Swap

Today I hope to interface the facing on my 6 gored skirt. Then if I get time tonight I would like to sew in the facing and hem the skirt. Here is a sketch of my skirt.

My sketching is getting better and I hope with a lot more practice it will continue to improve. At the moment I am working on drawing hands, feet, head and accessories. The sketching has been quite a challenge for me as I couldn't draw at all when I started. I feel it shows how good the course is when now I can draw like this. I am glad that the patternmaking part of the course isnt so hard for me.

After looking at skirts at the shops and in the pattern catalogues I have decided on a few designs and this skirt is the first that I am making for myself.

Here is a plan of the pattern. I drafted a straight skirt block and took 12mm of the waist at the back to accomodate my figure. Flared the pattern out about 33cm down from the waist, which is my mid thigh, then traced of the pattern peices ready for cutting. I made a facing pattern for the waist which is 5cm wide. When making the facing I placed the centre front or back next to the side front or back and traced of the half pattern.

When piecing the skirt together I sewed all the front and back pieces together and then pinned the side seams ready for fitting. As my fat sacks are on my backside and my thighs I had to let the skirt out a little at the thigh area and I had already altered the pattern for my swayback. Then I sewed the side seams and applied the invisible zipper.

This is the finished skirt worn with the shawl collar blouse. I like the fall of this skirt and I will definately be making it again.

SWAP Plan

Well I have finished my swap plan. I found all the fabrics I needed in my stash which is great for the budget and I have started to draft all the patterns. The cream linen shawl collar blouse is finished and I have cut and started to sew up the dark green gabardine skirt. I pieced the skirt together yesterday and applied the invisible zipper. The skirt looks great when I tried it on. I really like the way the skirt falls. I drafted my block for my stretch tops and I made the pattern for the low round neck top.
When I made the pattern for the cream linen blouse I got rid of the shoulder dart by transfering some of it into the shoulder seam and the rest into the the sleeve seam. I dont know if this is correct but it turned out ok. I also drafted the collar so as to not be high on the back of my neck. I added 6cm ease to my waist measurement but I feel this could probably have been less.