Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Skirt fail: Vogue 1170

Don't let these photos fool you.  I chose the wrong fabric for this skirt.  It's a lovely tangerine colored stretch cotton pique that would have been better suited to a pencil skirt, fitted dress, or jacket.  It doesn't have enough drape for this skirt.  I thought I could use it because the recommended fabrics are lightweight wool flannel, lightweight denim and lightweight crepe.  I think the key word there is "lightweight."

What should have been a fun and flippy skirt is a skirt that is shaped like a fluted bell.  A full-bodied fluted bell that will not be moved.  The fabric is way too stiff.  The flounce in the back falls awkwardly.  On my skirt, the center of the flounce is inverted and the sides stick out awkwardly.  The envelope illustration shows that it should fall oppositely -- the sides should be inverted and the center stick out.




Betcha think I'm twirling!  I'm not.

Aside from my tragic fabric choice, I went all out in construction (which took a while because I was in and out of town) with bound seams.  I even did my best to find an orange zipper in my stash.



Still, I like the shape of this skirt and the seam detailing.  I might sew this again but in a fabric with the right amount of drape and a lot less body.

10 comments:

  1. Hey - it looks gorgeous from the inside. I've done that before...in fact, I finally cleaned out my closet and removed approximately 95% of the things I sewed during the first year of my sewing exploits.

    Yup. They all completely suck. Wrong fabric, wrong thread tension, unfinished seams, etc etc etc.

    Maybe you can turn this into a Lady Gaga Halloween costume? She's been known to wear some pretty "stiff/sticking out" skirts.

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  2. its all a learning experience, I understand fabric now so many choices are much better than when I started. I think you have to make a lot of bad choices to get experience.

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  3. Oh that stinks. You know I've had bad luck with using too heavy a material for a skirt, so I totally sympathize. Pretend you meant it as a muslin?! ;)

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  4. Oh well at least you know it fits when you make it in the right fabric. It looks fine in the picture - but I did read your caution on this.

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  5. You did put a lot of work into your skirt. The inside looks so professional.

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  6. I did the same thing a few weeks ago with a different skirt pattern, haven't got around to blogging it yet but the finished skirt was a disaster! It does look like a cute skirt pattern though, maybe washing it a million times will soften it up (she says optimistically). Definitely worth making another one when you can face it.

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  7. It's a great style on you and the inside finishing it impeccable! Sorry that it didn't work out... I know how disappointing that is. You should definitely make it again when the right fabric come along!

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  8. So pretty on the inside! I think we all know the pain of a fail. Acknowledging it is the hardest part.

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  9. The shape is great on you, and so is the colour. Shame it looks like it's made of plastic (though that would be great if it was the look you were aiming for!)

    I feel for you. Better luck next time.

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  10. Would it be possible to build shape with darts or additional seams, into the bottom flounce to bring the profile back to that of a pencil skirt? I know it is frustrating now, so stash this project until next spring or summer when the color works and you can look at it calmly. On the other hand, if it was inexpensive fabric, consider it a muslin and know the pattern fits.

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