As soon as I saw it at Kashi’s I thought a full, tea-length, skirt with an underskirt would be just the job. For the fullness a circle skirt would have been great, but I wanted to keep the stripes horizontal and you can’t do that with a circle skirt (or at least without tons of individual panels and just imagine the stripe matching on that).
Instead, I got out my old trusty TNT: the McCall’s M6931. It has both pleats and a slightly gathered waist (thanks to the elastic waistband), and actually comes with a suggestion to do a sheer/under layered version. The underskirt is black silk (also from Kashi!), hemmed slightly shorter than I usually do with this pattern. And then the overskirt is exactly the same, just longer.
I was pretty nervous about sewing with it, because it boggles the mind a little to figure out how a sewing machine can sew what is mostly air. But, surprisingly, it worked (yet another case of just giving things a try rather than freaking out). I used French seams at the side which worked fine although they’re slightly bulky because I was erring on the side of caution. For the hem, I just cut underneath one of the solid lines, and because of the way lace is woven, no finishing is required.
Now I just have to engineer a bunch of opportunities to wear this gauzy lady out of the house. Either that, or I need to be super trendy and wear it with a turtle neck and some sneakers, JCrew style…
Have you ever worked with lace? What other modern ways have you found to use it?
Wow! Beautiful!!
Thanks Gail!
This is gorgeous! Love the shorter length underskirt, it really shows off the fabric.
Yes I’ve always loved lace with an underlay… it’s pretty effective 😀
Hmmm…Im thinking a decadent high tea on a Sunday afternoon. The skirt is absolutely beautiful!
I need tea and scones and cucumber sandwiches, stat!
Gorgeous!
Thank you Sam !
this is so pretty! would be fab with a coloured underlayer as well!
Ooh that’s a good idea! I do have a bit of it left over…
I love this! I’ve been thinking about a skirt just like this on pintrest for probably a year now… This is perfect! Thanks for the sewing inspiration as always!!!
You’re welcome! It isn’t easy to find striped lace but once you do you must BUY IT ALLLL
Love this skirt/top combo! Looks amazing and perfect stripe matching! 🙂
Thanks Andie! That wrap top comes in so useful, I really should make another couple
Jenny, what a beautiful outfit!
Thank you for introducing me to this pattern. It’s become my TNT, as well.
Glad to share the TNT love
Amazing lace! Amazing skirt, you look great 🙂
And damn am I glad I’m not the only one that ‘wears’ stash fabric in that way heehee
Ha ha ha I swear I’ve done that with most of the fabrics in my sewing room…
Pretty! You look gorgeous!
Thanks, Tiffany! Not bad for a freezing stairwell 😉
That’s super cute. I hope the weather cooperates soon so you can wear it!
Well so far today… not so much! But hopefully soon (looks out at the never-ending blizzard…
Oh, I love this. Great use of that cool fabric!
Cheers
This was a great way to feature your lace! Sheer panel cutouts in skirts have been inundating my Pinterest feed lately. This reminds me of the effect without having to do the extra work of inserting a sheer panel!
Yes me too and I always salivate over them… I’m glad I finally managed to whip one up having thought about it for months.
It looks great – the stripy lace is gorgeous!
Thanks Ruth!
Wow that is a gorgeous outfit! I love everything about it, the striped lace and the shorter hem of the dress really shows it off. I think it will also look nice over a solid skirt in a bright colour. I have never worked with lace but if I can find something similar I will definitely try it.
It would def look good in a bright colour, too..
My goodness, this is so gorgeous, I don’t even know what else to say. GORGEOUS, JENNY!
Also, I think I really need to get my hands on that skirt pattern.
THANK YOU GORGEOUS SOPHIE-LEE
Wow, that is amazing! I LOVE the stripy lace, and the shorter underskirt is perfect. I sewed with lace for the first time recently – to make a True Bias Sutton. I did wonder about sewing over he holes, but took the same approach as you (ie just got on with it), and it worked. I’ve even washed it and it’s still held together!!
It’s really bizarre, right?! It doesn’t seem like it should work and then… it just sort of does.
It’s lovely! Will be gorgeous in summer with a sleeveless top too. I think you’ll really be able to dress it up or down. I made a gathered stripey lace skirt a couple of years ago and feel very Sarah Jessica Parker in it (it’s navy and white striped lace) and was also pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to sew.
Ooh that’s a good idea to pair it with a sleeveless top! I’ll have to play around.
WHOA! I love this! I avoid Kashi like the plague most of the time because my wallet can’t handle trips over there! He always knows just what to show me and I leave with a GARBAGE BAG full of fabric. Ack! This is super, super fantastic and you look AMAZING.
Ha ha Kashi is BAD/GOOD NEWS!
Ooh, sultry and fun at the same time – a really lovely combination!
Ha I don’t think of myself as ever being sultry, but I’ll take your word for it 🙂
This is a stunning outfit!
Thanks, Carolyn!
Wow! That’s amazing! Love the over/under skirt design, and am completely with you on the non-fancy lace thing. With pumps would be uber cool!
Thanks, Lou! I’m engineering opportunities to wear it now 😉
It’s lovely! And no hemming too – added bonus!
Thank you, Caroline! And yes no hemming is the bees knees
Love how this turned out!
Why thank you Ms P!
Stunning skirt! Love it! And, since so many have mentioned using other colors as the underskirt…making up the lace skirt as a stand alone garment w/o an attached underskirt would give it an unending range or modifications.
That’s a great idea – and I still have a ton of it, so maybe next time!
Thank you for addressing sewing mostly air! HOW DOES THAT WORK?! Glad you can now wear it out of the house. This lace would make a rather risqué strapless house-ballgown.
I still think it’s magic, frankly!
Oh gosh, wear that lusciousness to work! The world should not be denied such stripey gorgeous skirt business! You’ve sewn air, which must mean that skirt is the emperor’s new…um…skirt?
Ha ha ha someone’s probably pointing out to me as we speak
So dang gorgeous!!!!
Thanks!
Looove this, super inspired to make something similar! Thank you!
It’s perfect! I need to find some of that stripey lace for myself, I’m too jealous of your skirt…