Short and Sassy square skirt, v.2
2025-Aug-06, Wednesday 12:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeThings have been getting complicated around here, I thought to myself. How about making something fast, and fun, to cleanse the palette? Well, I continued thinking to myself, I do have that tricky fabric that I haven't figured out yet. I wonder what can be done with it?
The fabric is a purple and black plaid, 100% linen, that is highly textured. After washing it everything was out of alignment. It probably needs to be blocked. But I'm hesitant to even iron it, as I'm not sure how much texture is intentional. Maybe by using some of it I can get a better feel for how to use it.
When it comes to easy garments, there are few things easier than a circle skirt. But a square skirt is one of them. Being a circle skirt, except you don't even cut the hem. Just cut the fabric into a square (determined by the fabric width, so 142cm here), fold in half, then in half again. Take your hip measurement, divide by 6. From the corner with no raw edges mark that length, in an arc. Cut out that circle, and you're done. I'm not even going to hem this skirt.
I made one before, with a yoke (and visual guides - v.1), but we're going simple, so I'll try the bias binding elasticated waist as per the 'Sew What! Skirts' books instructions. I used 20mm wide bias binding, but it was single fold, when it should have been double fold. It got really narrow as it was sewn on. I'm not sure I understood the instructions properly either, as the only elastic that would fit afterwards, and only barely, was 1/4" wide elastic. I pre-cut it to my waist, but strangled in the bias binding as it is, there is a lot of slack left over. I threw on a drawstring stopper toggle to keep sufficient tension.
If I were to fix this, I'd remove the bias binding, add a proper waistband casing, with decently wide elastic. But I'll try wearing it for a bit first. To experience its full grunge potential. I'm still not sure what to do with the rest of the fabric though. It seems a shame to even try and tame it. I shall have to ponder a bit more.
*edit 24-09-2025*
Quickly removed the bias binding waistband. I cut a straight rectangle of fabric, twice the height of my elastic plus seam-allowances, to the width of the skirt waist. I folded over the short strip ends, and top-stitched in place. I folded the strip in half, to form an empty elastic casing, and basted closed. Then pinned the casing to the skirt, with the two finished short ends right beside each other, and stitched in place. I then threaded the elastic into the casing, stitched the elastic to itself at comfortable fit, and slip-stitched the ends of the casing together. Much more sturdy.
The fabric is a purple and black plaid, 100% linen, that is highly textured. After washing it everything was out of alignment. It probably needs to be blocked. But I'm hesitant to even iron it, as I'm not sure how much texture is intentional. Maybe by using some of it I can get a better feel for how to use it.
When it comes to easy garments, there are few things easier than a circle skirt. But a square skirt is one of them. Being a circle skirt, except you don't even cut the hem. Just cut the fabric into a square (determined by the fabric width, so 142cm here), fold in half, then in half again. Take your hip measurement, divide by 6. From the corner with no raw edges mark that length, in an arc. Cut out that circle, and you're done. I'm not even going to hem this skirt.
I made one before, with a yoke (and visual guides - v.1), but we're going simple, so I'll try the bias binding elasticated waist as per the 'Sew What! Skirts' books instructions. I used 20mm wide bias binding, but it was single fold, when it should have been double fold. It got really narrow as it was sewn on. I'm not sure I understood the instructions properly either, as the only elastic that would fit afterwards, and only barely, was 1/4" wide elastic. I pre-cut it to my waist, but strangled in the bias binding as it is, there is a lot of slack left over. I threw on a drawstring stopper toggle to keep sufficient tension.
If I were to fix this, I'd remove the bias binding, add a proper waistband casing, with decently wide elastic. But I'll try wearing it for a bit first. To experience its full grunge potential. I'm still not sure what to do with the rest of the fabric though. It seems a shame to even try and tame it. I shall have to ponder a bit more.
Finished, front
Photo by chebe
*edit 24-09-2025*
Quickly removed the bias binding waistband. I cut a straight rectangle of fabric, twice the height of my elastic plus seam-allowances, to the width of the skirt waist. I folded over the short strip ends, and top-stitched in place. I folded the strip in half, to form an empty elastic casing, and basted closed. Then pinned the casing to the skirt, with the two finished short ends right beside each other, and stitched in place. I then threaded the elastic into the casing, stitched the elastic to itself at comfortable fit, and slip-stitched the ends of the casing together. Much more sturdy.
Updated waistband, front
Photo by chebe
