If you’re sewing for yourself right now, raise your hands in the air and yell “WOOT!”
WOOT!
Haha, we looked dumb doing that. Whatever, I’m sewing for ME! Not a trace of goodwill towards others in sight, which is just how I like it. And the leopard pencil skirt is underway!
You’ll recall I started with this high-waisted pencil skirt downloaded from Burda:
I muslined this up and as it turns out, high-waisted skirts work much better if you actually have a waist, rather than some undefined mass of flesh between your ribs and your hips which is roughly the same circumference as your waist and hips. So, snippy snippy snip and now here we are:
I dropped the top edge to about an inch below the natural waist, and brought the hem up by about 3 inches. Then I added a 3 inch wide thing at the top- I’m not sure if it qualifies as a yoke, or whether it’s just a really wide waistband. I closed up the darts on the waistband and smoothed it out. The neat benefit of the yoke/waistband thing is it eliminates the darts in the skirt entirely (I’m easing out the tiny remaining darts in the back so as not to have two goofy teensy darts). This is not only nice and clean, but it saves me from having to sew the darts. Don’t get me wrong, I *will* sew darts when a design calls for them, and I’m certainly a capable dart-sewer. But for some reason (I don’t think it’s just laziness, but maybe?) I just never like sewing darts. I find it weirdly unenjoyable.
Ok. So all that done, I pulled out some crazy stretch cotton sateen with some crazy huge fruit punch-colored roses and whipped up a muslin (it’s not hemmed, no zipper, back vent is just kind of hanging open at the moment):
The fabric is some stuff I got off of eBay a while ago, thinking it was going to look more like a 1950’s classic rose print, but never used because it, um, doesn’t. I get the feeling that a bunch of people are going to exclaim that the love this fabric and I should wear the muslin, and a bunch of people are going to say, “yuck!” I’m not going to get into that debate. Dan seems to be taken with it. Amazingly and coincidentally, through no effort of my own, the print actually ended up blending pretty well at all the seams (look at that side seam, and the yoke seam!), so it *could* conceivably be de-muslin-ified. It just looks so much like fruit punch.
Here’s the front view- the fit is working out great for me, and I think I might be well on my way to a go-to pencil skirt pattern. The only change I think I’m going to make now is to drop the front center waist a smidge. Otherwise it’s nice and slim but not binding.
Am I imagining things or am I making a vaguely Trena face here? If so, I think that’s a good thing :) She cute. Does anyone else see it? [UPDATE: OMG! I was so sucked in by staring at my face before that I didn’t notice the really weird thing about this picture. What is going on with my right hand?? Does it look like some weird teeny rubber hand or something? Eww it’s so weird! Why’s it so small and squishy looking? Creepy.]
Ok, keep your eyes peeled for more skirt!
51 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 29, 2010 at 6:49 am
Rachel
I love the fit. Great job!
July 29, 2010 at 7:08 am
lsaspacey
Why not try dying it in a tepid tea bath to age the fabric a bit, but not too much. I like it.
July 29, 2010 at 7:32 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks for the suggestion! That’s an interesting idea. I do enjoy tea dyeing things, because I think it’s neat. Though I wonder if having an ecru tinge to this skirt (though it would perhaps dull the roses down to a tolerable level of brightness) would bring that 1990s faux-Victorian “shabby chic” aesthetic to the fabric. I don’t know if I want to revisit that. But now that you bring it up, I do feel like tea dyeing *something*.
July 29, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Tanit-Isis
I think the print is large enough not to evoke that ’90s aesthetic… and hey, what have you got to lose?
Also, woot!
July 29, 2010 at 7:14 am
Elizabeth
Love the skirt pattern on you. Very flattering. Great work!
July 29, 2010 at 7:19 am
cidell
As Trena’s official photographer, I agree :)
July 29, 2010 at 8:01 am
Erica
Oh yes I like it just the way it is! But I’m looking forward to the leopard print!
Erica
danired922.blogspot.com
July 29, 2010 at 8:16 am
Tenshi
I love the print! But I’m weird like that… I think you really could wear it, but it would look better paired with a dark top to tone it down – dark green or black, maybe.
The idea of dyeing it is also a good one. Faux Victorian shabby chic sounds great.
July 29, 2010 at 8:22 am
Suzie
I know you don’t want to hear this….but I do love the fabric!!
And the fit is perfect, defo right to cut off the top 3 inches, works v well for you.
Looking forward to the FO!
