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).
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 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).
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| 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!
