I made another skirt. I should apologize to my closet for adding one more to the already overflowing stack of them on my top shelf. I just can’t help it. I like finding new, fun fabrics and wearing them out and about. Or just wearing them at home, which I do often. I don’t need a place to go to get dressed up!
Violet Field Threads posted a teaser picture of their Vivienne Misses skirt & top pattern they were about to release and I literally stalked their website until they finally put it out there. I might have squealed when the day finally came that they released it.I wanted to make a new skirt for an event we were attending but I was also feeling super lazy and didn’t want to have to drive to the fabric store and buy the required amount of fabric.
So mild disclaimer here: It’s not exactly what the skirt is supposed to look like. But close enough. I used what I had in my house…none of which was enough yardage, especially for the underskirt. I’m a “make it work” sewist. I’m pretty sure my sewing style would make the professionals cringe/cry/faint/turn into heavy drinkers.
I still really love the results. Best part of this skirt? It’s like a two-for-one! It’s reversible!! BEST IDEA EVER. I made two completely different skirts in one. One side is a classic “pretty” skirt, using Amy Butler’s Love Water Bouquet Midnight. Gorgeous, dreamy fabric. On the other side? I channeled my inner [dork] super hero and used a Marvel Comic book print that I found on one of my trips to Joann Fabrics.
Things I had to do differently than the pattern calls for? First, I didn’t have enough time to even consider making the top. Which I’ll probably get to eventually because it’s gorgeous.
I had NOWHERE near the amount of fabric I needed for the ruffled underskirt. Like, not even close. I used a Red Rayon Chambray Twill by Kaufman Fabrics that was left over from a dress I’d made earlier. That fabric is a gorgeous color and I love the softness but holy crap is it a pain in the ass to sew with. It unravels when you just look at it. Everything is such a learning process with me!
Don’t judge…the base of my underskirt didn’t even match the rest of my fabrics. *sigh. No matter, because you can’t see it while the dress is being worn. But maybe with some proper planning this could have been even better than it was. The pattern calls for four layers of ruffles on the front and back of the skirt. I squeezed three in the front and one in the back. Because of that, I had to make my overskirt sit lower on my waist than what it’s supposed to.
Again. Small issues because of my lack of planning ahead. Still didn’t matter. I love this skirt.
Remember me saying that I was hoping to conquer taking less-than awkward pictures of myself? Well. It didn’t happen. Even when I’m taking photos all by myself, surrounded by only the noises of birds chirping and deer cracking sticks in the woods around me (and scaring the crap out of me when they would snort or start taking off running), I still couldn’t get over the fact that I’m weird and strange in front of a camera. You’re welcome.
Until next time, camera. Until next time.
So, I love your version so much better than the pattern. :p Yesh. I love the shorter underskirt. I need this in my life.
Aw. Thanks girlie!
You should TOTALLY make this for yourself. It wasn't too hard, just mildly time consuming because you're making two skirts at once. I did all the ruffle work with my serger or else I would probably have thrown in the towel early on this one.
I love this! I guess I didn't realize exactly how it was reversible until seeing these pictures. You could host Project Runway… or wipe the floor with the other contestants. 😉
Ha! I'm far from that level of sewing. But it's fun to try this blog & sew life for a little while. Maybe it will stick.