Monday, 30 April 2012

Silk/Linen Tweed skirt, Burda Style 02-2011 faced waistline

Once or twice a year, I buy a fabric bundle from Michael's for not very many $ per yard, plus about 25% per yard for postage, much less expensively than I can buy similar fabric in Australia. The fabric is always very high quality, and as I am very bad at moving out of my rut, I am sure that some of the more interesting textures and colours (which are not chosen by the recipient) are very good for me - even if I have to dye them... This fabric, however, spoke directly to my conservative heart. SAM_1213
Silk, sigh, Linen, aah, tweed, how delicious, deadly dull neutrals, just my cup of tea, but how bad am I with my carbon debits ?, this poor fabric has travelled from Scotland, to Boston, U.S.A to Queensland, Australia for a very small price indeed. I don't think this started out as a small price fabric. Being a complete sucker for  interested in fabric selvage labelling I looked up Holland & Sherry. I could not find my fabric in the permanent collections, nor in the seasonal collections for the past 3 years, but I love it anyway, ancient and out-of-fashion as it may be. Despite its antcedents, I washed this fabric in my machine on the delicate setting (admittedly after a sample survived hand washing), knowing that dry-clean only instructions are patently ridiculous for clothing to be worn in a sub-tropical climate. The fabric not only survived the experience without shrinking, but was even more luscious and softer in texture once through the machine.  I have made a very boring, classic pegged skirt from this beautiful and hardy fabric.

SAM_1254
 Here we go again with my adjusted TNT Burda Style 02-2011-103/6/7. I used the Claire Shaeffer faced waistline again, this time in the 'with lining' version. Having used  this technique twice in a row, I am feeling fairly confident in my acquisition of this waistline finish. SAM_1240
The stay tape and interfacing are in between the lining (sandwashed silk charmeuse from Greenfields) and the outer fabric. SAM_1241
The grosgrain waistline facing is attached inside the lined skirt. Again I have used Kenneth King's lapped off set zipper from Cool Couture, and added a back kick pleat to the skirt. SAM_1243
 I have bound the hem with the lining fabric, to decrease bulk, and taken a photo of it prior to ironing, (sorry) as the light was fading rapidly. Hand sewing takes me far longer than I expect.
The edges of the pleat have been bound with the charmeuse,and I pinked the lining hem edge prior to attaching tea dyed lace to the edge by machine zig zag. SAM_1250
 I am extremely pleased with my boring skirt, and imagine that I will wear it all-the-time for years. Something so dull will takes ages before it is noticeably out of date.

27 comments:

Mary Nanna said...

It's really beautiful - basics like that just get thrashed to death - they are also a great starting point for a wild print somewhere else which is where the fun really begins.

Marie said...

Lovely, classic skirt. The fabric sounds delightful, again.

I am with Mary Nanna. It is the classic, "boring" if you will skirts that you will be wearing for years because they go with everything.

Karin said...

This is not dull! It's just lush. You are on a real roll with the luxury fabrics!

Jenny said...

You should be pleased. It's beautiful!

KID, MD said...

Not boring!! Gorgeous! YOu'll wear it forever. Now I'm off to Michael's page...

Julie Culshaw said...

Not dull at all, I love your fabric choice and your skirt is lovely.

katherine h said...

What gorgeous fabric! It is such a beautiful neutral colour that you'll also be able to wear it with rich burgundies and greens and purples and chocolates. It looks as though it could even be paired with a metallic for evening, and a blouse from that lining fabric would be gorgeous. Yes, you've made yourself a real winner there!

pdiddly said...

there is nothing wrong in investing your time in making a classic piece of clothing that will get loads of wear - I love it.

Carol said...

I think you have an aging picture somewhere in your attic, Doriana. You look younger every time I see you! The skirt is gorgeous and your lining and facing of the waistband are way more beautiful than the ones in the skirts I made this weekend! This skirt will go with everything and you will, no doubt, wear it until it falls off you. I'm very envious.

Anonymous said...

Looks great! and it will go with everything

Sharon said...

A good basic skirt will never be wrong and yours looks perfect, colour, style and the finishes are superb.

velosews said...

I'm extremely pleased with your skirt too.
This is such a beautiful classic skirt.

Andrea said...

Love that not-boring-at-all fabric and your beautiful skirt. I love how you've bound the hem and pleat with the charmeuse. This skirt will serve you well for a long time!

Dilliander said...

A beautiful classic skirt with classic fabric. A perfect match, the silk linen blend and colour is beautiful.

Allison said...

That is hardley a boring skirt! The classic pegged style suits you so well. I imgane you will wear this for many years to come. really, it seems more like a sophistictaed, elegant, neutral classic than something boring. Beautiful fabric and the skirt fits you to a T.

Allison said...

That is hardley a boring skirt! The classic pegged style suits you so well. I imgane you will wear this for many years to come. really, it seems more like a sophistictaed, elegant, neutral classic than something boring. Beautiful fabric and the skirt fits you to a T.

Carolyn said...

Oh, that fabric is so gorgeous I cannot stand it! how did you get onto that mailing list?
A beautiful and very well-made piece.

Anonymous said...

Lovely skirt; useful and luxurious

Ruth said...

That's not dull - that's gorgeous, just think of all the colours you can wear with it. The insides of your garments are as perfect as the outsides.

Steph A said...

ooooo, not dull at all. see, everbody else thinks so too!! it's the fabric that just whispers...lusciousness!! Well done, you'll be wearing this for yeeeears.

The Slapdash Sewist said...

That is a beautiful fabric, very worthy of your lovely finishes. That lace is such a nice touch.

Bernice said...

Not boring - just classic. Such a lovely, well-made piece. A simple neutral skirt like this can be used to create a range of looks from plain to utterly groovy and eccentric.

Gail said...

I'm all for sewing basics in beautiful fabrics. I love the way you did the kick pleat!

Tam said...

I'm glad to be seeing posts from you again, you're one of my favorite blogs because you show the sensible clothes you make along with the special pieces too.

Little Hunting Creek said...

That's not dull-that's Classic! What a lovely skirt

SEWN said...

Gorgeous skirt. I think it's perfect!

Joy said...

The fabric is delicious (conservatively delicious) and of course a classic skirt is a perfect for it.