Thursday 2 June 2016

Class success - a cotton skirt, Simplicity 2258

I started a 10-week dressmaking course in January, and chose to make Simplicity 2258 in the class.

Finished skirt


Pattern: Simplicity 2258. It has a lot of pieces so not quite as easy as some beginner patterns. It's an elasticated skirt but has cleverly constructed fold-back pockets, and ties to hide the elastic, which makes it more interesting.

Love the pockets
Fabric: Lightweight 100% cotton from Hickeys, about €7 per metre.

Fit: Took it in 1 cm on each side, and added 4 inches extra to the hem, although most of this was incorporated into the hem which is 4 cm folded up twice. It was still a bit wide but once the elastic was added it was fine. I think there's a lot of ease in the pattern though.

The skirt folds up into nothing so will be perfect for summer holidays
Changes: The seams on the inside of the pockets are enclosed (French seam style). The seams on the waistband are also enclosed. These improvements were suggested by the lady giving the course. She also recommended a wide hem and showed me how to slip stitch properly as I made a bit of a dog's dinner of it first time round.

Overall: Learnt about trimming and clipping, attaching waistbands and hemming with the invisible slip stitch.

Wearability: I've worn it to work already. However, the cotton sticks like crazy to black tights, welding my legs together when I walk fast. I would need a slip or to go bare-legged to feel fully comfortable, but I'm more likely to wear it sans slip with the black tights again :). Although if this heatwave keeps up I may rethink that.


I like the extra detail that the ties add, as well as the curve of the pockets