Further to my previous incarnation of this make, I thought I’d have another stab at it. I cut the previous one to a 14 at the waistband, and whilst it fit, it felt a little too generous. So I opted to cut this one at a 12 at the waistband. Apart from the size, there were a few tweaks that I wanted to make to this pattern. Whilst I liked the gathered element of this skirt, the “poofiness” around the abdomen and backside was a little too exaggerated for me to be entirely happy with it for everyday, practical wear. I wanted to tone it down a bit. So I tapered the side seams on both the front and back skirt pieces. Starting at a 16 at the hem and tapering to a 12 at the waist…
Anyone who has made this pattern will recognise the trapeze shape of the front skirt piece once it’s been cut out. All of that with along the top is converted to gathers (or pleats if you’re me!) and that translates to volume. Around the abdomen ladies! Not a place most of us want to add volume! At least not to the extremes of this pattern, and certainly not with my mummy tummy! Essentially, all I did was tone the angle down a bit. The red lines/arrows mark where I cut so you get an idea of what I removed from the original pattern. You can see that this has the effect of removing width at the waist; width that would otherwise have been gathered and translated into “poofiness”…..
I made this adjustment to both the front and back pattern pieces. So when all told, it added up to around 4″ of overall gathering removed from around the abdomen area. Which feels so much more flattering (and I’m told looks so too :). This new version still retains that “tulip” shape that originally drew me to the design, but in a much more subtle, and hopefully more flattering way.
On the downside, despite being prewashed and seeming really good; this denim actually creases like hell during proper wear. But I’m hoping a few more washes will soften it up some!
Overall though, pretty pleased 🙂
Have you tried this pattern and found it too “poofy” for your liking? Is “poofiness” even a word?!
I love it.. We got twin skirts
Poofy is definitely a word! I think you could even go narrower at the hem; you’re a lot more petite than you think ^_^ I do like the pleats very much; it’s very pretty & flattering 🙂
Wow, I really like the changes you made! One of the things I appreciate about your sewing is that you are so willing to break the rules and think outside of the box. Your sewing is always unique to you and set apart from other sewists. Can’t wait to see your next project.
Lovely!! Looks like its going to be a much used piece….I love the shade of denim too, gorgeous intense colour.
Very nice – and poofiness is definitely a word.
really like it! i love this skirt shape on you.
Thanks for posting this! I have this pattern in my queue and I wasn’t sure if the shape would be very flattering on my. I think I’ll make this adjustment, as very gathered skirts just end up making me look pregnant. 😀
Ah yes the bouffant tulip skirt – I know it well! I cut one out and then chickened out. My excuse was a lack of interfacing strong enough to support the kissy-lips waistband, and the fact that my fabric slithered out of line as I cut it out. But seeing how much gathering there is over the tummy, I reckon its not for me. Yours is great on you (she said quickly!), but I think I am too short to carry off that shape.
I love how you made it your own by pleating instead of gathering 🙂