Thanks everyone for the feedback on my jacket muslin. It is currently taking a rest in the closet. I'm thinking I may scrap the pattern altogether, and use the houndstooth wool to make a cape, but I'm not going to cut in haste. Still, I needed something quick and fun to resurrect the flagging mojo...
I was chatting with a friend at church the other day, and she mentioned that she wanted to sew a knit pencil skirt. Was that hard? No, I thought, but it got me to thinking...
and sewing. I hunted through my pattern stash for a knit pencil skirt pattern, and they all were unshaped, which I didn't want. So, I decided to try my TNT pencil skirt pattern (
McCalls 3830) and used a waistband treatment I had seen on a favorite RTW skirt. I also slimmed the hemline, a vintage style trick I learned from one of
Gertie's classes at Sewing Summit.
Here is what the waistline looks like on the outside. Note that there is no zipper or darts - this is a pull on skirt.
Inside the waistband is elastic. Nice, eh! This fabric is a fairly stretchy ponte knit from Hancock. It feels almost sweater-y, and has about a 30% stretch.
The side view isn't bad. You can't see it, but the seam is straight. The hemline looks wonky, but it is actually fine IRL. I must be standing funny.
I'm loving the rear view. Smooth and makes my butt look perky, which it really isn't particularly, as evidenced by the saggy butt alteration I always have to do on my pants.
And wearing it while chasing 3 kids, I still love it. The stretch allows me total freedom of movement (even while literally running after a very fast 5 year old) despite the narrow hemline and lack of a back vent. The waistband is comfortable, and would probably even accommodate a Thanksgiving turkey belly. I've already started on a second and cut out a third. So, my question to you, dear readers - is a tutorial in order? I'd be happy to put one together, if there is some interest.
