… but I had a chance to sew too!
I was cutting out my DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER outfit, when I realized that I did not have any lining in my fabric stash at all! Oh poor me, this meant a trip to the fabric shop on Black Friday weekend!
I found this lovely lining. I wish I had written down the fabric content. If I don’t, it’s impossible for me to remember afterwards. The most I can remember is that it was mostly “Bamberg something” with a bit of polyester. That’s all I can remember. But it’s going to look and feel lovely inside my DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER skirt.
I have found the pattern I would like to use to copy my DESIGNER ORIGINAL.
Of course, I am going to have to make some alterations to my pattern – New Look 6433, view A, a simple pencil skirt. I don’t really like wearing pencil skirts so I look forward to making the zipper modification – I suppose that would be called a gusset zipper.
I cut out the skirt front and back and sewed the waist line darts EXCEPT for the one on the right front – that was replaced by a seam with a 5/8″ seam allowance.
See on the left a dart and on the right the basted seam.
I pinned my zipper on the inside of that basted seam, right side down and with the closed end at the top of my skirt. I made sure to leave a 3″ properly sewn seam at the top of my zipper, then my zipper reached all the way to the 24″ length of the skirt. Right where I wanted my hem to be. I love the pull on this zipper. It’s so obvious!
After the zipper was sewn in, I snipped open the basted seam carefully.
I now have a working (upside down) zipper in my skirt.
Now for the gusset inside. I’ve done gusset zippers before here, but I had forgotten until this writing. I cut a strip of fabric much wider than I would want my opening to be, just to be safe, ironed a centre line into it, and placed both zipper edges on that centre line. Then I carefully dragged one side out 3″ at the bottom, making sure that all the way up the zipper the gap narrowed. I suppose I could have drawn that line on the gusset itself, but I was having difficulty finding a fabric marker that would erase afterwards.
I carefully dragged the other side out the exact same distance from the centre line and pinned it too.
I flipped my skirt front over for a peek at the wrong side and found that my gusset was actually the right size to accommodate a 6″ opening at the bottom. After sewing it in, I trimmed the excess away and zig zagged the edges so they wouldn’t fray.
My zipper works! Up and down! Ohh! I have choices!
As I said, it was Black Friday weekend shopping. I could purchase all the fabric I liked at 50% off. But besides my lining, this was my only other purchase. I bought this 100% rayon. It feels lovely. I can’t wait to make a dress out of it … someday!
I really behaved myself Black Friday weekend shopping! (Although, my brother-in-law figures I have permission to go nuts now during the after Christmas/Labour Day sales week. We shall see!)
Did you add to your fabric stash this weekend? or were you cutting and sewing?
Happy Sewing!
Bemberg rayon. Man-made from cellulose fibers. 😊 And feels glorious! Good choice for a cool project.
Thanks for the help!
What an interesting design! You executed it perfectly. Black Friday isn’t really a thing here in Australia, though I added to my pattern collection and bought a bunch of PDF patterns!
Yes, lots of people here in Canada don’t consider it a thing neither. The stores push it to try to get sales. But sometimes it’s not much of a sale, so you have to be careful.
Huge fan of adding zippers to skirts, this looks amazing, and so wearable! I love seeing a piece and then making it my own using what I have! Also…designin’ December?! How do I get in on this! Right up my street!
This is the first time for an added zipper in a skirt for me and I really like the look! I’ll send out a detailed DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER post again the beginning of December but the idea is to pick a Designer original of any kind of garment, or accessory, and copy it yourself. I will be posting all December your Designer original photos and your copies and you post on your blog, or IG, or whatever, your details about your Designer original and your handmade copy. It’s a link up party between us. I probably have a few posts in the last few months/years explaining the details if you search for DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER. We’d be happy to have you join in!
Beautiful fabric choice! This is so cute!
Thank you!
Actually both fabrics were given to me by a friend doing a “clear out”. I’m not even positive of their fabric content… but I don’t care! I like them.
Great skirt. I love the idea of the zip and the gusset behind.
Ah! That’s the joy of it. I copied a Designer original. Not my idea, but the skirt is mine now!
It looks great – I really love this idea.
Thanks! I’m glad I saw the Designer original – it was a lovely idea!
That’s sooo nice, Linda, I love it! You’ve made a really great, personalized version of an interesting designer garment. Zippers still frighten me a tad, so I won’t be doing anything so involved as your snazzy skirt. 🙂
Thank you! I was quite surprised that the zipper went together so well here, but then again it isn’t being sewn into a small trousers’ fly front so it wasn’t as difficult! I hope no one feels pressured here – make a copy of what you want and enjoy it!
No pressure….other than that which is self-imposed! 🙂
I know what you mean! 😖
This is a fantastic design for a skirt – really interesting. I do like your fabric choices too – I think they’re much nicer than the original. You’ve been very restrained about Black Friday – it’s getting to be a bigger thing here in the UK.
The only thing I thought weird about the Designer original was that the waist band is not the same fabric as the skirt. Well that’s how it appears to me anyway. I did love the design of having an open zipper in the skirt though! Black Friday comes at a strange time for me. I’m happy I saved my money for Christmas shopping!
Yes, I though that the waist band looked a little strange – a bit out of place somehow. Think you’re fabric combinations work better actually.
Thank you!
Really interesting use of a zip – I have filed that away in my head for future reference
It was a lovely design, wasn’t it!
I didn’t add to my fabric stash but I added to my colour marker collection. That red plaid skirt with the red insert looks HOT. I’m looking forward to seeing you model the finished product.
Well considering you have thousands of marker colours to chose from, you have a lot of purchases to make in the future! Good for you on adding to your marker stash! And thank you for the compliments.
I do love that zipper insert concept and the material contrast is beautiful. My sewing abilities are poor, I was thinking about you as I thumbed through “very expensive” outfits on a store rack on Black Friday. Another lovely outfit in progress.
Well the zipper insert concept belongs to a designer, Chloe. I was very happy to be able to “borrow” it! But thank you for your kind compliments!
Skirt is looking great. I have been sewing for 40 years but I am still a lining novice.
Thanks! I am finding quite a lot of “modern” styles don’t ask for linings in the pattern instructions, etc. If I want linings I have to add them in myself… so often I don’t use a lining. I was wondering with this one if the wool would stick to my tights though, so I thought I would give it a try. After all for a skirt, it just means making two skirts and attaching them at the waist band!
Great skirt!
Thank you! It’s getting there.
What an amazing skirt. It really is such an eye-catching design and your version is much nicer than the original, the colours are fab. Xx
Thank you! I had never seen or even thought of making a skirt with a decorative zipper until I saw this. I’m glad I had fabrics in my stash that were just perfect for the job!
You ventured out on Black Friday…I’m impressed! 🙂
I was working Black Friday, like everyone. That’s why they extended it to the weekend – still not very busy or any big deal. But Hey! It was a fabric shop. I would quite possibly go there in a snow storm!
I love the look of this skirt and I’m looking forward to seeing you model it. I didn’t buy anything in the sales when I was in London but I bought one pattern, from a local designer (Megan Nielsen patterns).
Thank you. I’ve heard of Megan Nielsen patterns, but I can’t remember what or where now – I’ll google it! 🙂
Love your zipper….what kind or brand is it? Certainly can’t find anything that cool in San Antonio, but I’m sure it could be found online. Let me know!!
Thanks! It says on the tag: “Costumakers” One Way Separating Activewear Medium weight. Good luck in your hunt!