Monday, July 20, 2009

Black & White Skirt

April 2009 BWOF #101BLittle Miss Princess told she thinks "it looks fabulous". I guess I'm allowed to wear this one out of the house!!!
Here's my review at PR.
Thoughts not reflected in my review...
1. Would it kill Burda to illustrate just the toughest steps of a pattern? Skip the ugly home-dec-chair-cover-reindeer-head-seashell-wind-chime crap, and just give us a few black and white illustrations!!! I can usually make sense of the directions, but not this time. That front yoke piece was going great until it was time to attach the front center piece below it. Clip what? Start sewing where? Press in what direction? Once I pitched the magazine across the room and did it my own way, I felt much better.
2. I got distracted when I was tracing and cutting this pattern (TV, not kids) and forgot to leave a 1 1/4" hem allowance. With only 5/8" to work with, I stitched hem lace to it, and handstitched the top edge of the lace to the skirt.
3. I was afraid this fabric would unravel in my hands as I worked with it (Boucle makes me nervous), so I serged every free edge prior to construction. On the facings, I interfaced first, then serged the edges.
4. I'm getting faster with the BWOF's! I traced and cut the pattern after the kids went to bed Saturday, I serged the free edges Sunday after breakfast (30 min.), and did all the construction today (roughly 2-3 hours).
I was so very, very tempted to line this baby. But, this boucle from Gorgeous Fabrics is very dense on the back side, a tight weave that (I don't think) is going to get all stretchy-goofy on me.

Overall, I like it, and think it would look really cute in corduroy, with tights and boots...

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Stopped into Joann's yesterday and grabbed some Butterick's for 99 cents.
So, next in the line-up is Little Miss Princess's "Twirly Dress", then it's onto the pleated top, which you all encouraged me to pursue! I have some coral linen in my stash (also from Gorgeous Fabrics) that I'm thinking will be great as a summer dress (top most pattern pictured above) to wear under the pleated top, and with other jackets.

16 comments:

Gail said...

Your skirt looks so much neater than mine on the inside. I really like this skirt and think I will definitely do another on for summer.

Maryissewfast said...

Love your fabric choice for the skirt! I read the BWOF instructions for amusement and then I just figure it out for myself because they don't always make sense. Good picks on the patterns too...I am trying to resist, but I have to go to JoAnns tomorrow for supplies for a paying job...I have no will power...sigh!

Amanda S. said...

The skirt looks great. I JUST finished the exact same pattern today. I did the one with pockets on the front. You are right, the directions were awful.

Trudy said...

I love your skirt. The fabric is gorgeous.

Shannon said...

Great looking skirt!

With most BWOF patterns, I just ignore the instructions and do what I want - can't be bothered to wrestle with trying to understand them!

Arlene said...

I had the same problem with front yoke part on the skirt-I don't think my fix looks as good as yours does. Your skirt looks Great!!

Michelle said...

Gorgeous! I love that fabric, the skirt turned out fantastic! I had some issues with the yoke as well, but I think that I was less patient with the magazine than you were. I read it once and said "WHAT??" and just ignored the instructions (which could be why my facings are a bit wonky ;).

gwensews said...

You did a great job, despite poor instruction. Nice skirt that looks like it will go into the fall and winter also.

Bunny said...

Great looking skirt! Yay you for chucking those instructions across the room!

Nancy K said...

The skirt is gorgeous! I have to agree with Shannon. Once I decided to just forget about Burda's instructions I started making a lot more of them.

Dana said...

Great looking skirt! That's my favorite look - straight skirt with tights.

Meg said...

Super-cute skirt, Kristine! I can see making this one in the future.

Dawn said...

Look at you go, Woman! You are a speed demon. I'm still recovering from my trips.

Marsha said...

LOVE that skirt fabric! So many people have been pleased with the outcome of this skirt..I'll have to add it to my list.

Julia said...

The skirt and all those patterns are great!

Kathi said...

The skirt is gorgeous!! I wish Burda would show front and back pictures of the clothes. Sometimes they put some interesting design element on the back and then don't show it. I don't get it!