I've just finished my third skirt using Butterick 5566. This time I made version E. My previous version were A without the overlay and version B. I have just been having a field day at JoAnn's with remnants. It takes a little under a yard to make a skirt and at 1/2 off remnants, the skirts are costing me under $10 including zipper, thread and interfacing.
It didn't take any time to make the skirt. I didn't use the directions. Does anybody for a skirt? I used contrastng gold thread and my machine's "triple stitch." I knew the finished garment would need some tweaking but this one almost stumped. I never have the issue of my skirts hiking up in the back because I cut the center front about 3/4" lower at the waist seam. Then it's usually just a matter of pull the sides up as needed if any. When I tried the skirt on it was a total mess. The center back was hiking up and the front was ballooning away from my body! No matter how much pulling up or down I did it was not a good look. From the side I looked wider fromt to back than I did side to side.
Naturally I dug into my arsenal of "fit" books and none of them addressed the "hiking up" issue. On page 183 of Fit for Real People, there is a small paragraph addresses the alteration but it wasn't quite what I needed. I know there are some sewers that add a wedge to the back of their skirt patterns but I don't agree with using it. If you get in the habit of added the wedge, what happens when you have to match a design. You'll undoubtly wind up not being able to match a pattern or ehe posibility of your center back hemline almost forming some kind of weird "V." I finally called it a night and slept on it.
Before church on Sunday I first decided to narrow the hemline of the denim skirt by taking the side seams in. That sorta worked but not enough. After more contemplation I decided to take a wedge in from the center back hemline to a couple inches below the zipper. Guess what? It worked like a charm. I don't know why but it did. I hope to make a navy, gray, and two black skirts by next Wednesday. Wish me luck and I will be posting pictures soon.
It didn't take any time to make the skirt. I didn't use the directions. Does anybody for a skirt? I used contrastng gold thread and my machine's "triple stitch." I knew the finished garment would need some tweaking but this one almost stumped. I never have the issue of my skirts hiking up in the back because I cut the center front about 3/4" lower at the waist seam. Then it's usually just a matter of pull the sides up as needed if any. When I tried the skirt on it was a total mess. The center back was hiking up and the front was ballooning away from my body! No matter how much pulling up or down I did it was not a good look. From the side I looked wider fromt to back than I did side to side.
Naturally I dug into my arsenal of "fit" books and none of them addressed the "hiking up" issue. On page 183 of Fit for Real People, there is a small paragraph addresses the alteration but it wasn't quite what I needed. I know there are some sewers that add a wedge to the back of their skirt patterns but I don't agree with using it. If you get in the habit of added the wedge, what happens when you have to match a design. You'll undoubtly wind up not being able to match a pattern or ehe posibility of your center back hemline almost forming some kind of weird "V." I finally called it a night and slept on it.
Before church on Sunday I first decided to narrow the hemline of the denim skirt by taking the side seams in. That sorta worked but not enough. After more contemplation I decided to take a wedge in from the center back hemline to a couple inches below the zipper. Guess what? It worked like a charm. I don't know why but it did. I hope to make a navy, gray, and two black skirts by next Wednesday. Wish me luck and I will be posting pictures soon.
I worked on a skirt, can't even remember the pattern today, but I worked on it for 3 days. After that, I balled it up and threw it in the I'll get back to it pile. I think I will pull it out and try your fix. Can't wait to see your pics.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how we just can't let it go, we just have to find a solution. Congratulations on your success!!
ReplyDeleteI don't see how adding a wedge would affect matching. The CB seam is longer, yes, but it's trued and straight.
ReplyDeleteHi,I'm a beginner and I decided to try this pattern because I was having some difficulty drafting mine. I attempted view D size 12. I traced out the pattern and cut it out, but I can't seem to figure out how to line up the notches for the front pattern. Can you help me?
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