Barcelona Beauty - Part 3

Skirt Muslin

Normally I do not make a muslin for skirts, but adjust as I make the garment by basting and checking the fit. Because of the really nice fabric I'm using, I decided it was wiser to make any adjustments in a muslin rather than fashion fabric.

Thanks to the design of this skirt, like the jacket, this was an easy skirt to fit! The front and back of this skirt are made of three panels each, so it is easy to adjust for many figures. If you want a slim fit skirt, try this one or one with a similar design, as you can adjust where you need more or less fabric. In most cases, garments with multiple panels are better for fitting than other styles; more seams means more places where you can easily adjust the fit.

For myself, I know that my thigh/butt measurement is about two sizes larger than my waist. This means that I trace the pattern by the larger size and then adjust the waist and hip curve to fit properly. Because I needed to remove quite a bit of fabric, I had to chose where to remove it. I could remove quite a bit a the side seams only or I could divide the amount and remove at the side front and side back seams. For this skirt I chose to remove the excess at the side front and side back seams. If I chose to remove it all the side seams, it would put those side front seams closer to the side seam, thus changing the lines and fit of the pattern. Those side front and back seams are more curved at the top to fit the skirt, acting like darts. The other problem is that in the back there are two welt pockets (see photo above), and if those side back seams are moved closer to the side, then the pocket placement would be off, too.

For me, I took out 5/8"(1.5cm) at each seam at the waist and tapered to nothing at 9 1/2" (24cm) from the top edge, which is about thigh level for me. That is where I really need the original width of the pattern. After stitching all four seams the same, I did a quick check for fit to make sure the hip curve at the side seam did not need additional altering. It did not and fits really nicely through the hip at the side seam.

Now, I can cut out the fabric and start construction! More on that in another post.

Tomorrow we are going to Boston to Windsor button in search of buttons for the jacket. The children are on winter vacation from school this week and riding the train into North Station and then taking the subway will be quite an adventure for the children. I'm also planning a little trip to see some of the close historical sites, so it won't be another one of mom's boring fabric and notions shopping trips. My son has to write a paper on a famous American and since he chose Paul Revere, I think this will be appropriate.

Parting Shot: More. Yes, more snow. We got another 6" or so yesterday and since this was a wetter snow, it stuck to all the branches of the trees like powdered sugar. I just *love* New England. (Where is that rolling eye emoticon?!?) We can get snow storms even into the first few weeks of April, so the snow season is not quite over for us just yet.