling stretched the fabric a bit. Consequently, the darts are a little out of sorts. I haven’t decided if I’m going to actually wear it. Part of me just wants to give it away due to the bad memory.

For some reason, I wasn’t completely deterred from making the second skirt. However, I did choose an easier route. I copied an existing skirt, an easy one to boot. I made a straight skirt with an elastic waist.

I should have done this with the first skirt. I’d be A LOT happier. I wore it today, and I was comfortable all day. That says a lot.

Lessons learned:

• It’s OK to sew an easy skirt
• An easy skirt may produce a better skirt
• Copy existing clothes for measurements, specifically fabric ease
• I enjoy sewing clothes when it’s quick
• I have a lot more patience for sewing quilts than clothes

I think I’ve done damage for one weekend. Now I’m off to bed. Tomorrow I’m going to attempt to get up early enough to go to a spin class at 5.45. Yes, I know I’m crazy.