I bought some fabric. I know, it’s not a surprise but I’m super excited about it because I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it when I bought it.
It came from Seams in East Lansing, Michigan. Check that store out. There is plenty online and there are some fantastic apparel fabrics you may not be seeing in other places.
It is a double faced fabric with wool on one side and silk on the other. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted a reversible skirt. I wanted to be able to show the shiny silk side sometimes and the lovely wooly side at other times. I also know that I feel better in a skirt with a fitted waist and a lot of volume at the bottom so that’s what I originally envisioned.
I have never made a wrap skirt and I have gotten rid of all of the ones I’ve owned over the years. The problem I have with them is that the overlap of the wrap is never enough for me. I want plenty of wrap in my wrap skirt in case of a stiff breeze or accidental twirling. I don’t want my underthings to be popping out in public.
So I started thinking about it and I decided that I would begin with my basic circle skirt pattern and go from there. I decided to cut down the bottom width a little so I took my pattern piece and pinned it in on each side taking off about 16 inched total from the bottom resulting an about a 3/4 circle skirt.
My pattern piece is 1/4 of a circle so I usually cut one on the fold for the front piece and cut two pieces for the back so I can have a center back zipper and two side seam pockets. I did a circle skirt sew along on Instagram and saved the lessons in my highlights if you want to draft and sew your own circle skirt the way I do it. Here’s the link to my Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/bethsmithtextiles/
I wanted to do a trial or two before I cut into this fabric that I don’t think I’ll find anywhere again so I started with a wax print I had that I purchased from House of Mamiwata. I wasn’t worried about making the first trial a reversible piece. I just wanted to see if I could make a wrap skirt I was comfortable in. I cut 3 pieces on the fold so I could have an overlap that went from side seam to side seam. I cut the tie/waistband about 4.5 times my waist measurement because I wanted a big bow and tie ends that went to the length of the hem.
After I sewed the three pieces together I centered them on the tie length and sewed. I then put right sides together and sewed from each end in toward the body of the skirt and turned them right side out. the tie/waistband that is attached to the skirt pieces was hand sewn in place.
I made a large three step button hole on one side so I could bring the one tie end through when wrapping. I skipped the pockets on this one because I just wanted to get it done but I may go back and add pockets in the seams.
Magically it all worked out. And I love it.
Now, I want to make another trial version that is about 1/2 circle and see what I think about wearing it.
I also picked up this plaid piece of wool which I was shopping because I probably need a cropped jacket to go with my skirt when it’s finished.
