A number of years ago I purchased a fringed skirt from a Pendleton Wool Women’s Apparel catalogue. I loved it when it arrived at my door – the fabric was soft and beautiful and the styling was a simple A-line skirt. Even though I ordered a Petite in my regular size, I should have sent it back for a smaller one; it was just too baggy and too long, even when paired with boots.
The skirt before it’s make-over – very baggy.
Over the years I kept moving it back and forth from my cedar closet with the change of seasons, but I had found myself not wearing it, and wishing I could. So this year, when once again it emerged out of the cedar depths for the trek into my bedroom closet, I made the decision to do something about it. I would remake it. I’m not sure what took me so long to come to this decision, but I was certainly inspired by the fringed Pendleton wool dress featured in one of my recent posts:
The winner of this category of the Make It With Wool contest built her outfit around a piece of black fringed Pendleton wool. (Threads, January 2013, page 52)
First I took out the zipper. Then I picked out the seam connecting the waist facing to the body of the skirt. I set the lining/skirt facing sections aside and tackled the skirt.
I had to determine the exact length I wanted the skirt to be, and work up from there. Since it was not just length that needed to be adjusted, but also the all around fit, I knew I needed to use a reliable skirt pattern to re-cut the front and back sections. I was so happy with the fit of the slim skirt I had just made, that it was an easy decision to go with that again. I determined the straight grain of the front and back sections and put the muslin sections on top.
The muslin pattern placed on the front and back skirt sections.
Making sure I have the finished hemline placed correctly.
Since this skirt would not be underlined, I had to transfer the new seam and dart lines with chalk directly onto the wool fabric. I measured again and again to make sure I had the right length (since I certainly could not make adjustments to the fringed end!) Then I cut, sewed darts and side seams. I put a new zipper in by hand.
The new hand-picked zipper.
Then I was ready to remake the lining. This was simpler, as I could use the existing waist facing (just taking it in a bit), which was still basically attached to the lining, and work from the top down. I split open the side seams, took them in commensurate to the re-cut skirt front and back, and re-sewed them. Once the facing was reattached, all I had to do was cut off and re-sew the lining hem, and then slipstitch the lining around the zipper.
The re-made lining back inside the skirt, label intact.
My new, old skirt.
A back view.
I am so happy with this re-make. It’s the perfect skirt to pair with a sweater and tights – and that fringe around the hem makes it fun to wear and just a step above the commonplace.
Now it’s back to sewing from “scratch.”
POST SCRIPT: I’m delighted to say that Cissie is the winner of my first give-away – the very small Little Black Dress. Cissie – please send your delivery information to fiftydresses@gmail.com and I’ll get your very small package in the mail right away!
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