July 29, 2010 at 8:25 am
oonaballoona
the minute i saw it, i thought “oh, she will hate wearing that fabulous printed skirt, i bet she’s doing a GIVEAWAY!!!”
i mean, isn’t that the second thing on your mind after finishing your book project? you know, right after sewing only for yourself for the rest of your life?
no?
July 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Hana - Marmota
Absolutely, Elaine, you should do that! Be selfish, get rid of something that would be lying around the house, and give it away to a seamstress of your size… unfinished. She can finish it herself! :D
July 29, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Hana - Marmota
And no, I’m not talking about myself – I doubt I’m your size. At the least, I have a waist – much more of a waist than clothing manufacturers expect, in fact.
July 29, 2010 at 2:48 pm
selfishseamstress
Sigh, sure. Come to my blog and rub in my figure flaws. Thanks!!
July 29, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Hana - Marmota
Huh, I was rubbing in MY flaws!
July 29, 2010 at 8:32 am
Sue
Lovely skirt. No need to tie dye the fabric. I think it could be worn out about town if you live in a fashionable city like NYC. Maybe special occasion if you live in a more casual city. My teenage daughter likes it the way it is too!
July 29, 2010 at 8:33 am
Trudy Callan
I adore your skirt and looking forward to seeing your leopard one as well. Good job.
Trudy
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
July 29, 2010 at 9:01 am
Cennetta
Great looking skirt.
July 29, 2010 at 9:22 am
amber
I think the print is cute, but then again, I’ve been wearing some really bright stuff this summer. As for the fit, I think it’s a total winner. I’m really excited to see it in the leopard!!
July 29, 2010 at 9:23 am
Susan - KnittersDelight
I’m bias to wild prints, so I’m a fan of the muslin of course! Nice on the Trena face. lol
July 29, 2010 at 9:40 am
Pencil Skirt Pete
Very nice, Trena, though I’d like the top to sit at your true waist; in the pics it looks slightly pulled down. Does anybody agree with me?
And I’d like to see it 1″ shorter.
Could those possibly be peonies?
July 29, 2010 at 9:42 am
selfishseamstress
There’s a 1.5″ hem allowance which is not folded up, so it will be shorter. I’m pretty sure it’s roses- the shape and jagged edges of the leaves would support that theory.
July 29, 2010 at 9:53 am
Tasia
Aha, I LOVE that print. I’m a sucker for florals, brights, and especially bright florals. It’s super fun!
We must be total opposites. My test garments are grey and my real ones are bright florals :)
July 29, 2010 at 10:48 am
Katherine
This muslin is the kind of skirt I would wear in the depths of winter….with black boots, tights, and a huge charcoal cardigan. In the summertime it might feel a bit too obvious….
July 29, 2010 at 10:56 am
Ruth
If not tea, maybe discharge dyeing? Results could be interesting, although I’m not sure what bleach might do to that fabric. If you’ve got a scrap left you could give it a go. It also might give a good effect to dye the whole thing blue or black or something dark, and it’s pretty easy to just throw it in the washer with some dye.
Although I like the fabric the way it is and think it’s a pretty and bold skirt, personally I probably wouldn’t wear it much because it’s so loud.
July 29, 2010 at 11:05 am
Venus de Hilo
Lovely skirt, and a great fit. It’s too pretty to stay a muslin. I’m nowhere near your size, though, so there’s no point in sending it to me.
July 29, 2010 at 11:37 am
Emmy
I really like the print too, but I agree that it’s maybe a bit much for summer. That cut is going to look cracking in leopard print, though, can’t wait to see it.
July 29, 2010 at 11:48 am
kathleen
I like it, but I like bright colors and shiny. It’s a personal flaw. I also like the tea dye idea. It might be interesting. Try it on a scrap and see if you like it.
July 29, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Samina
I like the fit of the skirt, too. But I think I’m the only one in the “leave it as a muslin” camp. It reminds me of curtains or someone’s grandmother’s couch. Tea dyeing it might help me change my mind, though. No guarantees. In either case, I’m off to duck the flames now.
July 29, 2010 at 9:27 pm
B @ Sweet Limes
Samina, it’s just fine to have a different opinion, even if you are wrong! ;)
July 30, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Samina
I dunno. Maybe I’m the only one that’s right ;-p
July 29, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Rose in SV
Great skirt. I wouldn’t tea-dye it–I like the bright colors, but I’m writing from California. I would shorten the hem, and plan on wearing it with solid color tops. However, if you do not feel comfortable in it, you will probably not wear it….
