Kathy’s swatches are never far from my mind…………well they are in plain sight all the time in the workroom, and I wanted to try a skirt with the embroidered linen pieces ( as in February’s skort, which did not turn out as well as I had hoped due to the differing fabric weights and is most probably heading to become a cushion if I ever get started on the domestic sewing.) The embroidered swatch has a lot of weight and stiffness in it.
The polyester crepe trousers are not really santa trousers, but as I got them in the charity shop on a euro rail a week before Christmas, all I could think when I saw them was Santa pants. The fit of them and cut is lovely, but I think the colour as trousers could be a challenge for some, me included. The weight of the fabric is good and seems to fall well so I figured it should work with the linen. The trousers had a strong crease, and I ironed/pressed it flat using a 50:50 vinegar water spitz.
The ever versatile vogue pattern 7776 was brought out again – the back panels were cut from the back of trousers (pattern placed ‘up side down’ so side flare of skirt was going towards the crotch. I had to make an educated guess on the grain as the crepe was not going to rip correctly, so I chalked a line and laid the centre back line on this.
I sewed the front panels together before cutting the front as I wanted the front darts to be in the crepe, not the linen piece. The front darts panel was cut from trouser end piece, and cut on the ‘cross grain’. I thought the crepe and linen mix was a bit flat, so I had a scrap of embroidered raw silk I put at the end. I had toyed with including it on the back skirt but didn’t, I pinned some across, and it seemed to be the same difference whether I did or not, so I used it to face the hem on the back of the skirt instead. I put the skirt together to make sure it hung correctly, and then I top stitched, added zip, hemmed, and then made the facing and lining attached. The lining is from another skirt. Whenever I take pieces apart, the linings are put into a bag and I can take them as I need them, and the left over reds….. they will make a handy addition to the planned patchwork!
Overall, the skirt has turned out perfect, the back hem is basted and I will let it hang for a few days. The weather here is still very cold so it will not get out for a few weeks yet!
Overall, the skirt has turned out perfect, the back hem is basted and I will let it hang for a few days. The weather here is still very cold so it will not get out for a few weeks yet!
upsew 
You are a genius recycler!
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aw, thanks Lynn, wish I was that genius-y (as sometimes I think I am a bit conservative), but I really enjoy prolonging the life out of fabrics and making a wardrobe for myself in the colours and cut I like in the process, what started as a whim last year has turned out to be a lot more productive than I thought! (and incredibly addictive!)
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