New skirt finished!

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

I just finished, in time for Easter, a skirt made with Raspberry Brownie cotton stretch. I wanted something a little different, with some interesting seaming, so I cut apart a flared skirt pattern following a sketch I'd made last fall of something I saw at Marshall's. I eliminated the center front and back seams, added a panel at the bottom that runs on the diagonal from below the hip to the center, then back up to the opposite side. I originally envisioned a bit of flare or flounce to this panel, but the fabric is heavy enough that it simply pleated itself at the side seams, so I took out all the extra flare and just left it A-line. I experimented with different accents to make the seam stand out - the print is lovely but busy enough that the seaming just hid! I wasn't crazy about adding ribbon or trim, so settled for topstitching with doubled thread. Then I had an excuse to shop for a top to wear with it - I plan on wearing this one of the Expo days.

Lois · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:08 pm Post subject: Your skirt

Hi Janee - Your skirt sounds just wonderful - interesting seaming is a favorite of mine so I'm intriqued with your re-design. I also like the look of the double thread topstiching which would emphasize the seaming. Congrats on your new skirt - I'd love to see a picture if you get a chance.

BrendaJo · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Cape Cod

Janee, I saw you wearing the skirt at Expo and I liked it so much I am inspired to do something original with a piece I have in my very small stash. I bought it last year at Expo, it is called "Yacht", a mint green and ivory broken stripe. I have been planning a skirt but want something special, I'm not going to be a copy cat but I am going to do something along the lines of what you created.

Dixie · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: Janee's Skirt

Ever see a fabric you really like, but you're not sure what you'd make with it, and don't want to add another piece to your stash? That's what happened to me with Raspberry Brownie. Janee's skirt makes me wish I had purchased the fabric while we had it in stock! Sad

(A word to the wise...)
Janee chose a skirt style that enhances her body, and she found the PERFECT lightweight silk sweater to wear with it. In addition to her creativity and high level of craftswomanship, Janee cleverly made the fabric "work" for her. While she looks great in brown, rose isn't a flattering color for her, so Janee chose to match the pale peach tone in the fabric instead. Wearing the print on the lower part of her body keeps the pink tones away from her face and allows her to glow in muted peach. This outfit is a perfect example of how we can use both color and style to help us look our best!
Dixie

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

Brenda,

I'm flattered that my skirt inspired you to try some new and interesting seaming! Don't worry about copycatting or anything - just get sewing! I actually copied myself after that skirt was so successful - I wore the second attempt to the Expo on Friday: it's made of a textured cotton we sold out of last Spring, called Aged Olive. The stripe texture is woven on the bias, so I wanted to do something incorporating chevron stripes. After several sketches, I decided against the center front and back seam chevrons of my original vision. Instead, I took the same a-line pattern I'd created for the first skirt, and made a lower skirt piece that ran on the diagonal from the upper thigh to about 6" from the hem ( I wear my skirts at tea length because of the width of my calves. Nothing else is flattering at all!) When I went to lay out the pieces on the fabric, I couldn't figure out how I'd match the angle of the the seam to the angle of the woven stripe - so I didn't, I ran the stripe in the opposite direction so it was closer to perpendicular to the seam. The lower skirt has the stripe running the other way. It doesn't match exactly at the side seams, but chevrons nicely anyway.

It was especially nice to have people asking what pattern I'd used, and being able to answer "my own!"

Dixie, thanks for your comments as well. I really tried hard to get a flattering top to enhance the raspberry brownie skirt. I believe Colleen's going to post the photo Judy took so you can all see it - and I'm sure she'll corner me for another when I wear the olive skirt to work!

Lois · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:51 pm Post subject: Janee's skirt

Oh Good - Can't wait to see the photo. This has been interesting to read - you put a lot of work into the design. Fun to read about it...

Lois

Barb · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:49 am Post subject:

Here's the pic from Expo...Janee did a great job with fit! Wish we had a closer picture so you could see her design lines. The other skirt is really flattering too! We'll borrow the skirts from Janee next week and take some closeups.

Colleen · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 17

Janee brought in her 2 skirts today and I did some close-up shots for a view of "the details". So..... when can I get you to model the Aged Olive one Janee?

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Massachusetts

I love the Aged Olive skirt... the diagonal spiral- type design looks great with the fabric. Would you mind sharing your pattern?

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

Hi zigzagger!

Welcome to the forum! Thanks for the kind words about my olive skirt - the pattern is actually one I drafted, but it really wasn't all that complicated. It's basically an A-line skirt with side zipper, no CF or CB seams, and a contour-faced waist. I created the piecing by drawing a diagonal line from about 6" above the hem on one front side seam to about mid-thigh at the other side seam, then reversed that on the back. I needed to adjust the angle to allow the woven bias stripe design of the fabric to chevron - the angle was way too steep if I followed the woven stripe. Then the only trouble was figuring out how to cut each section so the stripes would do what I wanted! I had fun, and I'll certainly use the pattern again, probably for a less complicated fabric.