double denim skirt – The refashioners 2016

My workroom has become awash with denim……between the last few makes, I have also been picking up more jeans from ‘the euro rail’ (yup the local charity shop had to reduce all jeans to 1 euro to clear them out a few weeks ago….on one hand I gain by getting so much raw material so cheaply, but on the other hand it shows the levels of overconsumption…)

I had been meaning to try a skirt, as I have a good few dresses for winter, but want to try a skirt so I can mix and match with trousers and sweaters.  I had doodled about some ideas, and in the end the main contenders were…………………….

the refashioners 2016 Upsew Skirt ideas

It was pretty much playing about with some graphic shapes, the first being ‘the drawing exercise’ (is it a silhouette of a couple or a candle-stick…) and  then going between 2 colour and 3 colour options. I decided to go for the jigsaw idea, though now with hindsight, I probably would have found drawing 3, 4 or 9 easier with the straight lines.

 

The dark denim was from a dress I did last year from a pair of jeans, I didn’t wear it much and figured most of it would go into making the skirt.  The light denim was from another pair of jeans from ‘the euro rail’ (the reduced rail).   I used an a-line skirt pattern I had, and divided it into 3 parts along the dart lines.  I added the shapes to one side, and added seam allowance onto that.

 

jigsaw cutout
jigsaw cutout
jigsaw cut out
left over
faced waist band

 

The centre front and other side ended up being joined together and cut rather crudely from the dress front and dress back as there was insufficient fabric.  It is not on grain but the seam line is relatively evenly matched and I figured I could get away with it given the fabric weight, and weave.

I placed the jigsaw shape side over the dark denim, pinned in place, and top-sewed in place – I was more organised with the second jigsaw panel, I clipped the curved edges before I turned it over with a tacking stitched, then pinned and top-stitched  They are not perfect curves, but as it was a bit of an experiment, and a casual skirt, I am fine with this (and given my increasing need for glasses, I probably am well able to overlook it!).  I used a zip from one of the pairs of jeans, and the inside leg scrap from the light denim for a curved waist facing.

skirt front
double denim skirt side
double denim with linen

Its a knee length skirt, and probably best suited for summer.  Knee length is a funny length for me, I am experimenting teaming it up with different shoes/boots/tops and have not settled on a ‘winter’ look, as tights look a bit odd from the light denim sided….. but I don’t want to cut it short either…..

Iam also thinking of trying some of these graphic skirts for some wools off-cuts, which would work out well indeed.

 

 

 

 

17 thoughts on “double denim skirt – The refashioners 2016”

  2. Clare McGivern says:
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    What a fun skirt Eimear! I really liked the 6th option too….I’d love to see it in wool.All this refashioning is inspiring but so far I’m too lazy….maybe after my holiday I’ll get going on this.

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    • theupsew says:
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      Thanks Clare, I volunteer in a sewing room once a week and I brought it in to do as its very quiet at the moment and as i am not at home I don’t get as distracted so I flew thru it! I dont know when I will get to the next skirt as I am trying to get started on a coat – which I have great hopes for so I hope it meets expectations……………(yes with you on option 6- it has a great mod feel…)

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    • theupsew says:
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      Thanks so much Aimee, when I was doodling them out I was reminded of your fab skirt with the large pockets! (and now wish I had put pockets of some form in this) I turned the edges under – and I am happy with how it turned out despite the footwear conundrum! I am now packing the denim bits away for a while, as Irish Dancing year has started up again so I am doing an alteration for a long leggedy niece!

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    • theupsew says:
      Reply

      Thanks Carolyn, and I am sorry I should have explained better and have re-edited! – the ‘euro rail’ is where the charity shop puts all items to a euro.(dont know what that is in aussie dollar but you can buy a litre of milk for 75cent so its really crazy to think clothes get reduced to this)…. so.either they decide one day that all jeans or dresses are 1 euro, or reduce random pieces and put them on a rail….. a lot has to do with that there is so much volume really. I always feel by the time pieces get to a euro rail, no-one really wants them and they are nearer to landfill or being shipped off…. so I tend to check there first as I am only ever looking for fabric not fit! I tend to be rather restrained with charity shop buying as I used pick up more than I could sew, but I made an exception for the jeans and stockpiled about 8 pairs!!!!

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  7. sewitorthrowit says:
    Reply

    I, too, am glad you explained the euro rail. I was picturing a train.
    This skirt is great, and your sketches are fun: graphic and playful. The version you made is my favorite of the sketches. I also really like number five, and I bet you could incorporate a pocket into the detail on number six if you wanted.

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    • theupsew says:
      Reply

      Oh gosh, that train sounds more exciting than the truth! the ‘euro rail’ is a bit of a new thing in the charity shops here – they have too much stuff all the time….and I have to be careful not to bring it all home! a second one of these skirts is on the list (which is so so long)

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