It is essentially a circle skirt with some added pleats, and an optional sash.I had planned to make it after work on Monday last week, to nicely round out my endless combinations outfits, by giving me another 3 outfits. (I rather like this stage of capsule sewing)
I traced it out in the morning (3 pieces to stick together, yuck)and was proceeding very nicely until I tried the dratted thing on.
I feel that this is the most unflattering skirt I have ever put on. It looks fine from the front, but from the back and side it is considerably fattening.
For the sake of my vanity, I am compelled to point out that my abdomen is about the only part of me that is relatively flat. This skirt manages to give me apparent central adiposity, and also visually enlarge my behind, which does not need any assistance. (I can manage this much more pleasantly myself by consuming chocolate and mince pies).It looks far,far worse in real life than it does in these photographs. (My photographer was laughing too hard to take properly revealing pictures). Fortunately, it does have a few redeeming features. 1.It gave my teenage fashion panel a good laugh.2. There is a lot of fabric in the skirt, and recutting for another garment was possible.
I folded in the pleats at the front, sewed an enormous dart in the back of the pattern pieces, and tried cutting the skirt out again.
Due to fabric limitations, I had to make the skirt much shorter, more like view B in the magazine. I also had to add 6 darts to the back, and 2 to the front to make the waist fit.It is much less fattening without the pleats.
I made a sash using the bottom section of the original skirt, so the back of the sash is curved. I really like the bow, it is nicely frivolous.
The fabric is a very thin, but crisp, cotton batik that my Mum bought me in Indonesia. It is possible that the pleats would look much less fattening if you used a more drapey fabric, such as the voile suggested by Burda for the longer skirt, but Burda also suggests taffeta for the shorter version. It seems to me that this skirt would produce apparent stomach enlargement on most figures in skirt fabrics with much body. I think it works much better without the pleats.
17 comments:
Nice save on the skirt! It looks much prettier and flatters your nice figure! Way to go....
Great save on the skirt. It looks so much better now.
You are a brave woman. I wouldn't even attempt that skirt because I can see very clearly in my mind what it would look like on me. I'm about to make another BWOF skirt with a big frivolous sash and bow like this, so you may well see a similar post on my blog in the coming days!
Great skirt and your adjustments make it so much better.
You should be the Burda designer for this one. I admire our determination and creativity in getting a new, flattering skirt out of that first one.
Great save and you've pulled together a nice outfit there. I'm beginning to wonder now if Burda had the same problem, even with their stick model, which is why she is sitting down and the skirt is flowing over the ground instead of adding pounds to her tummy.
Yes! and she is also wearing a top over the waistband, and in the shorter version the bow is hiding everthing, but I bet she looks enormous from the side. I wish I had worked this out before I cut out my gorgeous batik :(.
Hmm. I wonder if this would work better if the waistband fell lower on the hip. Although, anything pleated or wrapped right at my waist is a disaster waiting to happen...
Good save, and the bow is delish :)
I'm laughing out loud to you comment about your photographer laughing too hard to take pictures. Sometimes things turn out that way, don't they. But WOW, you reworked it into the most darling little short skirt that looks adorable on you. Great work.
You definitely saved that skirt. I cringed at the early pics. :) It looks cute and casual now.
Your dart interventions really paid off. You have an unique fit as a finished project.
Clever you - great save - the new version looks cute and summery!
Holy cow! (I almost mean that literally). How could you know that would be the most unflattering skirt EVER? Really, really, really, really bad. And the skirt you ended up keeping? Very very cute. You are very clever. I am also thinking a fabric with weight and drape would be needed for the original. Oh -- and a different body type. Thank you for saving me from ever trying this pattern.
Nice salvage! I also love the lattice smocking on the t-shirt - thank you so much for posting a tutorial because I really want to try it!
Your version is ever so much cuter and more flattering. Shame on Burda.
Good save on this! Wow, that was a close one. Will stay way from this pattern.
How clever and pretty. Just love it. I hope you enjoy wearing the skirt.
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