New Zero Waste Pattern: Party Skirt

It’s been a long time coming, but I have a new zero waste pattern!

It’s a skirt for the parties in your life, or just easy summer wearing.

It’s in my shop now. Please enjoy 25% off for the next month.

The Party Skirt comes in 20 sizes, to fit a 66cm/26″ waist + 91.4cm/36″ hip, to a 187.9cm/74″ waist/hip. The length can be adjusted.

This skirt has a handkerchief hemline, great POCKETS, and has two versions:

Version 1 is a skirt version of Madeline Vionnet’s four-square dress of 1920, and is equivalent to almost a full circle skirt.

It uses fabric which is the same on both sides, as both are visible, and has rolled overlocker hems.

Version 2 uses the same pattern pieces, and is much quicker and easier to sew. It uses fabric which has a right and wrong side, and regular hems. It’s equivalent to two circle skirts.

The skirt’s panels are cut on the straight grain, and hang on the bias.

The skirt uses an ample amount of fabric, but not really when you consider the volume. By a crazy occurrence, every size uses the same amount of fabric (apart from the waistband length).

Speaking of the waistband, there’s a choice of regular, elastic or stretch waistband.

The Party Skirt is designed for very lightweight fabrics (around 75gsm), such as fine cotton lawn, handkerchief linen, cotton voile, semi-sheers, fine silk, and sheers such as organza or net. Quilting weight fabric is too heavy. There’s an optional low-waste lining pattern included, but it’s really only needed for sheers – full briefs in an appropriate colour are enough as the skirt’s volume creates enough modesty.

This is a pattern for those with intermediate/advanced sewing skills.

Here’s some samples made in various fabrics.

Cotton lawn

The pink skirt is Version 1, and the blue one is Version 2. I think cotton lawn is the best fabric for this skirt, as it’s easy to sew and so comfortable to wear.

Both of these have regular waistbands and a placket opening at the back. Version 2 has the option of an invisible zip if preferred.

Cotton voile

Lighter than cotton lawn, voile also makes a beautiful skirt. This one is Version 1. It has a regular waistband which is cut in a firmer, solid fabric.

Here’s another cotton voile skirt, in a Liberty print (worn with an Xanthea top).

It has a stretch waistband, which is essentially a short tube of cotton lycra.

Habotai silk

Habotai silk makes a wonderfully light and floaty skirt. This is Version 2.

You can buy this silk by the metre, which is how I bought mine, but the skirt could also be constructed from pre-hemmed square silk scarves (the type used for shibori and silk painting) if you can get the right size.

This one has an elastic waist.

Organza

For organza and similar sheers, two layers are used. This is Version 1, with a regular waistband.

It has a satin lining, with pockets cut in the same lining. The matt side faces outwards. The waistband is a regular one, with the shiny side outwards.

I had hoped to use cotton organza, but when I was buying fabrics there seemed to be some sort of shortage and I couldn’t get it anywhere. In hindsight I could have used silk organza but didn’t think of it at the time. This skirt is polyester organza.

I see possibilities for a future prom dress for a teen – I could add a matching strapless top and have an instant outfit. Or maybe a Frocktails outfit? It is a party skirt!

Net

Curious, I tried the skirt in two layers of stiff net, the type used for ballerina tutus. Net requires no hems or seam finishes, so it’s a bit quicker in that respect. This is Version 1, with a black lining and the same lining used for pocket bags. The waistband is a regular one cut from a solid black cotton.

The net is an interesting contrast to the woven fabrics. There’s zero drop on the bias and it’s much stiffer.

It’s just right for when I join a metal band.

Cheers!