Midnight Garden - Skirt - Introduction

So far, all you've seen is the jacket, and really, just various pieces of the jacket. Today we'll take a quick peek at the skirt. By the end of next week, I hope to have the dupionni side quilted.

The skirt is a straight skirt with darts, a side zipper and a deep pleat at side back that runs the full length of the skirt (see photo below). It also has a waistband, but I didn't put it on the muslin yet, knowing there would be some changes.

Actually, it's a pretty simple skirt. It does need one design change and that is the closure. The fact is that zippers and reversible garments don't always play nice; sometimes, but not always. My plan is to use that back pleat area to make a wrap style skirt that crosses over in the back and closes with buttons and loops. This will preserve the purpose of the pleat and solve the closure problem all at once.

You can see above that I've removed the pleat, cut off all of the left half of back including most of the pleat and turned under the edge. I then cut a second back omitting the pleat - the new left back - to mirror image the right back. I removed the zipper and stitched the left back to the front at the side seam.

The only other major change is the length - it is way too long! I'll have to remove about 6 inches or so from the hem.

Q/A: Mimi commented, "Your closets must be stuffed to the brim!!!! What do you do when you fall out of love with something you've made? " Well, the truth is my closet isn't stuffed. I am pretty ruthless about what is kept is what isn't. I have a rule that if I didn't wear it the previous year, I probably won't this year and don't need to keep it. The other fact is that most of my work wardrobe was made four years ago, when I went back to teaching full time. Since then, my personal style has developed further and I know what works for me (pockets are a must!) and what doesn't regarding my job and personal taste. I did a major wardrobe clean out this summer and had to make some clothes! That explains why I've made myself quite a few things recently. That said, when an item isn't doing it for me anymore or just turns out to be wrong for me and I decide to get rid of it, I always give it away to someone I know will use it or donate it to charity. If the item is past it's prime, I salvage what I can (buttons, zippers, etc.) and then pitch it.

Parting Shot: I got my "free" Vogue pattern! I still had to pay shipping, but the $3 shipping is still cheaper than buying it on sale at Jo-ann's. You know I had to get the latest wedding dress, #2979! Not that I need a wedding dress, but in a shorter length with the right fabrics it could make a lovely dressy winter dress. I'm seeing the long sleeve version in a much shorter length made in satin and velvet!