Rose in SV
July 29, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Angela
Very nice! Love how the pieces seamed up so well together and you weren’t even trying! It tells you should only sew for yourself since it goes your way! :)
July 29, 2010 at 1:23 pm
CGCouture
I like the fit, and I’m intrigued by the “tea dying” idea. You should try a scrap and see if it’s something you could tolerate. It might help you feel more upbeat this winter when it’s cold and dreary. :-)
July 29, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Carla
I love the print and the skirt fits great. I’m not sure what you’re talking about regarding your right hand. It looks normal to me.
July 29, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Karin
You already predicted it, the fabric looks really nice in the picture. Wear the muslin.
Or if you really don’t like it, don’t ;-)
July 29, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Kim
Ok, I’ve been online stalking for too long. Just learned online ettiquette dictates that I should leave comments.
Comment: Once again i’m enjoying myself reading about sewing in your lovely writing then at the end laughing out loud about some peeve or perceived oddity.
Addicted in El Cerrito, CA
July 29, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Lucy
Don’t tea-dye it at all..It’s fabulous and reminds me of the bright colours found in the tropics. I find all these dark clothes up here in the northern end of the continent terribly depressing in the winter!! The colours will cheer you up regardless of the weather!
July 29, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Kyle
Woot!
July 29, 2010 at 4:25 pm
D
who cares about the skirt – your hand DOES look freaky and weird – are you sure it’s yours?
July 29, 2010 at 6:28 pm
sima
Great job on the skirt pattern, the fit looks great. The print ah not so much. When I first saw it I thought it (the print) looked fabulous for the skirt but when I looked again I would have to say that the print is not the most fashion forward. Maybe if you tea dye it it will come out slightly more tolerable. Can’t wait to see the finished skirt. I love your blog by the way, im a newbie here.
July 29, 2010 at 7:47 pm
MakingTime
I completely agree about darts. Also do not know why. :)
the print is not awful, but clearly matter of personal choice.
July 29, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Sherry
I like the print! But then I’m going through an ‘add colour to the wardrobe’ phase, so don’t listen to me! It could be worth trying tea-dyeing to ‘vintagise’ it.
July 29, 2010 at 9:29 pm
B @ Sweet Limes
Wow, what a debate, to tea dye or not. I say send it my way and I’ll test it out for you. ;) I’ll find something that works and makes you look selfish as ever so it can’t look like you did something for someone else.
July 29, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Trixie
The fit of the pattern is great! Now, since you say you don’t want to get into the fabric debate, I’m reminded of one of your earlier posts about using your sewing skills to manipulate others. If the fabric matched up so well at the seams, I can only assume that it really really wants to be worn. I say finish the skirt and offload it on some poor, unsuspecting friend in exchange for a new pair of fabulous shoes to wear with your leopard print skirt!
July 29, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Fourth Daughter
I commiserate? sympathise? anyway, know what you mean about the ‘waist’ thing, seeing as I don’t really have one either … well, my ‘waist’ is like a size 14 while my top and bottom halves are more like size 8. Typical Asian silhouette!
I think you should wear the skirt, it’s so lovely and bright and fits fantastically.
July 29, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Cindy
I’m for finishing up this muslin and wearing it. The colors are flattering and fresh. Why waste such a beautiful pattern matching job? If Dan likes it, that’s reason enough to wear it. When a man actually notices and likes something rather than being vaguely oblivious, that’s a good thing.
July 30, 2010 at 5:39 am
raquel
If you don’t like it you can send the rest to the fabric to me heheheheh!
July 30, 2010 at 9:01 am
Leopard skirt and fitness progress report « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] you can see, the outer is mostly assembled. The only thing I changed from my muslin was to drop the front center waist about a half inch. I tried it on and it’s so comfortable […]
August 2, 2010 at 8:00 am
Leopard pencil skirt finished, goes with everything! « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] Sigh. Pencil skirt bliss. To tell you the truth, I’ve never even owned a pencil skirt before. I had never found one that didn’t make my legs look stumpy and I had always suspected that maybe it was a bad look for the short-legged. Turns out it was just a matter of making one that fits. I’m going to need a few more of these. Details of the material and construction are here and here. […]
August 2, 2010 at 11:24 am
Bhoomika
I like the idea of dying it a dark color- I’d do navy or dark green- the flowers will be subtle then…and the shape is so great…
August 5, 2010 at 10:38 am
Deborah
I’ve always been fairly waist-less myself, and vastly prefer the super-wide yokey waistband action to any other treatment on a pencil skirt. This looks fab–have skipped ahead in time to see how it turns out, and let me tell you: its awesome.