I finished my scallop skirt this weekend!
Every time I put it on, I feel like candy. It’s just so pink and happy; my new, perfect summer skirt.
I made the skirt with a linen blend, and used some leftover cream linen from my Dubarry 5836 skirt for the second row of scallops. Since this skirt is so full, I think it would benefit from a crinoline! With so many gathers right below my waist, it makes my hips look a bit puffier than they are in real life. So I think some added *omph* at the hem would help balance things out a bit.
Where to start with my modifications….
I started out wanting to add scallops to a circle skirt, and realized I had a dress pattern that included some scallops at the hem. So what I ended up doing was hijacked the Simplicity 3791 dress by turning it unto a skirt. I used a basic rectangle waistband from my half circle skirt pattern (Simplicity 4532), then I completely revamped the hem.
Before I go any further here’s the original dress pattern cover for Simplicity 3791:
How the construction works here, is that the skirt portion is a regular rectangle skirt. But the facing is what is scalloped. So by sewing the scalloped facing onto the straight hem, when you flip the facing to the inside, it creates nice scallops. But the second piece of the pattern you see below the scallops is another straight rectangle that is affixed to the skirt by top stitching. This second bit gets a *mehh* from me.
So what I ended up doing: I used the original scallop facing for the hem, but instead of including the plain straight hem that the pattern shows, I made up a second row of scallops using that same facing on a separate rectangle of fabric. I had to come up with my own way of attaching my white scallops to the original line of pink scallops. So the simplest (and in my mind the best) solution was to just top-stitch them together.
Here’s a detail shot of my hem…
Hmm, I wish I would have taken a shot of the inside construction for you guys. If you’d like me to post a pic of the inside, just put it in the comments.
So scallops… they’re pretty and fun, but boy are they a lot of work! I had no idea they’d be so much work, silly me. heh I ended up sewing the whole scalloped border 4 times! Two times for the facing on the pink then the white, then I top stitched everything which was another two times. By the end, I really mastered how to free-hand-sewing the scallops on my machine without any chalk markings. :)
Since the skirt has a lot of fabric to it, I knew the waistband would get a lot of wear. So I added in some twill tape to the top seam to add some stability. I used a light weight interfacing on both sides of the waistband, but I think this skirt would have benefited from something stronger like hair canvas.
This skirt is the first time I’ve ever deconstructed a dress pattern in order to make a skirt. And I really winged it on the second row of scallops. It’s been just shy of a year when I first took to sewing, but I’m really happy and excited that I’m starting to have some “sewing confidence” to mix and match patterns and to try out new things.
I’ve been a sewing-machine this past memorial day weekend (no pun intended) that I still have a few more things to share with you guys later this week, although they’re still work-in-progresses. Can’t wait to show you peeps! :)
In: Sewing
Beautiful!! I just love that color!
Love love love love love this skirt! It looks great on you. The style and fit are fantastic but best of all, that hot pink suits you so well. Wear it well!
Those are some of the best looking scallops I’ve seen around the blogging world – and you know there’s a lot around at the moment! From the photos at least… they look perfect – I really like the bonus white scallops too – totally worth the effort methinks!
Really cute! You did an awesome job with the scallops. Very inspiring. Thank you.
How perfect! I love the scallops and the color is great on you!
i LOVE this! the shape, the color, the scallops!! it is absolutely perfect!!
This skirt is FABULOUS! I would love to see an interior view.
Cute, Cute, Cute!!! love it, the scallops are perfectly done. Love the color! So sweet!
So cute, do you just want to spin all the time when you wear it?
Heh! I do! I’m currently wearing it at work today, and I feel like I’m *swooshing* all over the office. :)
This is one of the cutest skirts I’ve ever seen. I love the colour & the hem, so very jealous.
Wow Liz, it looks awesome!!
Its absolutely gorgeous!
This is lovely, I adore the the scalloped detail and the colour!
I just love the white scallops! This skirt is fantsatic – everything about it is polished and summery :)
Wowzers! This is stunning! You were right to omit the bottom panel. The scallops look great, and so bold in white.
Oh, this skirt is marvelous, love it!
Gorgeous! Have I ever told you how pleased I am that you are blogging all these creative projects now? : O )
Just gorgeous! Why don’t everyday people dress in this fun way anymore?
Such a cute skirt. I’m reconstructing an old skirt to give it a scalloped hem but it won’t have that fabulous volume. Must be so fun to wear!
Wow! I just love the skirt, you did such a great job. I’ve been wanting to make a scallop edge skirt for a while now, what an inspiration! I would also love to see a picture of the inside.
Wow, that’s just amazing! I love it.
oh my goodness I’m not sure if I’ve seen a more amazing skirt…ever! this is fantastic! I can’t get over it.
Argh, this is so cute! It’s like raspberries and cream!
I’m going to be trying out Chie’s scallop-waisted skirt tutorial tomorrow – if it looks half as good as this, I’ll be happy!
Love the skirt Liz, oh the pink and the scallops!!! Such a cute skirt, the waist band is really nice too. You did an awesome job on this, very flattering on you!!
miss you, your sis
Oh, my…that is DARLING! I *love* it! So cute, the white trim is perfect…And scallops! They rather intimidate me yet. Lovely lovely!
I absolutely LOVE this skirt! soooooo fabulous! The scallops are perfect!! Great job!!
[…] I’ve been seeing scallops EVERYWHERE over the last few weeks, Casey, Collette, Gertie just to name a few, but I do love the use of scallops in this cute skirt. […]