Monday 20 May 2013

Simplicity 2451 skirt

 

 Finished Skirt 
So I realise I have about a million and one things to upload on here - but I thought I would start with my most recent effort this weekend. All up this probably took about 8 hours. I had been looking for a nice skirt pattern and opted for this one because I liked the unique shape of the yoke and the concealed pockets. This is Simplicity Pattern 2451.

I made view D

I had found this pretty floral printed quilting fabric that I really wanted to make a skirt with (I usually team with black tights so knew it would contrast well)

See pics below for the journey :) 

  
First I laid out my pattern pieces on my folded fabric and pinned down. Then I cut them all out. remembering this time to cut my notches. Sometimes I forget and just slice away. Then I went though the process of marking the lines for darts, pleats and circles.


I then pinned the pleats at the front and machine basted.




 Next, I pinned the pockets to the front of the skirt, stitched on and understitched the seam. 

See below for understitched pockets
 




Then I pinned the pocket facing to the pocket and stitched on.
 
 I made darts in the back two pieces and stitched together up to notch (leaving room for zipper insertion.

 Finally, the back and front were ready to come together - and I stitched the sides.


 I applied fusible interfacing to front and back yoke pieces.

 I finished my seams by pinking (overlocker on the fritz and it is not really a fraying fabric) so it was okay.


 Even though the pattern does not call for it, I decided to insert a lining as well as I didn't want the cotton to catch on my tights. Plus it was quite thin and I thought this would finish it off better. I'd never done a lining before and there were no instructions since it's  not part of the pattern so I just winged it. re-cut the pattern pieced but pinned the pocket front on so that it would be the right size.

 This is the cut out front piece still pinned to pattern paper
 I then applied pleats, darts, stay-stitching and joined all pieced of the lining together. I inserted it inside the skirt and pinned then machine basted.


 I stitched the front and back pieces of the yoke.

 I pinned the yoke to the skirt.

 I then pinned in my zipper and stitched. I realised here that the zip was too short. The pattern instructions call for a 7" zip - so that is what I purchased, however it became clear that I need an 8" zipper. When I raised the zipper and the seam the skirt wouldn't fit over my bum, and when I moved it back down there was about a 1" gap left at the top. Eventually I overcame this by adding some pink ribbon to make a bow at the back as well as the required hook and eye closure at the top. It's quirky, but I like it.


 I then pinned and stitched on the yoke facing.


 I was going to finish my edge as per the instructions but didn't like the look of the stitches at the bottom being visible. So I applied a heavy duty fusible hemming web in first a thin layer at the bottom, then I folded this up and applied another layer to finish it off neatly. 
 
With the lining, I trimmed it to length then folded up twice to neaten the edge and did a straight stitch.
 
See images below of finished skirt. It was hard to find appropriate lighting to shoot the skirt. I also couldn't find many images I liked of it. It definitely looks much better in real life.



 yoke/pleats

 Close-up of pleats.

 Pocket.

 Back with emergency bow added :p

  The creases in the back are from my top underneath.

Overall, this was a really simple to make skirt (with the exception of the zipper debacle) I am definitely going to make this again. I would love to make it in a 1" black and white houndstooth wool. Perhaps with some black piping around the yoke. Definitely going to use a longer zipper next time though.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. Please feel free to leave comments :)

Alyce x

6 comments:

  1. So pretty you clever thing! xx

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  2. looks great. currently making this and stuck on the yoke. never sewn a yoke before and getting pieces thewrong way around i'm sure. Can you help?

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    Replies
    1. Sorry for the late reply darling!

      What do you mean by the wrong way around?

      Usually when I'm confused I just match notches or baste every which way until it looks right!!

      Alyce x

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  3. Really pretty skirt. I'm not following you on the lining- what did pinning the pocket on do to make the pattern piece the right size?

    Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi :)

      The pattern piece is cut out in the front to allow the back of the pocket to show, thus by pinning it to the front piece it made one continuous front panel of skirt. Otherwise there'd be a big hole there!!

      Alyce xx

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♥ Alyce x