The Bottoms of the 10 Yard Wardrobe

There are three bottom pieces in this wardrobe...

• Elastic Waist Lined Straight Skirt
• Elastic Waist Four Gore Lined Skirt (blogged about here)
• Wide legged pants

All are made from TNT patterns.  As I previously stated, this journey is about adding pieces in a color that's missing from my closet more than about reinventing the wheel.  So I wanted pieces that I knew fit and that I liked wearing for my bottoms.  All of the pieces are lined and since I've already blogged about the four gore skirt, this post is about the straight skirt and the wide legged pants.

The Wide Legged Pants
Pattern Alterations ~
I used my TNT pants pattern but I added additional width to the side seams of the front and back pieces.  I wanted pants that were looser and free flowing to match the drapey fabric.


Construction ~
The fabric is lightweight so I knew I wanted to line them.  I did go back and forth regarding my lining options and finally decided to underline the fabric.  I simply cut lining and fabric from the same pattern pieces and then pinned wrong sides together and serged them. The pants were assembled as I normally do. I did add two inches to the hem because I've bought these amazing new red shoes that are 3" high (they have a 1/2" platform) to wear with them...

AK Anne Klein shoes & Tignanello handbag

Notions ~
Ivory bemberg rayon lining
Ivory rayon seam binding
1" soft and easy stretch elastic


Pictures ~
Since this is a bottom piece, of course it's been photographed with most of the tops pictured in the first wardrobe post so here are a few more...

Worn with RTW black tank & accessories

Pants with RTW twinset

The Flower Power Twinset

with wide legged pants

Back view of the outfit

The Elastic Waist Straight Skirt
I know there are those who hate elastic waist skirts.  Truthfully I didn't like them much either when I was younger with a smaller waistline.  But now in my well lived body, I do have quite a bit of a tummy...quite a bit! *LOL* So these work well for me.  I've been using my TNT pattern for at least the last decade and it is a staple of my spring/summer wardrobe.


Construction ~
I cut the front piece on the fold and the back piece into two pieces. These piece are underlined with the bemberg rayon lining in the same manner I used for the pants. I topstitched the back seam so that I would know where the back is without having to add a marker to designate it.  

A waistline casing of 1.5" was pressed flat and the elastic inserted.  Rayon seam binding was added to the hem and the best thing about hemming this skirt is that the hand stitching was sewn to the lining fabric.


Notions ~
1" stretch non-roll elastic
rayon seam binding
rayon bemberg lining


Pictures ~
Besides the dress, this is my most favorite piece of the collection...I will get lots of wear out of it and here's why!

RTW cardigan & tank

with elastic waist skirt

RTW twinset with straight skirt

Back view

Burda 8869 grey/black/white knit cardigan

w/RTW tank top & straight skirt 

Burda 8869 cardigan with RTW black 

tank top and straight skirt

There is only one piece left - the Burda 8869 Cardigan which you've seen pictures of in several of the other blog posts.  However, I did something different with its construction so I will share that with you in the next post!

...as always, more later!