Circle Skirt!

Circle skirts have got to be one of the most fun pieces of clothing to wear...they are so twirly!

Pattern Details:

This was a basic circle skirt.  I made a band to fit my waist, adding a bit of extra for zipper/seam allowances, then cut two half circles, the inside edge approximately 8" longer than the waistband piece.  Instead of gathers I used pleats to take in the extra fabric.  As always, I lined the skirt with muslin.

The only drawback to circle skirts is the amount of fabric required.  I did manage to find 60" wide fabric that had a very neat texture.  I'm fairly positive I managed to get by with only 2.5 yards, though it would have been nice to have some extra.

  

I also added a pocket into the sides.  This was the first time drafting my own pocket pattern- next time I think that I will make them slightly deeper.

Another successful one-evening long project.  Now I need to find some dances to wear it to!

High Waisted Skirt...No Pattern!

Somehow I managed to stumble across this tutorial online one day.  And I decided that it would be a nice, easy Friday-afternoon-homework-avoidance-project.  Now it is one of my favorite skirts to swing dance in.

Pattern Details:
The tutorial that I used for this pattern can be found here: http://www.thisbigoaktree.com/2012/04/high-waisted-sash-skirt-tutorial.html

I bought a couple of yards of clearance cotton, and used the leftovers from the Simplicity 2442 dress for the accent color.  The tan portion of the skirt follows the directions in the tutorial.  However, before adding the zipper I made a second skirt out of leftover muslin and added a wide orange band on the bottom.  I then did a tricky all-machine-no-hand-stitching zipper insertion that left no raw edges!!

Inside of the skirt.  Yes, the muslin was almost the same color as the skirt.  But I promise this is the inside layer.

Here is the inside of the zipper.  This is the first project that I managed to pull off a fully lined zipper with no hand stitching.

This was such an easy pattern to make, and it really didn't take much fabric.  It also looks quite nice with a belt instead of a sash:

Burda Style 7069: The perfect interview skirt

A few months ago I decided that I should probably start thinking about what I should wear to grad school interviews.  All of the skirts that I had were more suitable for swing dancing, not formal interviews.  What a fantastic excuse for a sewing project, right?

This turned out to be the perfect interview skirt.  I love the waistband, and the fit.  It goes with so many outfits!

Pattern details:
Pattern:  Burda Style 7069
Size:  14

View:  B

Fabric:  Grey suiting, with a muslin lining.  The suiting did fray quite a bit.  Since I don't have a serger I pinked all the raw edges.  The edges have stayed clean so far!
(For reference here are my measurements:  Hips, 38".  Waist, 26".  Bust, 34")

I did end up taking in about an inch on both sides of the waistband so that it didn't stick out in the back.  I also took almost an inch in on the lower half of the back seam to add a bit more shape.  \

The pattern pieces are LONG.  I think that I cut about 6" off of the pieces, and then took a few more inches off before adding the hem.  I would hold the pieces up to your waist before you cut the fabric to test the length.  I saved quite a bit of fabric this way.

Here is the zipper.  At least the top half is invisible...

I almost always take the muslin version of a project and use it as the lining.  It is so much cheaper than buying additional fabric, and it is already made!  For this lining I chose to hem it right above the top of the slit.  This way the lining wouldn't show when I walk.

Would I make this skirt again?  Most definitely.  I am already thinking about making a tan one....  Honestly, the most challenging part of this project was getting the pattern- I have only seen Burda Style patterns on sale once.  And of course it was the week BEFORE I wanted to buy this pattern.  Whatever.  It was worth it.