A skirt #1541 - my February project

In keeping with my resolution for 2015 (to make something for myself or a gift for someone every month this year), my project for February is a pleather skirt.

Since I'm also very intent in clearing away all the excess stuff in my life, I'm going to to my best to use fabrics from my, now reduced, stash.

This is the nicest feeling fake leather and I have quite a bit left. 

I used it for both the boot toppers in this pattern last year.

I'm using this Amazing Fit pattern which I think is a good choice for a pleather skirt. And since it is an Amazing Fit pattern, there are 3 hip options. There is NO way I would need the slim option. So, I will be determining whether to use "average" or "curvy".

This fabric has zero give in it and the there is very little wearing ease in this pattern, just 2" at the hip. So I very carefully measure myself and check again the finished garment measurements on the pattern pieces.

Now this is where it gets confusing and even though these Amazing Fit pattern are amazing, I had to not quite exactly follow the instructions.  My measurement indicate that I should use the "curvy" pattern for the back. BUT, I learned when I had Deborah Kreiling fit me in a pair of Amazing Fit pants last year, the the curvy hip they are making these patterns for is curvy in the back while I am curvy on the side ... the thigh area to be exact. When I made my pants muslin in using the curvy pattern it was laughably baggy in the back.

You can see that the "average" pattern has one back waist dart ...

and the "curvy" pattern has 2 darts at the waist. This makes the back very round. I even though my hips are wide, my backside is rather flat. SO ...

I am going to use the "average" pattern piece but then widen it out where my hips are wide on the sides of the front and the back pieces.

Now I can cut. Because this fabric is vinyl I will use weights to hold the pattern down, so I don't pin into the fabric any more than necessary.

I sew up the front seams.

Press them to the center and top stitch.

Then after  finishing assembling the back and front I prepare the skirt for fitting by pinning the side seams facing outward, which the pattern says to do. 

What I'm doing differently than the pattern is ... pinning instead of sewing the sides because I think a sewn seam will leave quite a mark on vinyl fabric if I need to change it after fitting. I  also pinned up the back where the zipper will go and left the side seam open to put the skirt on. I am fitting myself and I wouldn't be able to see in the back to pin accurately after I put it on.

I use very thin pins to do this. Again because I don't want to leave a lot of holes in the vinyl.

The fit is pretty good.

So, before taking it off, I open the seam allowance and mark where all the pins are ...


to be continued.  Hope I can finish it this weekend.


But, you know, it feels kind of sticky to wear. The pattern doesn't call for a lining, but I'm thinking about putting one in ... stay tuned.