Blue rose skirt refashion

Behold my doubtful expression in this “before” skirt refashion photo. It was “Oh dear, I am not sure this is gonna work.” Both the skirt refashion I was planning, and the photograph with the bright outdoors behind me.

And please admire my favourite t-shirt – the only garment that made this skirt seem ok. With every other top I own, the skirt looks dowdy dowdy dowdy. I think it is just the wrong mix of length and flare for my figure. Too wide, or too short. Or something. ARGH! I only have myself to blame. I made the skirt, thinking that length was ok. Glug.

But I LOVE the fabric! Mmmmm.

During a colour and style consultation with Kerryn of Kerryn’s Fabric World, I mentioned the issue with this skirt. Indeed it is an issue I’ve had with other skirts too, but this is extra bad because I love the fabric so much yet it is such a flop style-wise. Kerryn suggested I consider diagonals instead of straight hems, on both tops and skirts because without the definite horizontal line it avoids creating that short, dumpy, chopped-in-half look so easy to get when you are short, like me.

So this skirt refashion is the result of Kerryn’s advice, and of being inspired by all the gorgeous fabrics mum used in this quilt for my sister late last year. I chopped the bottom of the skirt off diagonally, then played around with remains of quilting fabric to add back some of the length I chopped off while still maintaining the diagonal effect.

Below is an example of the process. I laid the remnants out in an arrangement I liked, then used one of the (sadly very few) decorative stitches my machine has, to sew them all together along the edges, one edge of fabric on top, the other under which you can see in the centre and left of the picture below.

The right side of the picture shows a shell-stitch pintuck. Can’t for the life of me remember where I learnt of this embellishment technique – either a stray blog or Australian Stitches magazine, but I love it! The pintucky edge folded over a bit but it looks good anyway. I also did another thing I have long wanted to try – pleats working with the colour of a striped fabric. This fabric was a floral with a stripey-coloured background. So I did the pleats along the stripes. Looks great. I want to do it again some time!

The only fabric used that wasn’t on the quilt was this flower fairy fabric remnant I bought to make a new outfit for my ragdoll, Lilly. I pieced the few tiny triangles together. I can now say I have used every single itty bitty thread of this fabric I had.

I finished the join between skirt and um… skirt peplum? Bottom bit of skirt? Interesting Hem Effect? with a green velvet ruched band. It is created by sewing the gathering thread in zigzags across the ribbon so it goes appealingly wobble when you gather it. No, I didn’t do it myself. I bought it like that from Spotlight. I just recognise the technique from. um. A blog? Australian Stitches mag? Threads mag? Uh yeah. Somewhere. I also added a patch pocket as the skirt needed a little something above the ribbon/diagonal cut to bring the two halves of the skirt together. The patch pocket was my visiting Aunty’s idea. Thanks Aunty!

And… here is the final skirt. And me trying to do some artsy fashion-type shot with my very reluctant fashion photographer mum taking the photo and the doggies insisting on joining the fun.

Last but not least, the skirt in action.

Conclusion? A stunning success!

Skirt:
Original fabric: 1.2m @ $8m = around $10
Invisible Zip $1
Ruched velvet ribbon: $5
Quilting fabric remnants: $10
Total: $26

Sandals: Orthoheel
White blouse: $2 op-shop find
Snoopy shirt (top picture) $5 op-shop find
Dogs: Priceless (RSPCA find, many years ago ;-P)