Rhonda’s Skirt

December 1, 2014 by sewruth 48 Comments

I’ve had this fabric for about a month, ostensibly bought with a winter dress in mind but never got round to deciding on a pattern let alone sewing it up. It’s a loosely woven wool in black and ivory which gives the overall colour of grey. It has wavy lines woven with different patterns, each one has frayed edges – really unusual and a shame not to use it.

Then I saw this on Rhonda’s Creative Life. Looked at the fabric hanging on a hanger and a match was made.

I didn’t draft a skirt pattern, I used Vogue 8604 (might be OOP) which is for a high-waisted straight skirt. I just added the 1/4 circle flounce following Rhonda’s drafting advice to the centre back seam on both sides. I could have put the flounce to the side but I’m wide enough! The pattern is graded as Very Easy and I must admit – it is. One front (on the fold) with two darts; two backs, a dart apiece, centre zip and a split,  Facings for the waistband. I shortened mine by about 4″.

 

It looks normal from the front but it’s really a swishy skirt that adds a wiggle to your step and a high waist that makes you stand up straight – a skirt that improves posture.

A word of advice concerning high waists: I’m a little ‘soft’ in the middle so I interfaced the facings twice! Once with fusible to help stop fraying and a second layer with hair canvas – it’s practically a corset but holds most of the softness in check.

The skirt is not lined but I did finish all seams on the serger and while it was running smoothly with red thread I didn’t want to upset it too much and change colours so I just left the red in. It creates a little colour to the monochrome skirt.

She’s amazing, that Rhonda! Such a simple modification and the skirt takes on a whole new personality.

Took about 3 hours yesterday to knock up and worn today at work. It would take me 3 hours just to go shopping for a skirt and probably come home empty handed. Styled today with StyleArc Ziggi biker jacket in black and a white cotton shirt by Connie Crawford, Butterick 5365. Colour came from a cerise scarf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I’ve started the week with grey/black and white, I shall continue that colour scheme the rest of the week. This is how I answer  What will I Wear Today?. I’m very lucky that in my job there is no dress code (I could wear jeans everyday if I wished) but I do like to be a little professional and polished and where else would I wear all my makes? So my work-wear-week will look a little like this:

Monday – Rhonda’s Skirt, white shirt, black Ziggi, black suede boots

Tuesday – Grey wool trousers (Vogue 7881) , white shirt, black Ziggi, grey ankle boots

Wednesday – Grey wool trousers, red wrap cardi, red courts

Thursday – Grey vintage dress (Vogue genuine vintage 9818), Burda suit coat, black courts

Friday – Rhonda’s skirt, red wrap cardi, black courts or maybe red!

Last week it was orange. And next week isn’t here yet but I’m already tending towards blue……….