16 May The New Forty – Garment Number 14
It’s been a while since I’ve refashioned, and I don’t know why. The deconstruction process is always informative, no instructions = freedom to be creative, and since I’ve got nothing invested in the project I’m generally game to try new styles and techniques.
Who knows how long this old Banana Republic bias cut linen skirt has been stashed in a closet. I think my mother found it at a thrift shop.
After washing and drying the skirt to shrink it, I fit the skirt to my waist and removed the waistband starting at the back zipper to 2.5 inches past each side seam. Next the side seams were redrawn with a French curve and a Frixon pen. I wanted the skirt fitted through the hips before flaring. Below is my first draft.
After fitting the skirt and reattaching the waistband, I could have hemmed the skirt and called it an easy refashion, but why would I want to do that? 😉
I became tempted to add an insert like I’ve seen on so many beautiful skirts recently. Most of the skirts I’ve admired are silk with organza inserts. Since my skirt was linen I chose a piece of voile from my stash.
I cut off the bottom 3 inches off of the skirt,
and attached a piece of voile to the lower edge. I finished the voile seams with French seams and was careful to match the side seams of the skirt.
I reattached the piece to the skirt, pressed the seams away from the voile and topstitched.
Viola!
New life for sure!
The skirt is lined in a cotton batiste which I cut and hemmed just above the voile insert. Fitting the skirt through the hips keeps the bias flare from overwhelming my short and small frame, and making me look squatty.
It still drapes nicely and is a welcome change from the pencil skirts I generally wear.
So dear Readers, garment number 14 is complete. 26 left to sew and 179 days to go. Things are looking up 🙂
Happy Monday!
annie
Posted at 15:55h, 16 MayExcellent!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:43h, 05 JuneThank you, Annie!
CarolinasCallin
Posted at 15:56h, 16 MayLove what you did with this skirt! That sheer insert is so on trend and really adds life to that older style.
Thanks for reminding all of us what can be done to ‘tired’ garments with a little time, effort, imagination, and a great eye!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:44h, 05 JuneThank you, Cheryl! It took a while for the lightbulb to go off 😉
Joan
Posted at 16:02h, 16 MayGreat job, Sarah, and inspirational! Wish my fixes/refashionings went as smoothly!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:44h, 05 JuneThank you, Joan! Did I say it went smoothly? 😉
Susan C Kosma
Posted at 16:04h, 16 MayDam Girl. You are good!!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:45h, 05 JuneThank you, thank you, thank you!!
Deborah Penner
Posted at 16:08h, 16 MayWow, think I had one of those bias skirts long ago. What a great idea for a restyle.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:46h, 05 JuneMany thanks Deborah! It was such a possible style at one time 😉
Sandy Murray
Posted at 16:09h, 16 MayOh, my gosh! If I hadn’t known that was a refashion, I’d believe it was a high dollar purchase! So very classy. I love classy!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:46h, 05 JuneMany thanks, Sandy! That’s the look I was after 😉
Karen
Posted at 16:10h, 16 MayGreat look. Now you’ve got me thinking about 2 similar skirts in my closet that I could refashion.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:47h, 05 JuneGo for it Karen! My attitude towards refashioning old tired garments is – what have I got to lose? ( besides precious time )
Joyce Latham
Posted at 16:11h, 16 MayWow, that’s great. I love the insert. Fun styling today.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:50h, 05 JuneThank you, Joyce! It took a while to arrive at the insert, but I like it too 😉
Judith cortelloni
Posted at 16:14h, 16 MayYou are so clever and inspiring. The skirt looks so good on you!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:50h, 05 JuneWhat a nice comment! Many thanks, Judith 🙂
Maggie Edger
Posted at 16:14h, 16 MayHow clever and pretty!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:53h, 05 JuneThank you, Maggie!
Julie Starr
Posted at 16:17h, 16 MayI’m in awe over this one! The inset adds such an airiness. You look fabulous!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:53h, 05 JuneThank you, Julie!
