Skip to main content

Does It Get Any More Basic?

A plain black skirt. So basic, yet I didn't have one. I needed to change that. After making these pants (which are refinished and wonderful to wear, BTW) I had just enough fabric left to eek out a simple skirt. Given the fabric constraints, I didn't have a lot of options for styles or details, but I wanted to create a little interest somehow.

I started with McCall's 3830, a pattern that I've used many times before and have tweaked to fit me. For this version, I sliced and manipulated the pattern to add a yoke at the top and a seam down the skirt's center front. The back darts are incorporated into the yoke piece.

McCall's 3830 (modified)

The additional seams are accented with topstitching on each side. I used the triple straight stitch so that it would be more noticeable on the black fabric.

McCall's 3830 (modified)

The addition of the seams and stitching is nice, but the really interesting part of the skirt is the lining (also leftover from these pants).

McCall's 3830 (modified)

The facing pieces are sewn on top of the lining pieces and then attached as one to the skirt at the waist. The facing edge is bound and I love the professional finish that gives. I attach the lining to the invisible zipper by machine and get a nice finish at the top edges using this method.

McCall's 3830 (modified)

I'm happy to have this basic piece in my closet and since it was made with leftovers, it feels like a total bonus/freebie!

Comments

  1. It may be basic, but it is done to perfection! Nice top stitching! You an't have too many black skirts really.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the changes you made to the pattern. The seams and topstiching are such a great detail.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the thicker topstitching detail. And the lining is so pretty! Almost makes this a reversible skirt!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love both sides, I couldn't agree more with Leslie!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Now this is a basic I would love to have in my closet! It came out beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the topstitching and the great lining fabric. Cute skirt.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burda Skirt Again

I'm not sure what prompted it, but awhile ago I decided that I needed a green skirt. The last time I was at Fabricland I saw this green wide-wale corduroy. I wasn't really looking for the skirt to be corduroy and the color was a little different than I was hoping for, but since I had my eyes peeled for awhile and hadn't seen anything better, I thought I'd try the corduroy. After looking for a suitable pattern, I settled on the Burda 2/2010 skirt that I've already used three times . Because of the weight and bulk of the corduroy, I didn't want to try to mess with too many details. I'll use another skirt pattern soon. Really, I will. One of the things I really like about this pattern is the pockets. This time I made the pocket facings and part of the pocket bag out of a cotton woven solid to reduce bulk. Since I'll be wearing this skirt with tights I added a lining. Adding the lining was really simple except that I cut the lining exactly the sam...

Grocery Bags

More gifts! These are just like the still-all-too-ubiquitous plastic grocery bags, but they're fabric.  I followed this tutorial and you actually use a plastic bag as a pattern.  The instructions are very good and include a pocket so that the bag can be folded up and is easy to keep in a purse or a car's glove box. Mostly for the sake of the gift recipients, here's how to fold up the bag.... 1.  Lay the bag pocket side down and fold it length-wise using the edges of the pocket as a guide. 2.  Fold it in half, aligning the top of the handles with the bottom of the bag. 3.  Fold in half again and then reach into pocket with your hand and turn the whole thing (pocket included) inside out. Happy shopping!

Simplicity 8014 - Black Shirtdress

I do love a nice collared shirt, so the shirtdress seems like a natural extension of that. There are so many good shirtdress patterns available right now, it was a little difficult to choose. The one I used here is Simplicity 8014 , View D. I really liked the denim version on the envelope, but I wanted the option of wearing this to work, so no denim for me. I had considered trying this in silk, but shortly before I went fabric shopping I messed up this silk top with some sort of oil stain. My attempts at treating it only seemed to make it worse. Only low-maintenance laundry items for me, I guess. This fabric is polyester. I wouldn't say it was a joy to work with, but it wasn't bad. After making a muslin, I was pretty pleased with the fit. I removed 1.5" in width from the back - only the dress piece, not the yoke. I also added 2" in length to the skirt. The pattern has gathers at CB, but I changed that to a pleat. I also omitted the pockets. In the final ...