Skirt Challenge Inspiration: Pieces of the Perfect Skirt!

Welcome to Skirt month over here at Fabric Mart! Some folks think that I never make mistakes or wrong choices in fabrics for my projects. Well this month was one of those moments where it just didn't work out how I planned. I picked out these two corduroy prints for this challenge. They are kinda retro and funky so I figured a little skirt would be really cute in these prints. [Orange/Brown Print and Purple Print]

As you can see the colors were not matchy-matchy and I didn't know if I was going to mix them or just make two separate skirts. I played around with the fabric and different patterns and finally settled on a pattern and I mixed the prints for this skirt. I love the pattern I chose and this was my second time making the Alberta Skirt . Once I put the different prints together they kinda blended instead of standing apart. I used the orange and brown print for the front and the purple print for the back and the front pockets. The contrast between the two prints was not bold enough for my taste. [I can definitely see a retro jumpsuit with either print]

Now I guess you can tell I was not in love with the skirt but I was going to roll with it. We were all set to snap a few pictures of Mori in the skirt, she put everything on and I was still not excited about this combination. The skirt wasn't doing anything for me at all! The skirt was not what I had imagined in my head, don't get me wrong it's a cute casual skirt but not what I was going for. I like the pattern and fabric separately but not as a unit. Needless to say the photo shoot ended before it began.

Now what? I need to provide some type of inspiration for this challenge. I found some pictures of skirts that in some way, shape or form I pieced together fabrics to create the magic. So today I am sharing Pieces of skirts as my contribution to the skirt challenge. [For this challenge the fabrics used in my skirts below were not from Fabric Mart]

I am going to start with lemons! You may have seen this skirt but I found some long lost photos where I started documenting the step by step process, which I never published. This is a self drafted skirt, I love to color block because it's an easy way to create unexpected drama in your wardrobe. I had this bold lemon print and added an even bolder stripe for the extra drama.

1. Cut your strips of fabric to be sewn together

[my skirt is 72 inches wide and 24 inches long. I cut three strips. Also cut out a waistband for your skirt]

2. Sew your strips together length wise

3. Square up your edges and cut fabric into 3 sections.

[Cut your length in half 1 piece will be the front and the remaining piece will be cut in half for your back 2 pieces]

4. Cut out 4 pieces for your pockets

5. Mark 2 inches from the top for pocket placement

6. Pin and sew pocket to the front and back skirt pieces

7. Place back and front pieces together at the sides and sew

8. Add your gathering stitching across the top of the skirt

9. Add your zipper to the back of the skirt.

[I took my zipper all the way to the top. I do not have to add a button.]

Steps not pictured:

10. Pull your gathering stitches at the top of the skirt and attach your waistband and hem the skirt

The next skirt was a labor of love and you have to love sewing to complete a project like this. I used Vogue 9132. This is a cute retro pattern but it does require patience because the lines on the skirt are the star of the show.

I pulled out all my denim and cut up like ten thousand strips of fabric and began sewing them together. I tried all different placements of the pattern pieces until I found a setup that I liked. I came up with a chevron effect just to make it as difficult as possible for myself. But it all worked out and I even covered a pair of boots to complete the look.

Next up is the Janelle Skirt by Style Sew Me Patterns. Mori loves everything about this skirt and the main reason is because it has that leg action going on. You can modify the length of the split for a more modest version of the Janelle. I used scrap pieces of leather and sewed them together and cut out my pattern piece. I also added the top-stitching to the other skirt panel for just a tad more drama. The uneven stitching was intentional, I was not looking for perfect stitching. I just free-handed a design and sewed my little heart out.

Last but certainly not least is this mini from Straight Stitch Patterns The Wedgwood Skirt. I pieced together strips of fabric as I did with the lemon skirt above to create fabric for this test pattern. I modified the length and added pipping to the pocket flaps. Mori has gams for days in the skirt.

On the blog:

I hope this inspires you to create your own magical fabric!

Michelle @ ThatBlackChic

Share your me-made skirts thru May 31st and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Fabric Mart! Share on Facebook or Instagram using #sewcoolskirts.

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