The Super Online Sewing Match: Round One Challenge

It is time to post my Round One Challenge for the 

The challenge is drafting a pattern and sewing  an A-line skirt using Deborah Moebes' Craftsy Class.  Let me start by saying, Deborah is a fabulous instructor, at ease with the camera and quite humorous throughout.  Since this was my first experience with drafting, I learned so much and after viewing the class felt confident to draft my skirt. Head over to Sew Mama Sew to read more about this week's challenge and you can get a discount on this Craftsy class, too.

The first step in this challenge, was fabric.  I went to Joann's and found this lovely lightweight cotton, wide stripes of color with a cream color separating the wide sections.  I have seen stripes all around for summer and these colors just seem perfect for summer.  Since the fabric is lightweight, I knew I would need a lining for two reasons - no see-through and to help give the skirt some body.

My main challenge was finding an A-line skirt shape that would work for me.  I wanted it to be mid-knee length, full but not too full.  I added 7" to the hemline (Deborah recommends 6 to 10").  As I was sketching and thinking about my skirt, I decided a knee length skirt might need some more walking ease.  A front pleat seemed to be the answer, plus I liked the thought of some visual interest in the front. I did not add a pleat to the back of the skirt.  I am pleased how this looks, it is a nice silhouette on me and the pleat just gives the front a little extra.  

Next up in the design process was my variations.  I knew I wanted the waistband, Deborah gives you instructions on how to draft this.  Add to my waistband belt loops, two in the front, three in the back.  I purchased some cream linen for my skirt and made a fabric sash but wanted to be able to wear a belt with my skirt, too.   

Pockets for me are a necessity, where would my car keys go otherwise?  Deborah gives a lesson on all sorts of pockets, but I wanted more of a pants pocket look.  This created some more drafting, changing the front for the pocket angle, the pocket facing and the yoke piece to finish out the skirt front.  I added some piping to the seam with the same cream linen. 

An invisible zipper on the side is the closure.  I did make a test garment before sewing my final garment and my zipper ended right at the intersection of the pocket with piping to the side seam.    I shortened my zipper and had it end about an inch from this area, an improvement for sure.

I hemmed my skirt with a blind hem, serging the raw edge first.  Here you can see the inside and outside in a collage so you can see both pictures side-by-side

I stitched the seams with an 1/2" seam allowance, serging edges to finish.

Now that all the detail pictures have been presented, want to see a close-up of the front? This pictures shows the center front pleat detail nicely.

Now the back:

Now for some more pictures of me wearing my new self-drafted skirt.

Kaitlyn and I went out to a covered bridge about 15 miles from our house to take these pictures.  It is a such a pretty, serene place.  You cannot drive across the bridge anymore but there is a concrete road you can cross when the creek is low.  That is what I am on in many of these pictures.

One last picture my self-drafter pattern pieces:

Head over to Sew Mama Sew on Monday, July 15th to see all the skirts in round one.