I cracked out not one, but two skirts last week! This one’s from the Cynthia Rowley pattern Simplicity 2512. I made it from an impulse-purchase red gabardine (see, you can tell I didn’t get it from the bargain bin because I actually know what kind of fabric it is ) which was pretty much a dream to work with. I was a bit silly and didn’t prewash it though, so I’m worried about how much the colour will stick around when I first wash it… Does anyone have any tips?

I made a few changes to the original pattern – firstly, I didn’t have enough fabric to make the bias binding, so I omitted it and just sewed the two pattern pieces together as you would a normal waistband. It would have turned out better with the bias binding I feel, but it’s still a sweet waistband! I added the black bias tape that I did have as a little bow waistbelt to add some interest that I felt the skirt needed. I could have used this bias tape around the waistband, but that wasn’t really the look I was going for.  Also omitted bias tape on the bottom, and the walking slit in favour of a slipstitched hem. The skirt didn’t really need a walking slit in my opinion.

The zipper is… OK. I’m still learning on that front, and still handpicking my zippers. For my next project I’m planning to do a lapped side zipper, so we’ll see how that goes! I’m sure that with Gertie’s tutelage it’ll work out just fine.

I <3 the pockets. It’s such a nice addition to the pattern, and they kept my hands warm when walking through Dortmund yesterday – why was it so cold??

Decided to do some cheeky French seams as well, how exciting!

The pairing with the checked shirt looks really great on Sally, but I’m not so fond of it on myself. I’m thinking of recycling the shirt, taking it in and changing the neckline and sleeves. What do you guys think?

I’m selling my sewing machine next week, so the next project will be my last on Viktoria! How sad. I shall miss the old girl.

I sewed this skirt to the beat of the Puppini Sisters – amazing band with true vintage style! Check out their cover of Crazy In Love, it’s amazing!

I feel like this is the kind of skirt that needs to be worn to the seaside. I need the sun to come back!

This is the skirt that I made from Simplicity 2451 – Easy to Sew indeed! Well, it would have been more straightforward had I not needed to put in lining and resize the skirt. I’ve been a bit silly and not checked my measurements regularly – all that bread minus Karate has meant a few more inches on my waist and my bum, which I wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t sew! While it hasn’t affected my ready to wear clothing, it has meant that I’m a 14 instead of a 12 in the Simplicity patterns. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough fabric to redo the front, so I added a few inches onto the back pattern pieces, et voila, it fits!

I’m getting better at inserting zippers, but as you can see, still not perfect. I’m still doing them by hand, as I haven’t got a zipper foot, so I’ll need to master that at some point!

The stripes on the fabric are a little bolder than I’m used to wearing, so I decided to cut it different ways for contrast between the main body of the skirt and the waistband. I attempted to match the stripes on the waistband, but didn’t succeed, d’oh! Perhaps next time! I’m not sure what kind of fabric this is, but whatever it is, it doesn’t like being ironed. It’s so stubborn, I ended up making new creases altogether, as you do. I’m so clever!

Love the pockets included on the pattern! I think I’m becoming a bit of a pocket fiend! I especially love this kind of pocket detailing on skirts, though I had to do some major improvisation on the lining front. Has anyone out there seen any decent instructions for lining this kind of skirt?

At any rate, this pattern is a breeze to construct if you’re not silly like me and forget to add bread allowance. I’ll certainly be making it again, but in jersey I’m thinking.

Only three weeks until I’m reunited with my serger! I can’t wait to do tidy seam finishing instead of this zig zag nonsense!