Continental skirt

Here's a skirt I made during my frenzy back in May/June and have been wearing lots, but have only now got around to sharing;

It's the Continental skirt by Lisette, in a straight size 18.

I'd found this little remnant of a DKNY cotton/linen tweed at The Fabric Store and stashed it away thinking it would make jacket for A. I seem to be raiding the supply of potential jackets-for-A fabrics a lot lately. Hopefully she'll forgive me as this fabric is just too nice!

 

 

 

The pattern pieces are cut on the bias so it's pretty economical in terms of how much fabric is required. The awesome aspect of it being cut on the bias is the freedom of movement you get. Normally I wouldn't look twice at a straight skirt as I doubt I'd be able to ride my bike, or just do day to day stuff in such a fitted skirt.

 

The genius bias cutting gives it a great curve over your backside, a little bit of a tulip shape, and allows you to do this!!!

 

 

When an elegant looking skirt allows you to be as un-elegant as that, I say, that's a pattern to make over and over again. It has been bicycle commute to school tested and it's perfect.

 

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to adjusting patterns for any kind of decent fit, and I wanted to get it right before chopping my designer remnant. I'm also notoriously fussy (too many examples to provide links to them all!) and I wanted this skirt to be lined.

 

I figured the perfect solution would be to cut the lining in some cheap thin voile from the stash, make the adjustments to fit, use the lining as a muslin and then as the lining itself.

 

It turned out the size 18 was perfect and I didn't need to change a  thing (phew!).

 

the twill tape finish of the waistband is a really nice touch and I'm sure it would be perfectly nice without lining. But I'm happy to have lined it, although this one is a bit sticky with tights as the lining is cotton. I'm sure in springtime with bare legs, the cotton lining and the linen/cotton skirt will feel fantastic.

 

 

I'm thinking I could have many more of these skirts. A lightweight linen one, a denim one, a plaid wool one....

 

And finally, here's the photobombing kids finding it hilarious helping me with my posing!