Striped Pencil Skirt

Pattern: Simplicity's Vintage Teens' and Juniors' Jacket, Skirt and Blouse #6140 and Sunni's Skirt Vent Tutorial
Fabric: cotton knit
Cost: $10


After almost two months, I am finally back up and sewing again! The apartment move really took a toll on my time (and the new job!), not to mention the lag in getting my sewing area set up again. Everything's not quite perfect yet, but the other night I decided to take a break from cleaning, organizing and decorating to do a little sewing project. It was long overdue! The fabric I had also had for a while--it's the navy version of my second casual striped dress. I stayed up late to make it, and wore it to work the very next day (and a few times since!). The length and the soft, stretchy material are even compatible with riding my commuter bike!


Because I'm sewing less, I tend to have less crazy/impulsive ideas and am really starting to think about what I need in my wardrobe. I had had it in my head to make a striped pencil skirt for a while, and have only been fantasizing more about it on my commute to work in the city. I love the stripes by themselves, but also with a punch of color or a print.



Here's some other ways I'll be using my new skirt:
with a colorful blazer
via Polyvore

with a bright top
via Polyvore

with patterns
via Street Fashion Monitor

The Construction

Even though the material is stretchy, I knew I wanted my skirt to have darts, if only for the look and feel of it. To be honest, now that I've put them in, I think it gives a nicer fit, too. I used a vintage pattern I had as a template, borrowing from another that had a more pencil skirt shape. As usual, I had to take the skirt in at the sides and the lower back. I also struggled with the waist facing, mostly because my machine kept stretching the fabric out, even with a walking foot (I think the directions might have intended it to be a waistband, but I never read those things anyway). For now I have given up on the facing and attached a piece of lingerie elastic instead, folding it under. It could probably stand to be tacked down, but we'll see.

I also followed Sunni's directions on how to draft a back vent, and they are easy peasy. The only thing she doesn't cover (probably because she lines her skirt) is how to hem it. I did some internet searching to no avail, and the pattern I had only provides instructions for a back slit. My solution? Sew the skirt together at the sides, hem, sew the skirt together along the back seam. In other words, hem first, sew back vent together second. It could probably done in the other order, too. I really like how the vent turned out, and plan to use it again!

You can read my review of the pattern at PatternReview.com.

3 comments:

  1. That's such good news that you got your starting to get up and running after your move. Transition is always hard but you can do it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks fantastic! I love how it looks with your red blazer as well

    ReplyDelete
  3. So cute and such a versatile piece! I bet the stretchy material makes it super comfy too!

    ReplyDelete

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