Fabric Mart's #sewcoolskirts

Julie from Fabric Mart contacted me late last month and asked if I wanted to participate in Fabric Mart's #sewcoolskirts for May.  Of course I said yes.

Now my skirt isn't made from a current pattern. I have way too many TNT skirt patterns in my pattern collection to reinvent the wheel. However, my skirt is influenced by an ad that was in my email.

Inspiration Photo from Dressbarn.com

My fabric is a lightweight ponte from Fabric Mart. I purchased it a couple of months ago and while not exactly the same, it is very similar to the fabric in my inspiration picture.

A little more about my skirt ~
I've really fallen in love with the slim fit through the hips yet flared at the hemline maxi skirts. When I saw the ad featuring the black and white maxi skirt, I knew that my TNT 4 gore skirt with an elastic waistline would work to make one of my own. I had to make a few alterations to my pattern piece but that and the ponte fabric got me a new maxi skirt just in time for the hot weather.

Pattern Alterations ~

• I started by making a pattern sandwich to get a maxi length skirt pattern piece. The original skirt pattern piece was placed on my cutting table. 
• Then I added the shortened version on top of it. 
• Finally some tracing paper.  
• I traced the top and sides of the skirt and added 6" to the hemline adding just enough flare to the sides so the skirt hangs properly.

1. Four pieces of the pattern were cut out and sewn together. 
2. I inserted 1" non-roll elastic to the waistline casing. 
3. After trying the skirt on, it was a tad too long.
4. So I serged an inch off the hemline. 
5. A 1/2" hem was turned up, pressed down and then stitched
6. Walah! An easy peasy new maxi skirt!

A few photos of the skirt in action ~

Skirt worn with my white Concord T

And Another One ~
After I made the first one and submitted it to Fabric Mart, I woke up the next morning and realized that I had a light floral poly crepe in the collection that would make another wonderful version of this skirt. 

So this one came to be ~

I'm wearing this one with a RTW short sleeve sweater

that I've owned forever!

My sewing list is varied for the spring/summer.  There is a little bit of everything on it. A couple of tops, several maxidresses (cause y'all know how much I love a maxidress), some more Concord T's, and a few more maxi skirts. My first Style Arc pattern is also included in this bunch. 

I'm loving the silhouette of a basic tee over a maxi skirt. I can wear it with heels or sneakers and it's the look I'm most interested in this spring/summer. It's interesting because for the last couple of spring/summers I've started out knowing which garment type I wanted to concentrate on sewing and this year, it's that t-shirt/skirt combo.

BTW, this is an easy sew. If you're looking for a great new piece to add to your summer wardrobe you can't go wrong with this style. There are plenty of patterns in the pattern catalogues similar to my skirt. I highly recommend that you pull out a couple of pieces of fabric and make several for yourself!

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It's Memorial Day weekend here in the US. Besides going to my daughter's for a barbeque, I have no other plans. Well you know besides spending quality time in the sewing cave with my favorite things! If you're in the US, I hope you have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend!

...as always more later!