Skirt Obsession and a Quick Study of Fabric Types Using the Same Pattern

Now that summer is just around the corner, I've been thinking about making casual skirts that I can wear to work. Shorts are usually a summer staple for me, but when I feel like looking a little nicer, yet casual, I go to skirts. I've been seeing knit skirts being worn around town and thought, "I can do that!" I finally found the perfect pattern: Simplicity 1616. This pattern includes skirts made from knits and wovens. I selected view B, but shortened it about 14 1/2" above the hem line. I used size 18, knowing that I might have to do some alterations depending on how the yoke fits around my hips. My hips are the hardest part to work around sometimes!

The first skirt I made is from an ITY knit print. This fun retro floral print is from Fabric Mart's retail store, bought a couple years ago.

The second skirt is made from a rayon knit print from France - purchased at Fabric Mart. (It only made it through the wholesale division, sorry!) This rayon print was more on the lighter side, but not sheer. It has a crepe-finish, along with an NYC themed print. I've loved this fabric from the day I laid eyes on it, but had no idea what to do with it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to make an entire dress from it, but when I decided I was making this skirt, I thought it was perfect! (Plus I have about a yard left that I can make a shirt or tank!)

I intentionally selected two different fabric types because I wanted to see how each laid and fit. I love ITY knits just because they are comfortable, fashionable and easy to travel with. The ITY knit seems to have a little more weight to it as well as stability/ sturdiness that the rayon knit did not. Therefore, the ITY knit snugged my hips while still hugging and flaring a bit. The rayon knit was airy and lightweight with a decent amount of stretch (I think it was 4-way stretch, actually.) But when making the yoke, I ended up sewing it about 1/2" in on the side seams because the rayon knit stretched so much and was lighter than the ITY, therefore feeling like it may fall off after a whole day's use.

Now I want to make one for every day of the week! They are so comfortable! Just pair it with a basic shirt and your good to go for work, travel, or a weekend outing! So what are my plans for future skirts? I'm going to make one in a black or gray jersey knit so it can go with a variety of shirts in my closet. I would also like to try one out of a silk knit I have in my stash. I don't have quite enough to cut the yoke out of the same fabric though. So what I am going to do is find a coordinating fabric that can be used for the yoke. Does anyone know if you can wash silk knits? If so, should I do it before I cut out the pattern? Also, if I wash it first, should I select a solid silk knit for the yoke or can I select another fabric content?

What I've Been Up To...Dresses!

As I sit down to write this post, I think about how I've complained to myself that I haven't had a lot of time to sew. But when I think about how many projects I've worked on, it's not that bad! I've finished 2 dresses and 1 shirt in the past month/ month and a half. I've been busy working out in the yard and doing other things around the house, but I would have to say my progress is not too shabby! 

The first dress I made was Vogue 1225 by Tracy Reese. I've always loved Tracy Reese's dress designs and the fabric she uses, so having a pattern collection from her by Vogue is exciting. This dress is a mock wrap bodice with gathered front shoulders and elastic waist. The skirt section is also really flowy and makes you want to dance! The fabric is an awesome peacock feather print on rayon knit. (Bought at Fabric Mart, but not available anymore.) 

The dress was quite easy to make, but I'm not so sure about the gathering at the top of the shoulders. If I were to make this dress again, I would do it a little different, but not sure what I would do yet. I'm just afraid the gathers are going to fall out. The dress ended up being about 1-2 inches shorter than intended because I did not have enough fabric to make the dress. So I ended up shortening the skirt section and putting a smaller hem on it. 

Here you can see how full the skirt is. Great for dancing---if I did that...haha! The back has a slit opening with a tie closure-- a designer touch. This dress only took me a day from start to finish. It was a fun pattern, but I'm not sure if I will make it again. 

The next weekend, I decided I wanted to make retro-style dress. I was inspired when I saw someone post a picture of their submission to the Mad Men Dress Challenge. I've always loved retro designs, but was never sure if they would look right on my body. I was also worried that it would look REALLY homemade. I used Simplicity 3833. This pattern is actually a reprint of a pattern from the 60s. 

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the turnout. It did not feel homemade and it fit pretty well! I had to do some tweaking at the bust/underarm area-- I had some gapping that just needed an extra dart to bring it in. I used a beautiful embroidered cotton from Jones New York (bought at Fabric Mart, not available anymore.) The dress looks good with and without a belt.  You can see in the picture above I added a belt. (I actually forgot to bring a belt along to work that day, so I found a piece of white fabric to give the illusion!)

Here is the dress without a belt---not too bad! The dress would look super cute with a bib necklace-- I guess my next task is to find the perfect one. Any suggestions?