Given the beautiful fabric and my somewhat extensive experience making this pattern, I decided to try to use a few couture techniques. I used petersham ribbon as a waistband facing, which I highly recommend – it gives you a perfectly neat finish on the inside, and stops the waistband stretching out (the only downside is that means this version isn’t *quite* as comfortable when you sit down). I used bright pink bias tape on the hem facing for a little fun pop of colour, and catch stitched it to the underlining silk organza:
As seen peeking out here!
For the lining, I finally drafted a proper pencil skirt lining (vs. just copying the pattern pieces), following Sunni’s great tutorial at A Fashionable Stitch. The approach adds slightly more wiggle room at the hips, and has a really clever approach to finishing the vent, as you can see below. I used black crepe de chine for the lining, and to try to stop it ripping at the seams when I sit down (always a risk with pencil skirts), I first fused all the edges with knit stay tape, which, after one day of wearing, seems to have worked marvelously.
Finally, I used a fantastic new technique which allows you to finish the fashion fabric seams and underlining in one, with a perfect finish that’s somewhere between a french seam and a hong kong binding finish. Given that silk faille is pretty prone to fraying, this was perfect. A tutorial will follow soon!
I even attempted a real model pose… Stop laughing!
A final pose in front of a garage door, and done.
What a great skirt! I love the black and white print – so lovely. And the pop of pink – perfect!!
I have a few TNTs – but my favorite is B5454 wrap dress. I need to branch out a bit. 🙂 g
Thanks G! I totally fell in love with it when I saw it on EmmaOneSock and luckily the 2343 doesn’t require too much yardage 🙂 I will have to check out that wrap dresses – I’m all about them, but I haven’t made that one!
This skirt is very nice! The print will go with every color and the little details you put in will make you feel special every time you wear it!
Also, I love the shoes! They look classy and super comfy!
Thanks Laurence! And yes those shoes are amazing – they’re super comfortable for someone who doesn’t wear heels but make me feel like a classy lady 🙂
Lovely skirt! I am so pleased that I found your blog. There are lots of great sewing blogs, but they’re all by very slim people. It’s nice to follow someone with curves.
Thanks Connie, and welcome! Totally agree on the blog front – Mary (www.idlefancy.com) are working hard to try to encourage more curvy seamstresses to blog, so keep reading for more in the future!
Just beautiful, inside and out! I’m super curious about that seam finish too. I can see why you keep making this skirt – it looks so great on you!
This year I’ve been in the process of re-working some of my patterns with fitting changes I learned when I took a fitting class, so more and more of my patterns are becoming TNTs – Yay! Only took me 3 years 😉
Thanks Gail! Tutorial will follow as soon as I get a spare minute of time 🙂
I would LOVE to take a fitting class – how did you find yours?
I love love love your beautiful skirt! Silk faille is one of my favorite fabrics! I have yet to venture off our ranch to take photos of myself on my tripod, but I’m planning to with my Sew for Victory dress. I guess I will build up my courage to do so and not care about if others happen to be around and see me posing awkwardly. Lol 🙂
Thank you thank you thank you! I’ve never used Silk faile before but Mary’s Gertie Wiggle Dress was beyond divine so I gave it a shot. And you know, if I had a ranch, I’m not sure I’d leave it either 😀
Well I guess you know by now that I love this skirt! I’m really looking forward to your tutorial. Another method for finishing seams, yes please!
Thanks Ms P! Tutorial to follow soon….
The hot pink binding is delightful! What a lovely skirt. I’ve never used silk faille but it looks like it has a really interesting, sturdy texture. Excited to see your seam finishing tutorial, too!
Yes it has little horizontal (selvedge to selvedge) ridges which makes it have a slightly stiffer drape than other types of silk, and also makes it a bit easier to work with!
Looks so great! I think Charlotte, Sureau, Laurel, and Renfrew are probably the patterns I’ve made the most often, and a Frankenpattern sheath dress that I’ve cut down to one (wide) yard. SHORT, but fun 😀
A fine group! Together with my 2343 I have a wrap dress pattern, the Sorbetto and Renfrew… I should probably branch out 🙂
Great job on the skirt and the photos. You can rest assured you weren’t the weirdest thing those Bostonians saw that day! 🙂
Thanks! Yes that big “dress up as an anime character” conference was on this weekend, so I’m almost certainly sure of it 🙂
Lovely! I’ve a few fave patterns, simplicity 2451, a burda dolman knit top, the colette beignet, style arc elle pants, the Maria Denmark kimono tee….. I say if it works for you then keep smashing them out!
Thanks! I’ve seen a bunch of Simplicity 2451s around.. I will have to check it out. Also the StyleArc pants – I’ve never made any before but those seem to be very popular!
Jenny,
To make the waist more comfortable try using petersham instead of grosgrain. Grosgrain’s edges are stable and petersham is flexible. It make a huge difference as you can shape the petersham to flare at the bottom. There are many tutorials on how to shape it. Your skirt is beautiful and as a sometime plus size woman I wear pencil skirts all the time, very comfortable. Keep up your sewing, it’s beautiful.
Mary
Hi Mary – you know, I just realized that it *was* petersham! I bought it from Susan Khalje’s store. I think I’m just used to waistbands that stretch quite a bit… Thanks for the comment!