Tracy Mendicino
Posted at 16:25h, 16 MayGreat vision! I just started following, love what you do! What brand/model sewing machine do you use?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:54h, 05 JuneThank you, Tracy! I have a Bernina 1230, a new Brother , and a Bernina serger. Each has its own unique contribution 🙂
Sonja
Posted at 16:25h, 16 MayOoh, this is so pretty! The inset is such a lovely detail- great idea!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:55h, 05 JuneThank you so much, Sonja!
Joy Campbell
Posted at 17:18h, 16 MayBeautiful job! Looks great!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:55h, 05 JuneMany thanks, Joy 🙂
Lynda Thomas
Posted at 17:31h, 16 MayThe voile was a great idea-‘and so pretty!
Lynda Thomas
Los Altos, Ca
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:57h, 05 JuneMany thanks, Lynda! II believe the voile completely transformed the skirt 🙂
Cindy Aymes
Posted at 17:51h, 16 MayOh my goodness, what a fabulous idea! I wish my closets had “old” garments like yours! It looks great on you! Thanks for the inspiration!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:58h, 05 JuneThis garment was pretty bad, Cindy! I really deliberated on giving it to charity but the urge to refashion won out. Many thanks for your comment 🙂
Becky Riddle
Posted at 18:06h, 16 MayThis is lovely! I went to Amazon and checked out your new book. I can hardly wait until November.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:59h, 05 JuneMany thanks, Becky! The actual release date is October 1.
Jan Good
Posted at 18:14h, 16 MayFresh and feminine – and so creative!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:00h, 05 JuneThank you, Jan! It really underwent a transformation 🙂
Angela
Posted at 18:16h, 16 MayLove, love, love! You are always such an inspiration:)
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:00h, 05 JuneAh……. that’s so nice! Many thanks, Angela 🙂
Sue @ A Colourful Canvas
Posted at 18:24h, 16 MayTwo thumbs up! I love this refashion!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:01h, 05 JuneThank you, Sue! I never know when I begin a refashion but this one turned out 😉
Creative Hormone Rush
Posted at 18:29h, 16 MayI love that you always punch up a conservative style to be chic and eye-catching. This is superb!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:02h, 05 JuneThank you so much, Creative Hormone Rush!!!!!The result actually surprised me 🙂
Gayle
Posted at 19:07h, 16 MayWhat a clever idea and executed so well!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:02h, 05 JuneMany thanks, Gayle!
Cissie Wellons
Posted at 19:23h, 16 MayThat skirt is just too cute. The addition of the insert was pure genius. You are such an inspiration!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:04h, 05 JuneWell, it did turn out surprisingly well, but I don’t always know what to expect with a refashion 😉 Many thanks, Cissie!
Mary Lynn
Posted at 20:27h, 16 MayAmazing! So clever with the voile;looks terrific! Doesn’t look like a grandmother skirt 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:05h, 05 JuneThank you, Mary Lynn! It definitely underwent a transformation 😉
Amanda S.
Posted at 20:43h, 16 MayLove this! Refashions are hard for me to get around to as well.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:06h, 05 JuneThank you, Amanda!
Marvel Donovan
Posted at 20:48h, 16 MayLove the skirt. I, too, am stretching my sewing wings and trying new things. Isn’t it fun?!! I am learning to appreciate creative freedom away from patterns and directions. Keep going. You inspire me.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:07h, 05 JuneStraying away from patterns is definitely fun, but when it doesn’t turn out I have no one to blame but myself 😉 Many thanks for your nice comment, Marvel!
Mary Funt
Posted at 21:43h, 16 MayVery creative and wonderful remake. The voile insert makes it so much more summer.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:08h, 05 JuneI agree, Mary! It has a much lighter style – many thanks for your comment!
