Finished Project: the "Summer-isn't-over-yet" Skirt

aka the 4 hours-20 minute-skirt (sigh)...

Even though progress on my dress had already slowed down to a stall, I decided to "whip up" a fast and easy skirt on my next sewing opportunity. I'd acquired the end of the roll of the fabric that my friend Marysol purchased back when we had our "cutting workshop" and I thought the 20-minute skirt would be a great project for it.

As mentioned above, it took me more than 20 minutes (but given my record, I figure 4 hours isn't bad at all), but mostly because I made some addition to the basic tutorial: I wanted to add pockets, and I just happened to come across Just Chic's tutorial, which was very helpful. I also wanted to add a design detail. Marysol was going to do a simple sheath dress with her piece of the fabric and have an exposed yellow zipper down the back. I liked the idea of having some pop of yellow to match the flower detail so I decided to add yellow piping below the elastic waistband.

I first bought some ready-made piping at Dressew. But as I walked out the door with my 98c worth piping, only then did I realize I'd just bought woven (as in no stretch whatsoever ), which basically defeated the whole purpose of having an elastic waistband. So the next morning (how convenient that Dressew is on my way to work), I went back and purchased some elastic cord as well as a piece of stretchy yellow polyester (good thing it was a remnant for only $1.59, cause I now have a good meter of bright yellow stretchy polyester that I really don't see myself wearing in any way, even though it does have a pretty nice drape...)

The piping was a breeze to make and it worked out great with the waistband elasticity. I also added a lining to the skirt, in white cotton broadcloth. I sewed the skirt and lining together at the top, then I basted and gathered the two layers as one and sewed them to the waistband+piping. The sum of all the allowances at the top (skirt+lining+piping+waistband) is a bit bulky, especially with all the pleats, so I turned all the allowances up into the waistband to avoid any "parasol effect" at the hips.

I'm really pleased with the result !



While we're supposed to be getting rain for the rest of the week, Monday was warm and sunny so I was able to wear it to work. We took the photographs Sunday evening, while the sun was going down, a perfect image of the "last bit of summer sunshine" feeling I had while sewing the skirt....

photos: Brice Ferre