Ahhh... Autumn! How dreamy is this fabric? It's Autumn Medley Maples by Martha Negley and the pattern is BurdaStyle's
Jenny skirt. There was only 90cm of the fabric left in the shop, so I made the waistband half the size it's supposed to be. As much as I like high waisted skirts, I actually prefer it this width as it's much more wearable on a little person like me.
This project ended up taking a LOT longer than I'd planned because of the lining. The lazy lady in me was planning on using up the mint green lining leftover from the
Betty Draper Suit, but I thought twice and made the effort to source a lining in mustard yellow to match the occasional yellow leaf. Stitching and finishing the seams on the lining was the most time-consuming part of the process... so you can imagine my rage when, after attaching the lining to the facing, I discovered that the lining was mysteriously much smaller than the shell of the skirt, meaning that I couldn't sit down in it. Grrrrrr!
This is the kind of hitch that can lead you to chuck a project on the UFO pile. But I calmly (okay, so not so calmly) considered my options and, after a couple of days reflection, I rejected the "rip it out and wear the ruddy thing unlined" option, and instead painstakingly unpicked the lining from the waistband, made a THIRD trip to John Lewis for more lining fabric, took a squillion hours checking and rechecking the sizing, and stitched it all again. I got there eventually and am very glad I made the effort to do it properly, as the golden loveliness of the inside is a beauty to behold and feels so lovely when I slip it on. If you're going to make the effort to make something, you may as well make it gorgeous, non?
Speaking of gorgeous, I hand picked the zipper. I didn't want lines of machine stitching spoiling the beautiful print - with a hand picked zipper, you only see little dots of thread on the outside if you look closely. I followed Tasia's extremely good and detailed
tutorial, although I found it easier to line the two sides up by keeping the skirt zipped up when stitching.
Quite a bit of work, but I really love this skirt!
[Soundtrack: 'Little Bird' by The White Stripes]
I can imagine you love it. It is simply gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteI love it, perfect for this time of year and the lining goes perfectly too!!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful Tilly!!! You've done a lovely job on the skirt and it was worth all the 'trouble'!
ReplyDeleteStunning! I adore the yellow lining! And the zipper looks amazing! I usually don't have the patience to do a hand picked zipper but they do look so lovely!
ReplyDeleteIt's really stunning! Well worth all the work. It's nice to have something vibrant for Autumn/Winter too - I'm currently finding a lot of my wardrobe is a bit dull.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful. You have SUCH good taste and vision for the end product. What a 'mare on the lining!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! It looks gorgeous on you and is so perfect for this time of year. I love the idea of lining that doesn't exactly match the shell--in your case, choosing yellow instead of white or ivory. There's something very unique and special about details like those. You've inspired me!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful - both your construction and the print and I think the waistband is perfect - any larger and it would have detracted from the beautiful fabric.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous skirt - the fabric is fabulous and the waistband looks great that size. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteReally really beautiful. You're fabric is lovely. Right...must get my finger out and finish (erm...start) my Jenny skirt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the handpicking zipper idea!
ReplyDeleteLooooove the color of the lining. What a fantastic choice!
Ooo! Pretty! It came out really nice, the print is just fabulous. Nice work on the lining too, impressive to hang in there! :-)
ReplyDeletesimply gorgeous! and well done for being so patient with the lining!! totally worth it
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job, Tilly! It's just gorgeous!
ReplyDeletegood choice on the yellow lining! making things secretly (or, at least ~interiorally~ haha see what i did there?) beautiful is my favorite part about sewing :) your skirt is lovely both inside & out! yay!
ReplyDeletevery pretty! thanks for the link to the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteHot-Cha! It's beautiful and beautiful on you Tilly. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThat fabric looks amazing!!! What a cute skirt.
ReplyDeleteOh, Tilly, this is magnificent! You look so lovely, and it's perfect for fall! Well done! I hate those projects that screw you, way to rise above!
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeletePx
It's gorgeous! I'm glad for you that you decided to redo the lining. Unfortunate that after all that work it was too small; but there's nothing better than walking around with a lined garment. Am I right?! :)
ReplyDeleteStill swooning over that leaft fabric, too....
