Flirty Skirts!

I love skirts, I really do - long calf length ones, short flirty ones, pretty summer cotton ones, formal suit ones - yep, I love skirts.

So I made a couple more.  Even, if I am on the RTW fast, I still need to dress.  Right?

The first is a simple straight skirt made out of a poly/lycra suiting in a gorgeous crimson red.  I used Simplicity 7740 (OOP):

The skirt is a simple pull on design with a centre split at the back.  It is lined with a lovely red bemberg fabric and finished off with red lace.  I sewed the lining to the sides of the split and added the 'eye' of a 'hook and eye' to the top of the split to prevent it ripping.

This is my 'Frocks and Frou Frou' pose - I have shamelessly copied it from the lovely Lilli.  I know the skirt 'bags' a bit at the front, but I am really not the size or age to wear skin tight skirts anymore - and this is soooo comfy to wear!

I also copied Ms. Carolyn and stitched two rows of top stitching down each side of the centre split - it finished it off rather nicely - the color is a bit off in this photo, sorry about that!

My second skirt is view 'B' of Kwik Sew 3256.  I made a summer skirt using this pattern and I loved how the frill makes the skirt all 'flirty', so I made it again!

This time I used a grey poly/lycra suiting with a diagonal weave that you cannot really see here.  It is lovely and soft and drapes beautifully

I have made a Haider Ackerman inspired 'Jones' coat with the rest of this fabric - post to follow!)

The only thing of note with this skirt is the lining.  The body of the skirt is lined with some stretchy, knitted, lingerie lining, and the frill is a lovely, soft, embossed fabric so when I sit down and the lining pokes out, it looks very cute!  Oh, and I hand stitched the hem - it just didn't look right when it was machine sewn.

I find it very interesting to study the photographs to see what suits and what does not.  I would say that these skirts (on me) are 'short', but looking at the photos they are actually a rather nice length!

Six of One + One

So here they are.  The skirts that I made from some lovely summer cottons that I inherited from my Mum.  I used Simplicity 4221 for 4 skirts:

The skirt is actually a 4 panel skirt with side, and centre front and back seams.  I finished mine so that the panels were offset - there was a full panel across the front and back, and one on each side.  I lined all of the skirts here with 100% cotton muslin in white with lace attached to the hem and some printed ribbon at centre back waist so I know which way to wear them!

So let's take a look at the skirts!  Actually, this first skirt is from some quilting cotton from Wal-Mart.  I love the acid green and turquoise.

 A lovely soft cotton (/poly mix?)

Possibly my favorite color combo - green and lilac.

A great, cheery summer combo - orange/peach.
 

This was possibly the most favorite fabric of all - very dainty - it reminds me of long, hot British country summers wearing gorgeous flowing Laura Ashley dresses.  Yep, that's what this fabric reminds me of!  Unfortunately, the yardage was very skant and I had to use a different pattern.  This Simplicity 2977 design was perfect . . . . but the skirt itself was rather short so I added a wide lace hem to the underskirt and and narrow lace to the hem of the outer skirt.  This is a lovely 'flippy' 6-gore skirt, and is fun to wear. 

This skirt is a bias two piece made from Butterick 4466.  I cut the size a little small - when I sit down it moves all over the place and is rather short for my taste.  I would certainly make it again but a little wider and longer.  There is something special about how a bias cut garment hangs.

This is possibly my favorite pattern, Kwik Sew 3256.  I used view B.  Quite frankly I am hooked on the 80's fashion wise - not totally, be sure to check out an upcoming post where I tell you all about it!  Anyhoooo, back to this post . . . . I cut out a size that was too large.  I used 2x and will remake it using 1x.  I find that the way the skirt flips as you walk along is rather intoxicating, and I am planning in making this again as part of a planned wardrobe, suit skirt.  Very cute.

I have cheated a little as far as tops are concerned, and have purchased some dainty very tops and cardigans to mix and match with the skirts.  I foresee many happy summer days wearing these outfits. 

All in all, I am really pleased with these garments, there is nothing really special about them other than the fact that they have given me my 'sew' back.  I am brimming with ideas, and excited to be planning, cutting and sewing again!