Irene
Posted at 22:20h, 16 MayLovely, lovely skirt! Very summery. This is such a pretty method of adding to the bottom of a skirt.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:09h, 05 JuneThank you, Irene! In retrospect, I could have added the voile to the bottom edge for a much easier refashion and a similar result 😉
Pecie
Posted at 23:03h, 16 MayWow! You are so talented! The insert really transforms the skirt. Beautifully done and you look fabulous!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:28h, 05 JuneThank you so much, Pecie!
Myra Rentmeester
Posted at 05:50h, 17 MayVery, very nice! You would spend a fortune for this cute little skirt in the store!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:29h, 05 JuneYou are so right, Myra! I’m just relieved it turned out the way I envisioned it 😉 Many thanks for the comment.
Anne
Posted at 07:45h, 17 MayLovely! Great refashion.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:29h, 05 JuneThank you so much, Anne!
Becky Bagwell
Posted at 08:06h, 17 MayStyle…you got it!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:30h, 05 JuneThank you, Becky! You’ve got it too 🙂
Pia
Posted at 10:54h, 17 MayNice refashionin! Wish someone in last night’s Great British Sewing Bee had done the same with their refashion in challenge. While it may not win for creative daring it certainly would have won for sheer chic factor! 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:31h, 05 JuneAh……… I need to watch that episode! Many thanks, Pia 🙂
Samina
Posted at 11:44h, 17 MayLove this upcycled skirt!! The key to refashioning, I think, is that it should look as if it has NOT been refashioned. And your skirt fits the bill! Again, beautiful work.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:32h, 05 JuneI agree with you, Samina, but I never know with a refashion. I suppose I like the suspense 😉 Many thanks!
Patty Mack
Posted at 13:08h, 17 MayBeautiful skirt. I love checking in on you each week, and you inspire me to be better. I have been on a RTW fast since Oct 2015 thanks to you! Of course, I seem to be buying more shoes and purses??? Is that normal? LOL
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:33h, 05 JuneWow! You’re getting close and I hope the RTW Fast has been worthwhile for you, Patty 🙂 Many thanks for your comment.
Sharon Kane
Posted at 16:35h, 17 MayLove it!!!! I have a very similar skirt, only in a cream color, balled up in my closet. Time to give my linen skirt a new look – after pressing, of course.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:38h, 05 JuneI sanitized this skirt before even trying it on – LOL. Good luck with yours and many thanks for the comment, Sharon!
Lucy
Posted at 20:32h, 17 MayCute skirt! Love the voile inset.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:38h, 05 JuneThanks so much, Lucy!
Sew Jean Margaret
Posted at 07:47h, 18 MayBeautiful. You have certainly transformed this skirt into a very wearable garment.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:38h, 05 JuneThank you so much, Jean!
Marla Cooprider
Posted at 06:29h, 19 MayWow, I would have never thought about adding the insert! And that skirt was way big on you to begin with! Love your finished new skirt! 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:40h, 05 JuneThank you, Marla! It was a work in progress and I wasn’t sure where it was going, but the voile seemed to be the answer 🙂
Elizabeth Glinka
Posted at 12:58h, 23 MayMy question is backm to one of Your September posts; can You tell Me, where can I order PRET-A PORTER and HOUTE COUTURE magazins for $6.99/issu ?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:40h, 05 JuneElizabeth, You download the app and buy the issues you want 🙂
Sheri Lewis
Posted at 22:36h, 25 MayNice Job! Lots of creativity. Thanks for sharing.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:40h, 05 JuneThank you, Sheri!
Linda L
Posted at 06:42h, 01 JuneThis is such a cute refashion! I may have to copy this idea!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:41h, 05 JuneCopy away, Linda and have fun!
Sally Welch
Posted at 10:46h, 09 JuneI am so pleased to find your wonderful, inspiring blog. As a long-time sewer, I know what a French seam is, but what is a French curv eand Frixon pen please?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 13:31h, 10 JuneThank you, Sally! A French curve is a curved ruler used in pattern drafting and alterations, and a Frixon pen is a heat soluble ink pen which will let you mark directly onto your fashion fabric and disappear when pressed. I recommend both 🙂