The golden loveliness of the inside certainly IS a beauty to behold! Oh, top marks for re-doing the lining Tilly, it really does make it extra lovely. You'll never believe this, but I was thinking about hand picked zippers this morning whilst out running (!). This timely post is a sign that I should try one on my next zipped garment! x
ReplyDeleteJust lovely!
ReplyDeleteThis is FABULOUS. I just love the fabric, but I admit my favorite part is the unexpected gold lining!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, but everything you make tends to look adorable on you. Dammit! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful skirt! Very jealous I can't sew!
ReplyDeleteOooh! Beautiful, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful skirt! My grandma always used to tell me that if something's worth doing, it's worth doing properly. It was usually applied to sewing!
ReplyDeletePerfect Autumnal colours! Gorgeous skirt and love that you lined it.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Tilly, and I am very impressed at your patience with the lining! Totally worth it though, it just makes it that bit extra special. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful! And fits you perfectly!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you fixed the gorgeous lining too - well worth it. (she says, thinking of her red spot dress...)
WOW!! I LOVED the skirt, that fabric is so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteWorth ALL your effort, I think! I recently hand picked a zipper for the first time and was super thrilled with the results, too.
ReplyDeletelovely--I'm not sure I would have had such persistance. I just hand picked my first zipper, and I agree, it looks so much cleaner!
ReplyDeleteFreakin' stunning. I LOVE the colours!
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is stunning...I want it for wallpaper!
ReplyDeleteHi, I just found your blog and have spent a good half an hour going back and looking at all the lovely things you make. Lovely way to spend a dreary Wednesday evening, so just wanted to say thanks. This skirt is a personal favourite by the way :)
ReplyDeleteAmy
I knew this skirt would be a winner in that fabric. Its stunning. I had the same issue with the lining recently and my mum told me always to add a small box pleat to the lining so it is always at least an inch or so larger than the skirt. I dont know if this is conventional or not but it seems to work and there's no strain on the lining when I sit down.
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing fabric! Gorgeous skirt.
ReplyDeleteMarie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
I'm having a giveaway...
Beautiful! I never would have pegged that as 'skirt fabric' but you have such an amazing eye for style and that skirt is simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! It's perfect to banish away any dull day blues. Thank you for sharing your lining traumas. I'm just about to line my skirt.... Will bear that in mind!
ReplyDeleteWow! love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful skirt! I now am itching to go make one just the same! (I have even dedicated a blog post to my desire for it!).
ReplyDeleteI shall try to learn from your trouble- I hate how linings are always tiny and then end up ripping. I may make a custom slip for inside instead..
That skirt is really, really beautiful! I don't know what I like best, the awesome fabric or the beautiful lining... It was definitely worth the extra work!
ReplyDeleteSqueeeeee! LOVE that fabric! What an awesome end result. :)
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. Perfect skirt for fall.
ReplyDeleteFantastic skirt for fall! Props to you for sticking with it after the lining issue, I probably would have thrown it into the closet, never to be seen again. lol
ReplyDeleteStunning! The fabric is absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSo worth the time it looks amazing! Really professional. I agree if your going to take the time to make something you might as well make it beautiful, something I've learned the hard way many times.
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely, both inside and outside!
ReplyDeleteThis fabric knocks my socks off. Love it!
ReplyDeleteOh Tilly, that's beautiful. I love that fabric. Stunning!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, Gorgeous! Tilly I love it & you look great in it!
ReplyDeleteThat is one stunning skirt! Inside and out. Worth every unpick/ restitch.
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is gorgeous! What a beautiful skirt.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully made and the styling is bright and young, yet quite classic. A winner!
ReplyDeleteLove it! great print. SO autumnal. What a pain with the lining. Not sure if the same applies with cotton but someone told me that with lining don't sew the full dart, just the tuck at the top. Might avoid future random tight lining 'mares.
ReplyDeleteLove the print. Cute skirt.
ReplyDeleteThe lining and zip looks like it was done by a professional! Once again, love the print on the fabric. You have great taste :)
ReplyDeleteLovely print and it fits you just perfect!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! It's beautiful! Wish I had the balls to wear something this bright... it looks amazing on you!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Where did you find your fabric?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.always-a-project.com
I LOVE your blog. I will be back:)
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