Sewholic - Gabriola Skirt

  Sometimes  you just need  something floral and pretty and girly, this fabric met all three criteria and it was love at first sight.

  The fabric is a Charcoal floral cotton sateen and is almost sold out. Don't worry there is another colorway and all these other cotton sateens.  I had the pattern in mind for this floral sateen and it is Sewaholic Gabriola Skirt.  This skirt is a wonderful skirt pattern with lots of flow and bias but be warned, it needs lots of fabric.   The amount of fabric?  Well, depends on the width, 3.5 yards to 5 yards, so make sure you buy plenty.  I cut this fabric out on the floor  and I used just about every bit of the 3.5 yards.
   

 This pattern works perfectly for the sateen and I loved sewing this fabric.  The description states slightly translucent but I didn't find that to be true.  In fact, I think from the photos you can see the fabric is not translucent, after all it was a very sunny afternoon when I took these photos. The Gabriola Skirt, has several areas of bias, you can tell by these close up of the yokes
   
 I used my even feed foot and some pins to keep the pieces from shifting.  I love all the yoke pieces and wouldn't they be spectacular in a stripe?  One thing that is nice, the yokes seem to help with the fit at the stomach and hips, just such wonderful drape from the bias.  With the floral, the bias pieces and the seams just blend into the entire skirt.  Or should I say twirly skirt, which I must twirl so quickly it gives a blurry picture!


 Take a look at the fullness, love it
 

 The construction of this skirt goes quickly, just lots of long seams.  Many of the reviews suggested a curved waistband and if you are curvy that would be a good suggestion.  Being very straight with not much waist definition, I used the provided pattern piece and it worked just fine.  My only change was to insert the invisible zipper in the waistband instead of using a button on the waistband.

 With bias, it is suggested the skirt hang for 24 hours before hemming. Meredith (last daughter at home) helped to pin the entire hem, which was very helpful.  with the large amount of hemming, I did use my sewing machine to sew the entire circle hem. I love my new floral maxi skirt, it isn't like anything in my closet and I will be grabbing this so much all summer long.  One thing I will have to correct, this blue top is the only solid top I have that goes with the skirt.  I will have to rectify that!   One last picture, you can see my lovely straight shape and what a nice job Meredith did with my hem.