A Tale of 2 Skirts, Part the Second

Continuing from yesterday's post--so I finished the yellow skirt, was decidedly "meh" and swore off straight skirts in the future. Then I watched the last Xmas episode of Community (sob) and Annie was wearing this short wool skirt that looked really cute and comfortable. i thought that it looked eerily similar to a pattern i own and I had just purchased a bunch of wool gabardine from fabric mart. so i gave it a try.

Pattern: Simplicity 2451, View D
Fabric: 1yd gray wool gabardine and polyester taffeta lining from fabric mart
Size: Modified 10

I really like this pattern. It went together very easily (though i didn't use the instructions). i made a "full-waist adjustment" by following the directions in the Colette Sewing Handbook. I was pleased to discover that once I modified the pattern pieces they pretty much looked identical to what they would have looked like had i simply cut out the 12 at the waist and graded to a 10 at the hips. I shortened the skirt by 1.5 inches but i kind of wish i'd left the length alone. it is definitely a mini-skirt--not obscene but a little shorter than i'd prefer for work. I installed a centered zipper using the directions from Power Sewing and i really like how the fabric mostly covers the zipper.

i added a lining and this time there was no pesky vent so it was quite easy. the lining fabric is a much better quality than the yellow skirt. the only problem is that it is a taffeta so it makes noise. here's what it sounds like when i walk.

rustlerustlerustlerustlerustlerustlerustle

i find this mildly annoying. i cut the lining out of the pocket and front pieces lined up together and converted the darts to pleats. i stitched the lining to the facing. one thing i did that i wish i hadn't was i serged the skirt hem because the fabric was fraying like mad. i blindstitched the hem but you can really see the serged stitching on the right side and it looks kind of crappy.

otherwise i really like this skirt and i've already worn it several times. i like the A-line version too and i'll probably make that one someday. i've also discovered that despite my insistence on adding pockets to things i really only ever use them as a social crutch. (i don't know what to do with my hands, so i shove them in my pockets). i don't actually use pockets to carry things so it might be wise to start leaving them out in the future.