Pleated skirt

When I showed some progress on a draped dress last week, Diana asked if I was taking a draping class.  Um, no, but that would have been a good idea.  :-)  I have a very general idea of how draping works (tape your shape, pin the grain straight and go from there.)  It's just a lot of work though (and maybe I'm not really doing it right) and takes a few muslins, and you know that just doesn't excite me. 

Here was  my dress when I abandoned it for a skirt.  I liked the topstitching I started, though, so I incorporated that into the skirt I salvaged, and I added some patch pockets cut from the bodice material.

 I added a side zipper and used the top stitching on the waistband, pockets, and hem.  The fabric is a linen/rayon blend from Sawyer Brook.

Wool pencil skirt... to tuck or not to tuck?

When I go through my closet and get rid of things, there are always a couple of things I can't bear to part with yet.  Because of that, I have a pile of older clothes waiting for me to do some type of refashion, and I still have some UFOs, even after finishing or pitching many of them a year or so ago.  Since I'm really working on enjoying what I have (stash sewing and such), I'm going to try to do a weely or bi-weekly UFO finish or refashion.  We'll see how long this lasts...

 

Here is my first entry - a wool pencil skirt.  I've had the fabric for at least five years (one of my very first Sawyer Brook purchases) and the half-finished skirt for about three.  I have no clue what the pattern is, but it's a straight-forward pencil skirt with some waist tucks and a narrow waistband.

Last night, all I had to do was add the waistband, zipper, and hems, and I was ready for church this morning.

Now here is my question - do you think it looks better with a top tucked or untucked?  I don't have a very defined waist, and the waist I do have is quite high, so I feel like I look proportionally "off" a lot of times if I tuck in a top.  I wore the skirt to church today with an untucked top, but I was a little sad it covered the tucks.

I think the proportion looks fine from the back - it's just the front where I feel like it looks super high-waisted

I was worried the pleats would make the skirt poof out over my belly area, but that's wasn't a problem.

Closeup of the tucks.

and super closeup of the fabric.  Soooo gorgeous.  I bought about a yard and a half of this before I knew much about fabric requirements for sewing different garments.  I think it was a remnant and I had dreams of sewing a jacket... with 1.5 yards.  Ha!!  It took me several years to come to terms with the fact that I just didn't have enough fabric, and a skirt was the way to go.

So back to my question, do you think it looks better tucked or untucked?  Am I just way too concerned with the position of my waist ?

Butterick 5285

Here is my first Butterick 5285.  I don't think it will be my last.  This is the swishy, but unbulky skirt I've been looking for!  I like the recent trend to full skirts, but a gathered skirt just isn't my best look.  I'm a bit thick through the middle after two kids, and I like my tummy as streamlined as possible. 

I also like how the large pleats let you use a large panel of fabric, which is perfect for a large print like this.

The fabric is a linen from Sawyer Brook, but it's sold out now.

Showing you the waistband - it's just a narrow, straight band.

The pattern called for a big hook/bar closure at the waistband, but I couldn't find one and was impatient, as usual, so I popped on a nice button.  I LOVE how the pleats cover up the zipper area and match the front.

Did I mention I got a pretty serious hair chop? 

Butterick 5535 - Madras Skirt

Butterick 5535 is a pattern I've had in my stash for quite a while and just never got around to sewing.  I used it with a madras fabric for my 4th skirt for a Sawyer Brook sew along, and I think the fabric and pattern were a great fit.  My 3.5 foot photographer took these photos at the end of a long day wearing this skirt, and the only problem is that it didn't hold the pleat crease very well.  I may go back and stitch them in.

I love how the bias yoke on this skirt with the madras, and how the pleats make it kicky but still fitted around the hips.  I'll defintely be making this again.  Even if I omitted the pleats, this would be a grat A-line skirt.

 Here I wore it with a store-bought tee (red, white, and blue for Memorial Day!), but I envision wearing it with a white top through the summer.  I'll definitely be reaching for this one.

Button-front A-line skirt (Simplicity 2564)

I've finished my third skirt for the Sawyer Brook sew along.  I modified Simplicity 2564 (also used for my scalloped pencil skirt) to slightly A-line and button up the front.  To do this, I just eliminated the back zip and split the front piece in two, adding fabric for the overlap and folds of the button bands.

The fabric is Balsa Linen and the buttons are Kera. 

Simplicity 2564

Here is skirt #2 for my Sawyer Brook sew along!

The pattern is Simplicity 2564 and the fabric is Springtime Satin in leek.  It's a bit snug.  I didn't used to have the problem that things came out too small, and this has happened before in the recent past, so I think it's time to take new measurements.

aaaand.... BOOM, the booty.  This is the reason I won't be wearing this skirt to church tomorrow.

I explained the scalloped hem here.  The only thing I'll add is to recommend doing that with a facing instead of a lining (which I did).  No matter how you smooth and pin, there will be little hang-ups on the lining, and I find myself adjusting quite often in this skirt.  In hindsight, I could have done the scallop with a 4" or so facing and then still added a lining that ended above the scallops.  Live and learn.