Perhaps, when you almost don’t have enough fabric to finish it!
I’ve been bustin’ through my stash and so far, have made a flowered vintage dress and a red Sewaholic Hollyburn. Next I thought I would make a black Sewaholic Hollyburn – you can see the link to the pattern company here: Sewaholic Hollyburn. I found some black in my fabric stash, a polyester, but not a stretchy knit. I’m not too sure exactly what it is. As I was cutting out my fabric, I realized that I didn’t really have enough black fabric for the two wide skirt pieces. My fabric remanent was too narrow.
So let’s give this a try… I made a 4 panel skirt into a 6 panel skirt.
Cutting my two skirt pieces into two at the grain line, I put the CF and CB pieces on the folds of the fabric and cut two each of the side front and back pieces. This way I had narrower skirt pieces to place on my fabric, but this now meant that I had to put my zipper in the side, instead of the back seam.
What else did I change? Oh yes, I didn’t have any fabric left for pockets, so I made “faux” pockets. (Tap the photo to read.)
With a little imagination, this Hollyburn pattern has so many possibilities. I fell into this variation by accident, but I am thinking about other possibilities now!
The weather was lovely again today so I slipped outside for some photos.
(If you are interested in reading about the top I am wearing, it was blogged about here.)
Mr. Green Thumb has done his usual lovely job of the garden. It is getting hot and dry now though. I am happy that he has brought the kids out for a dip in the pond!
Have you tried any Sewaholic patterns yet?
Happy Sewing!







35 Responses to “When is a Sewaholic Hollyburn, not a Sewaholic Hollyburn?”
This is really a nice skirt! I made a quite similar Hollyburn, but fortnately, I had enough fabric… And I love wearing it in summer, it’s so comfortable!
I wish you a great summer in your lovely skirt!
Greetings from Germany
Almut
Well greetings Almut from Germany. Thanks for stopping by. I do like this pattern. When I sewed my previous one, I had lots of fabric. So much I put a pleat in the front of it! There are a lot of different things you can do with this pattern.
Well done faking the pockets! Looks great! Bet you’ll be wearing your hollyburns loads 😃
Thanks, yes, especially since I am more confident with making alterations to it now.
Good work using your stash and a black skirt is always useful. The faux pockets are a great idea. I’ve made the Cordova jacket, which I was happy with. I would make it again reducing the shoulders a bit more than my last attempt.
Thank you! I had to look up the Cordiva jacket. I had forgotten about it. I would probably make the version without the side ruffle. I don’t feel comfortable with extra fabric around my waist!
Great save idea. I had that problem with one of the Kiddo’s patterns and ended up color blocking it to make it look like the extra color was intentional. I’ll have to try it your way next time. 🙂
That would work too. I was considering it myself, but I wanted my skirt to be all basic black.
I told my daughter about your fix and she loved it She said next time I have to try it your way first. 🙂
😀
I haven’t done the Cambie yet, or any other pattern of her’s other than this skirt. I do like the look of her trench coat! Thanks for the tips on the bodice. I have the Oakridge top and I am sure I will have to be careful when I do that one!
I often tweak the fullness of a skirt if I don’t have quite enough fabric as intended by the designer. And I’ve made up two Sewaholic patterns: the Cambie (twice) and the PJ pants. I’m impressed with the fit through the hips, but the Cambie bodice has been a nightmare to fit both times. I always have to do and FBA and rotate the darts – even for my 11 year old! But overall, I really like them. Her Robson trench is in my queue…
When we are short on fabric, we sure can get innovative, no? Love your skirt and the top together. Since the Sewaholic patterns have such a narrow size range I have never opted to try them as neither me nor my clients stop at the end size range and with them being designed for a B cup and a very young figure, it is not worth altering the paper.
Thank you! Although some people might consider me to be stubborn, not innovative! 😀 Yes, I do find indie designers to be different, from each other and from the big pattern companies. You always have to pay attention to what you are buying.