Thursday, August 11, 2016

A High Low Skirt

I'm greatly influenced by what I see on the streets where I work.  There's probably so much inspiration because I work near the garment district and walk through the district every evening on the way to the Port Authority. 

This week's inspiration was an amazing high-low skirt on a pretty young thing that was walking towards me. Her high-low was so obviously high as in thigh length which made the low so dramatic because it was ankle length. Now I knew I couldn't pull that look off but I could a regular high low skirt.


I came home that Thursday evening aching for one, especially since I've worn the pink version of Simplicity 1621 to death because it's so comfortable...the most comfortable thing I've made this summer! I knew I should have looked for a pattern for this skirt but Simplicity 1621 was still on my mind. It was really easy to adjust the dress pattern to make a skirt from it.

Here's what I did ~

1. Folded both the dress front and back at the waistline markings on the skirt.
2. Laid the pattern pieces down on the fabric and added 1" to the top of the
    pieces by marking with chalk.
3. Sewed the front and pieces together and pressed the seams open.
4. Added 2" elastic to the waistline.

Sewing order ~
  • measured the elastic around my waist, pulled and cut it 3" shorter than my waistline
  • Sewed a 1/2" seam in the back to work with the elastic in the round
  • Placed pins at the 4 edges of the elastic
  • Elastic was pinned to the skirt at the four points
  • Then stitched to the skirt by slowly sewing and stretching the elastic and fabric to match.
  • After the first row of stitching, I stitched it again all the way around to insure that the stitching would hold.
  • Pressed the gathers flat
  • Stitched it down
I turned up 1/2" hem and stitched it down. The skirt was done. I used a lightweight linen that I bought from Marcy Tilton's booth at Expo in March. I'm determined to use as much of that fabric purchase as possible this year. The 2" elastic for the waistband was in the collection. I have it in white and black. It was bought a couple of years ago to make skirts like this.

A few pictures ~




...and worn with a RTW yellow sweater...



Conclusion ~
I couldn't believe that the skirt made up so quick and easy! It's nice to have a trendy, yet age and work appropriate piece. If you want to make one of your own and don't have Simplicity 1621, try one of these...




This will go into rotation this week cause it's still hot here!

...as always more later!







46 comments:

  1. Cute Cute Cute!!! Yellow and bright colors get me energized every time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andrea! I love yellow especially now that I can wear any color I want!

      Delete
  2. I like this look on you, especially with the sweater.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolyn - you're right the sweater really highlights the skirt and the combo makes me happy!

      Delete
  3. Such pretty fabric! Nice work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. These colours look so pretty on you and that skirt is just gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sew Jean Margaret thanks I'm thinking the skirt is pretty awesome too!

      Delete
  5. So pretty and fresh looking. I love the skirt with the yellow sweater!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The cardigan really makes the skirt POP. It's a beautiful print. And sometimes, simplicity is best. Such a simple sew but it is just gorgeous and will work so well for the rest of the summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do like the simplicity of the skirt and that the fabric and cardigan are doing all the talking. Thanks Kisha!

      Delete
  7. Beautiful and perfect fabric choice! Isn't it great that we, as sewists, can follow the trends in an age appropriate way? Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen - that is definitely one of the things that I love most about sewing, the fact that I can make whatever I want out of whatever fabric and color I choose!

      Delete
  8. Really cute--love it with that bright cardi!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful swing to the skirt -- looks fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy - it's one of the things that I really like about the skirt that swing and sway!

      Delete
  10. Super, happy colours. The yellow is stunning on you C.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are an amazingly talented sewer. Your fabric choice, and the editing complements your figure perfectly. You are right about the dramatic hi lo you saw on the street being extreme, but you toned it down to perfection! I don't know how you find the time to get so much done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katherine - I'm really drawn to that extreme high low because it makes such a statement, however, I know that it really won't work for me, this was a good solution. As for the time to sew, I just make it a priority!

      Delete
  12. Gorgeous fabric and great skirt. Given the East coast heat this week, a really refreshing choice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary - I wore it to work on Monday and it was perfect! Cool enough for outside but the cardi provided comfort against the manufactured air inside.

      Delete
  13. That is such a pretty outfit. I like the subtle hi-lo much better than the thigh/ankle ones. We called those mullet-skirts. LOL Oh well. Different people like different things. That yellow jacket sure makes the skirt pop. Great job!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leigh - hahahahaha at the mullet skirts! Never thought of it that way. Thanks for complimenting the outfit!

      Delete
  14. The fabric is sooo gorgeous - so perfect for summer and your skirt turned out beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a good buy back in cold March wasn't it?! I'm thrilled that it worked out so well.

      Delete
  15. Love the colors, the yellow is pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  16. So cute and summery, Carolyn! I can understand why people garment district would inspire!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shams - I love this time of the year because I can see what everyone is wearing. I've been inspired over and over again from the outfits, it's just finding the fabrics and the time to get the garments made!

      Delete
  17. Gorgeous and perfectly age appropriate. Very inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catherine - thank you. Sometimes that's the most challenging thing to admiring a garment in the street, making it age appropriate!

      Delete
  18. Replies
    1. Hey Marce - just trying to follow in your colorful footsteps!

      Delete
  19. Looks great - love the pretty floral print too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks joen! And thanks for always supporting with a kind comment!

      Delete
  20. Thanks Shannon! But you've been making some amazing pieces yourself lately!

    ReplyDelete
  21. So drapey and such beautiful fabric! Perfect with that cardigan!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! It is so appreciated!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails