Monday, October 13, 2014

Not quite New Look 6103 - Lace Pencil Skirt

Hey peoples :-) It's been SUPER rainy and gloomy around here these days so I've been holding this skirt hostage until I got some better weather to take pics. Not real hostage though because I wore it the same day I finished it... 3 weeks ago lol I just haven't been able to get the pics.

My aunt's birthday was on the last weekend of September. I had this elaborate plan of making this linen shift dress with a full lining and and and invisible zipper with some other trims and pattern modifications. As life went on, I only had 2 out of 7 days to start and finish the dress so that did NOT happen. What I knew I'd be able to accomplish, though, was a basic pencil skirt.

Or maybe not so basic. This is New Look 6103.
....Kinda.


I was going through my stash looking for a WOVEN pencil skirt that had a waistband. I new I was going to be making quite a few modifications made quite a few modifications. I had this inspiration photo that I was working off of.
close, no?

So I went in my stash and tried to dig up some lace with a selvage design and some fabric underline it with. I used some remnants that I found from JoAnn's. Seriously, don't sleep on the remnant bin. The underlining is 1yd of stretch black satin for $6.50. I had 2 remnants of the lace (0.417 yd & .625 yd) respectively $1.65 and $2.50 respectively. To keep up the calculations, the exposed zipper cost 80 cents and the invisible zipper cost $1.25.  From 3 remnants and some zips from Panama I have a skirt for $12.70. Probably would cost a bit more in a boutique lol


The modifications I made:
cut the skirt back on the fold
put a seam in the skirt front with an exposed zipper
peg the skirt front and back
added a side seam invisible zipper
cut an arc on the skirt front.






I didn't make the arch as high as the inspiration pic. Honestly, I'm not quite sure how she sits in hers because when I sat down, the skirt was PRETTY mini lol It's kind of hard to see the texture from the pictures so I added some flat pics of the skirt.
ETA: I learned how to install the exposed zipper from this link.





I have some questions to the more advanced sewers.  This is the second garment where I've tried to install an invisible zipper in a four way intersection (vertical and horizontal seam). It's been pretty difficult for me to to install it cleanly with all of the bulk. I was starting to think that maybe I was only supposed to do a lapped zipper but then I saw an invisible one on a RTW skirt that I have. Same thing with a waistband. If you have any advice to offer, please do :-)

Anyway, that's all I've got going on with this skirt.  Haven't really been sewing much lately unfortunately but I will be doing some binge pattern cutting tomorrow so that I can be ready when my sewing space is available again.

Be back 'round here soon!
xoxo, Tasha

7 comments:

  1. Those are really tricky fabrics to work with and you did such a fantastic job! I love the way the arch holds its shape and the finish on it - what is it there- a sort of bias edging? Those pesky zipper insertions bum me out too. Can't wait to see the results of your binge pattern cutting ;)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sasha! For the arch I actually just folded under, stitched, and pressed REALLY well lol

      What do you do when you hit that zipper problem??

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  2. I love that this is your basic black skirt! You are just too fabulous! I think you did a great job recreating your inspiration skirt, and I agree with Sasha, you were working with some tricky fabrics, so well done! You look amazing and it turned out awesome! Invisible zips are always a bit touch and go for me too. Sometimes, for whatever reason, they just don't want to behave!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I think one of my strengths is my ignorance lol I kind of just jump into things without the knowledge and apprehension that they're difficult lol It's been working so far lol
      And it's weird. I have NO problem with them on a straight seam, but add in that intersection and I'm just at a loss.

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  3. Hi Tasha. Love the skirt. Great job. As for the zip, you may want to grade the intersecting seams as much as possible without losing the strength/integrity of them. It's also a good idea to reinforce them before grading. Also you may want to prep the zip prior to installing. It does help to lightly press it and if it's going into a curved area shape it over a pressing ham.

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  4. Thanks for sharing your fab creation with Visible Monday!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! :-D
I read each one and I do my best to respond to each of them personally :-)

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