Hello all!

I really don’t have that many skirts in my wardrobe and this was part of my effort to remedy that. I bought the Apparel Arts Building Patterns book a few months ago (which is a pattern drafting book) and I’ve been making my way through drafting all of the different blocks. This project was the push I needed to draft the skirt block from this book.

The pattern itself took no time to draft at all. It’s so nice to be able to use your measurements right from the start and know that it’s already going to fit better than a standard sized pattern. I extended the CF slightly to allow for the buttons and then it was time for cutting out!

Fabric-wise I wanted to use leftover scraps of this blue linen, and I only just managed to eke the pattern pieces out by reducing the seam allowances from 1.5cm to 1cm. The sewing process went super quickly up until my housemate MK asked about pockets and I realised that it really needed them to make the skirt less boring. So then I went back to my linen, cut some pockets out, bagged them out with a nice floral lining, unpicked my side seams, topstitched them on and sewed my side seams back up. Voila, a much more interesting skirt.

The buttons are repurposed from another dress that I never wore. The bottom button is missing due to a piggyback scenario on the walk in which these photos were taken. I really think the pockets and the buttons make this skirt!

I do want to analyse these wrinkles from the back of the skirt and work out which issue they are indicating.

All in all, its a really solid summer skirt and has fit seamlessly into my wardrobe! I’m currently imaging a longer version with flowing side slits…

Thanks so much for reading!

Lauren xx