On Improvising When Sewing a Skirt

When one goes to sew a skirt there are specific guidelines that one attempts to stick to, but often other factors get in the way and lead to the need for improvisation.

Having enough fabric is one thing that most consider. Generally this is thought of when buying the fabric in regards to how much the pattern calls for. Other people, like myself, become enamored with the fabric, instantly decide that it would make a wonderful skirt (with a fleeting thought of looking through patterns later), and when getting to the counter to request 3 yards, only to find that there are about 2 yards, still feel confident that there will be sufficient fabric to make a skirt. In reality, one should not feel this confident unless they are an expert seamstress, but excitement and over determination often prevent this thought from coming to mind.

Once the fabric is home and has been washed, one can happily sit down with their shoebox full of patterns and select one such as this:



Eloise, because she looks like her name would be Eloise, is quite proud of her bolero and skirt. Evelyn in the background is too. (Simplicity Pattern 3773, 1951)

Finding the pattern piece to be too long, it is decided that the skirt can do with being a bit shorter and the pattern is folded at the base. It is then discovered when placing said pattern on the fabric that there is only enough fabric when cutting with the selvage to cut out six sections, not the called for eight, and one decides that having a smaller waist than the measurements given for the skirt that this is acceptable. Alas, when two panels of three sections have been sewn together, a quick attempt to hold and wrap them around one’s waist proves that six was not sufficient and there is the need for another section.

Ready to be sewn together!

Now begins the great debate as to what should be done about this misfortune. One, a second visit can be made to the fabric store to search for more of the same fabric, pointless in this case because there wasn’t any. Two, the entire project can be resigned to the “failed dress pile”, which is a rather sad fate for it. Or, three, find a way to make another panel. Choosing the later of the three may make it seem as though the only other option is to select a complimentary color fabric, which brings about a  great deal of frustration as one tries to find an exact match. However, there is a solution for this situation! With the remaining bit of fabric that was cast aside after the cutting of the other pieces and by folding the pattern in half one finds that there is enough remaining fabric to cut multiple pieces and sew them together to create a full size piece to match the others!

Improvised Section

From this point everything should go swimmingly as far as piecing it all together to form the actual skirt. It is when reaching the attachment of the snaps and hooks and eyes that one again begins to flounder a bit. First there is the finding of these supplies and if one is using vintage supplies and has them on hand they are apt to be of different types, sizes, and colors. Since they are on the inside of the skirt, though one should not worry and just be happy that they have something with which to make the skirt stay on.  After whatever is being used has been decided upon then comes the positioning of the snaps, which is fairly easy, and the hooks and eyes, which are not so easy to attach and hard to hold in place when trying to do so. Never-the-less, after struggling with this step one should have a beautiful skirt to wear at home or out and about! ♥

Finished!