I thought I’d better showcase my 2010 skirts before 2011 heats up and runs away with me. I think I went a little crazy last year (this isn’t even all of them) and I finished off the summer owning more skirts than pants. They are easy to fit, easy to make, easy to wear. There are two or three patterns I do plan to make again. If you like prints but don’t like wearing them up near your face, skirts are the way to go. Plus they are cool and comfortable in the Austin heat.
Let’s get started with some skirts from Burda, my current favorite pattern company. Please excuse the old white t-shirt. I took those pictures before I remembered a nicer one I have.
First up, the funky pleated skirt from Burda’s August 2010 issue (also available for downloading). This is style 107. It features an elastic waist and side-seam pockets. I elected not to include the goofy pocket flaps. They don’t seem to make sense with this style. I really, really love this skirt!
I made this in a beautiful indigo batik cotton that is tightly woven. I got it from Silk Road, here in Austin. They have a ton of lovely batiks there.
This thing pretty much never needs ironing and it doesn’t really ravel at all. I love this stuff! I’m sorry you can’t see the pleats so well on this. Check out the drawing to get a better idea, or maybe you can enlarge the picture.
(As you can see I am not only a master of photography, but my skills with an iron are unequaled!)
I finished off the hemline with a contrasting yellow bias edge. Nice, huh?
Next up is another groovy Burda skirt, this time from the June 2010 issue (also available for downloading). This is style 112.
I was inspired by Shannon of Mushywear to make this one. Hers was also done in lime green linen and since I happened to have that same color linen in my stash, I was very happy to be able make my own.
I believe this also comes with side-seam pockets, but I elected not to include them since there isn’t a lot of space for them in there. Note the interesting angled pleats. It has an invisible zipper up the back. Easy! I also made this in a dark teal color but I like the green much more. I’m a sucker for lime green.
This last one is the Marie skirt, which you can download for free. This pattern is unusual in that the front and back pieces are identical. The waistband pattern is completely nuts, so make your own. It has an invisible zipper on the side but no slit for ease of movement. Maybe I’ll put one in on the side with a contrasting facing or something. I don't think I'll make this one again.
This is another tightly-woven cotton batik from Silk Road.
Finally, how could I forget Burda's incomparable Jenny skirt pattern? I made this one out of a piece of vintage barkcloth I bought and I don't at all regret cutting it up to make this fantastic skirt! The waistband is cut on the bias (it's not as snug as I would like) and there is a invisible zip in the back. I added a vent in the back and underlined the whole thing. Why didn't I line it? It's not worth telling that sad story.
Stay tuned for more skirts as soon as I can scrounge up pictures of the patterns.
