The thoughts, sewing projects, and fabric oglings of a dedicated sewist.

Graphic Studio Faro Pencil Skirt

10/17/13
Sometime back in the summer I agreed to be a pattern test for Studio Faro's Pencil Skirt Worksheet.  I finished my muslin in late August or September, but then the wedding dress took over.  All along I planned to make up the skirt using this fabric, and when I saw that the challenge this week on Project Sewn was for a graphic print, I knew I had to get busy.



I like having bold prints or bright colors on my lower half as it provides a balance for my broad shoulders. This fabric is a stretch cotton sateen from GorgeousFabrics.com, and it's on sale this weekend!

I used some of the techniques I learned while making the wedding dress, a combination of instruction from Rhonda Buss, Susan Khalje, and Gertie Hirsch:

Underlined the waistband with flannel and organza and added spiral steel boning.  I also drafted the skirt with a 2-inch contoured waistband, because I like it like that.

Installed a waist stay to keep the skirt in place (I walk fast and my side seam often ends up a center front).

Why not magenta?

Put drapery weights in the back vent to keep the corners from flipping up (I like how the weights tap the back of my knees when I walk) and finished the hem with lace and a blind stitch.



Installed the zipper by hand with a pick stitch so that I could better match across the seam.



I used one of my favorite buttons from my button collection.  I found this at a thrift store where it was the only one of it's kind - perfect for a skirt!  Isn't it a beauty?



I've drafted pencil skirts before but Studio Faro's directions were a bit different than I had seen previously. The thing that most amazed me was the perfect fit on the butt!  When I've drafted skirts using a different method, I usually have to play around for ages to get this fit:





I tweaked the fit a bit between the muslin and this skirt by taking in the side seams a titch, as my muslin was made with, well, MUSLIN, and my fashion fabric was a stretch cotton sateen.  I'm really amazed how well this came off the drafting table!






I should have some finished wedding dress photos to show you soon and I plan to write a "what I learned" post about the whole experience.  Next up: Gertie's wiggle dress for a client!
16 comments on "Graphic Studio Faro Pencil Skirt"
  1. Those are some fantastic details! Perfect fit on this skirt!

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    1. Thanks, Gail! I'm in love with waist stays now - I'm thinking about adding them to everything in my closet!

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  2. Great skirt! I love the fabric. It fits you perfectly!
    ~Michelle

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  3. What a wonderful skirt. Unbelievable matching on that back seam! Beautiful work. :)

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  4. Great skirt, love the print! Lookd great paired with those boots too!

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    1. Thanks, Margo - I love your project sewn dress! And these are my favorite boots - I spent most of last winter tracking down the gray boots I had in my head, so this winter I actually get to wear them!

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  5. Perfect fit and lovely details! The fabric is gorgeous! I would love for you to link to this in my weekly selfish sewing linky party: http://laurendahl.com/sew-selfish-episode-2-and-nothing-to-show/

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  6. What an awesome skirt. The finishing looks impeccable!

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  7. Beautiful use of the fabric design. It fits you beautifully.
    Deborah

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  8. I'm a bit late to comment, but love the skirt. I have the same issue (my seams always travel around when wearing skirts) and I've never thought of putting in a waist stay. I've just learned something new :) Thanks!

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