The pattern for the pencil skirt is made from my sloper. It's got 8 darts total on it, and I find I really enjoy the shape and detail of those darts. In the back, I used a tutorial on Tuppence Ha'Penny to make the small tab above the kick pleat. I used fabric-covered buttons on the tab and up top at the closure to match.
One of my favorite things about sewing is adding little details like this! This is actually the same skirt as the one I made to match my Coco Chanel jacket, but it feels so different with a skinnier waistband and this pleat detail.
I used a polyester lining on the inside to finish it off, and sadly, it's a particularly horrendous kind of polyester. It felt a little stiff when I picked it up at Joann's (they always get me in with those blasted coupons!), but I thought it would soften up in the wash. No luck there. I forged forward, not wanting to waste perfectly good, if poor quality lining. In hindsight, it seems a shame to have such nice wool paired with such crummy lining.
Readers, do you have good sources you go to for linings? Something nice in quality that won't break the bank, perhaps? Bemberg is a favorite of mine, but I have a hard time finding it at reasonable prices.
lol I was thinking of doing a pencil skirt, I just bought a coat pattern yesterday & lo & behold you've beat me to it, I should do a post & title it catching up to Rosie LOL LOL love all the little details in your skirt!
ReplyDeleteHelen
Hahha, I am pretty speedy! Mostly just trying to cram in a last bit of winter sewing. It doesn't stay cold for very long here in Texas!
DeleteThat kick pleat band is the business!
ReplyDeleteI would really like to reply back to this with a pun on business, but it's just not coming to me this morning. So I will simply go with thank you, my friend!
DeleteI ADORE classic wardrobe pieces like this. The wool you found looks really gorgeous. And, the devil is always in the details! The pleat tab and fabric covered buttons are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! Me too. I'm working on a plaid button down now, and I've been thinking how I could just like in mix and match classic pieces.
DeleteI was just asking some friends about linings this week because it's really hard to find nice stuff here and I so I end up NOT buying any and regretting it. I hate polyester and silk is too expensive to be hidden. I've only seen bemberg/cupro once or twice here but apparently horrible chemicals are used in the manufacturing process.
ReplyDeleteThe answer was to use acetate. Which I have always assumed was like polyester, but it's actually cellulose based.
Ah, yes! I haven't used it before, but I remember my tailoring teacher talking about it when we went through lining options for my jacket. I'll try to remember that!
DeleteYour skirt fits you perfectly ! It is such lovely classic. You will have this in your wardrobe for many years.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie! I think so!
DeleteI love the cute little additions you made to a classic skirt - it's adorable! Not sure if Bemberg is the same as Bemsilk - this is a basic rayon acetatey lining, lightweight with a beautiful feel. But Bemsilk is about $4/m at Spotlight in Australia which is one of their more reasonably priced linings.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of Bemsilk before. I looked it up and it looks like it's acetate based. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!
DeleteWhat a cute skirt! And it looks right at home in that mad men office-looking space, wherever it is.
ReplyDeleteDidn't you just love Asheville when you were there? As a North Carolinian, its a great weekend escape for me--I was actually just there a few weekends ago eating and drinking my body weight in delicious foods! yum.
Yes, it's just beautiful! We drove up from Georgia with my cousins to go to the Biltmore for the Candlelight Tour. It was such a magical, wonderful weekend. I hope we get a chance to go back again!
DeleteI love the tab above the kick pleat!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's a smart little detail.
DeleteHonestly, I buy lining fabrics at WalMart. It may be blasphemy for a seamstress, but in order to avoid breaking the bank, I buy a whole bolt of the $1-2/yd voile or polyester depending on how much I like the hand. I believe that a seamstress should never buy fabric that she doesn't like the feel of, so if it feels great and can survive dry cleaning or machine washing, I don't care where I buy it. I used some lovely cream polyester, almost the texture of crepe de chine, that is very drapey and works well under shift dresses and garments that need to flow rather than make a defined waist. It does require hanging for a week before hemming, but it is worth every penny not spent.
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