Thursday, May 17, 2012

Skirt Failure

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Skirt body dismorphia has struck again!  For the third time, I've made a skirt that ended up being waaaaaay too small for me.  Like the other two times, I was cocky and didn't try it on until it was ready for a zipper.  I only wasted an hour and a thrifted bedsheet, but I actually really LIKE this skirt!  I'm bummed I won't be able to wear it.

I didn't use a pattern.  Instead, I measured my new favorite skirt and used the dimensions for that.  It measured 36" across and has 18 total pleats at 1 1/4th inch each.

Now, I know you are all thinking that I should just let out each pleat a little bit and it will fit perfectly.  Well, like the favorite skirt, I topstitched over all of the pleats.

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And then ironed everything down.  I COULD let it out, but it would be a gigantic pain.  I'm not sure if I'm up for it.  I'm definitely going to attempt this style of skirt again, but next time I will make sure I try it on before I topstitch every pleat in place!  I'm mad at myself for making such a stupid mistake.  The waist fits fine, but it's too tight in the hips because I sewed the pleats too straight.  Sure enough, I turned my favorite skirt inside out and they sort of "fan" out a little.

Lesson learned.

12 comments:

  1. Well, it LOOKS great, even if it doesn't fit! :D

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  2. That's such a bummer because this skirt is pretty stinking cute. Love the way the flowers are placed.... Oh well. Maybe you can gift it to someone?

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  3. Can't you just cut the top 2 inches or so off, so the hole is larger? or is it too drastically small for that? (that is how I refashion too small skirts form charity shops.)

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    1. That's what I do too, and I thought about it, but I would lose so much of the length. I like my summer skirts on the longer side and it's the perfect length. I folded it over to where it would fit and it was very cheerleader-y and commercial looking.

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    2. I didn't hem it. I used a sheet and it was pre-hemmed! Taking it down sounds like more trouble than letting out a few pleats.

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    3. Amy, you could give it to your new friend, Pat, that you met in GA last weekend. She is pretty small!

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  4. And who is coming to your town the end of June.

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  5. Amy - there is someone in my area selling thousands of patterns for a buck each. The Craigslist ad says they are from the 70's to present. Are you interested in any 70's patterns?

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    1. Pat! Hi!! I'm so glad you found me. That's exciting that you're coming up to Milwaukee!

      The skirt will probably be too big for you. Right now it's 29" at the waist and 36" hips. I think you're way smaller than that.

      70's really aren't my thing. Too bad they weren't a little older!

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    2. I'm with you - I am old enough to have sewn some of those 70's patterns and I don't want to do them again. That was not a good decade for fashion. Neither was the 80's come to think of it. Where did you find such a cool sheet to make that skirt?

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  6. Oh man, that's such a shame! The skirt looks lovely and the pleats are a great detail! I hate when these kind of things happen :o(

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