A Taupe Notch Skirt!
11 August 2008, 13:11This has got to be the quickest ever turnaround for a fabric purchase. I bought a remnant of taupe big wale corduroy on Thursday at Goldhawk Road for a pound, sent it through the washer on Friday, hung it out to dry overnight on Friday, and had sewn it up into a new skirt by Saturday dinnertime! It didn’t even see my stash box!
A few months ago I set myself the task of scanning in all the index pages of my pattern magazines (it’s easier now that I can just scan one at a time as they arrive) so I find it’s a lot easier to look through all my back issues for hidden gems when they’re all easily available online. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed BWOF 10/2006 #118 if I hadn’t scanned it in – I remember not liking much from this issue when I bought it – I only really got it for the included menswear section.
But on second inspection, I just loved the pockets and the tabbed waistband and how cute and quick it’d be, and for once, I even found the exact fabric they suggested! My remnant wasn’t quite enough fabric to make the nap and grainline run in the fun ways they suggested, though, so my waistband looks a tad different, and my tabs are about an inch shorter than theirs. But in the end, my pile of throwaway remains had nothing bigger than 3 inches by 6 inches! I love it when that happens!
I’m also extremely chuffed again with my invisible zipper application (it’s in the left sideseam, in that last photo above). I’ve been following a 2-pass method described in the July 2005 issue of Threads that has really made all the difference. Essentially, you sew down one side anywhere on the tape, making sure the zipper is aligned and curved nicely to the seam edge, then unzip it and sew down that same side again, but this time unfurling the teeth with your fingers and getting really, really close to the teeth. Since the zipper’s already attached from the first pass, you don’t have to worry about it moving at all. And then you do the same for the other side of the zipper. This method only uses a standard zipper foot, and I get much better results this way than I ever did with a speciality invisible zipper foot!
All in all, there’s nothing I don’t love about this skirt – it’s a great length, fits snugly on the hips, has great big stylish pleated pockets, and clean line in the back. In fact, it’s almost a “reverse mullet” – party in the front, and business in the back!
Tags: bwof, corduroy, skirt
Skirt as mullet! I love it! I also just love the skirt— it’s cooled off over here (in the DC area) and I’m thinking of fall…
— Sara Aug 11, 02:45 PM #
great looking skirt. And I’m amazed that you’re having weather that obviously you can put on corduroy and tights. Must be lovely and cool there!
— marji Aug 11, 03:01 PM #
I saw you review over on PR and immediately made a note to look this one up when I get home. Great skirt. I’m with Sara, the weather is starting to cool off here and I’m already working on fall clothes.
— cidell Aug 11, 03:48 PM #
cute! isn’t it funny how archiving burda helps you to find so many new things! I archived mine via Flickr and it has worked out well.
— Peacock Chic Aug 11, 03:53 PM #
I really like this model too! And it looks great on you! This color looks awesome paired with most the bright colors so this makes for a very versatile wardrobe piece!
— Tany Aug 11, 04:24 PM #
I love all those details. Great job. Hee hee, “reverse mullet”. I am so using that.
— dawn Aug 11, 04:31 PM #
Those back issues of Burda are treasure troves, I need to somehow index my old issues as well. You’ll get a lot of wear out of that skirt, and it only cost a pound? Sheesh.
— christina Aug 11, 04:45 PM #
Thanks for sharing how you sewed the invisible zipper. I’ve tried a couple of times and always find it so tricky. But your/Threads’ method makes it sound so easy. Now what to do with that special foot I bought… :(
— Jujubee Aug 11, 06:11 PM #
I love this skirt. It could be out of the Boden catalogue! It looks so good on you.
— Catherine Aug 11, 06:27 PM #
Cute skirt!
— Linda L Aug 12, 11:27 AM #
Really really nice.
— Elizabeth Aug 12, 03:07 PM #
Blimey that is a quick turnaround! It’s a great fit too. No messin’
— Lisa Lam Aug 13, 01:04 PM #
I love it, too. It’s helped by the fact I love corduroy and skirts of this classic line.
— Hana - Marmota Aug 13, 03:11 PM #