18.6.12

Fuschia

I am surprised at how easily this very bright skirt fits in with my wardrobe.  Originally I was planning on a dress for this fabric, but I'm so pleased that I decided to go with a skirt instead.


Today, I was going for a winter look, pairing it with a grey, woollen RTW top.



I wore it out one chilly evening with a tan jacket and boots.  The hint of red was a nod to the colour blocking trend. The jacket was given to me by a friend.



It has more of a spring vibe when paired with this printed top (yet to be blogged).


Moving into autumn with an old favourite.


It seems to match so many different colours, including this yellow RTW top.


It has even rescued this asymmetrical tee.  The original skirt for this top no longer fits and I have found it hard to pair with other bottoms, because most of my bottoms have a low waistband and the slit on this shirt exposes too much midriff. 


One day I wore it with a tucked in shirt (yet to be blogged) and added a belt, which is completely not my normal style.

So enough of the wardrobe styling.  Details about the sewing...

Fabric: Milly ponte from EmmaOneSock.  This is my first time sewing with ponte.  I have only heard about ponte from reading other people's blogs and I'm not sure what makes a fabric a "ponte".  Is it the composition, or the knit?  It is thick and stretchy with good recovery, which makes it ideal for a pencil skirt.  The fashion seems to be for very tapered pencil skirts, but I honestly don't know how most people get about in them, unless they are all made from stretchy fabrics.

The pattern:  burda style magazine, 9/2010, pattern 116.  The pattern is designed for wovens.  I compared the pattern measurements to my measurements.  I was not sure whether to start with the size that matched my measurements or the size smaller.  I did not have suitable fabric for a muslin and had no prior experience of ponte knits.  I started with the size that matched my measurements but I should have started smaller because I ended up taking in the seams quite a bit.

I eliminated the back slit.  I added a waistband.  The waistband was wrapped around 20 mm elastic.  I attached in much the same way as wide elastic waistbands are attached to exercise shorts.  I did this instead of just adding length and turning under the top edge because the top edge was very curved. 

In these side and back shots you can just make out the curved seams wrapping around the skirt.  I top stitched the curved seams with my cover stitch machine.


I don't often wear such closely fitted clothing, but I like this skirt and have been making an effort to wear it at least once a week...part of my pledge to get my "good clothes" out of the cupboard more!

21 comments:

Karin said...

Wow, you are right- a fuchsia skirt matches everything! Who would have thought it? It's very flattering on you, the fit is spot on.

liza jane said...

I love it with the jacket and boots! Looks like a great staple.

Gabrielle said...

Amazingly it really does seem to go with everything! What a great skirt... I normally shy away from this sort of fitted skirt but it just looks so good on you - thanks for sharing lots of stylish possibilities

Mary Nanna said...

Great colour and stylish outfit options - go hot mama!

Uta said...

Wow, that's a gorgeous skirt! I love the color and how you paired it with a multi-seamed pattern - beyond basic, but very subtle and chic.

modernprintliz said...

Love this color as a skirt! I've got some heavy challis that is a similar color - I bought it online thinking to make a top but it's too much, too bright or something. I'll have to go pull it out now and see if it will work for a skirt. Thanks for the lovely inspiration.

Sue said...

What a great pattern choice for that fabric. I love all the outfits you have out together with it.

poppykettle said...

oh - this is gorgeous! Both in the colour (such a happy colour!) and the style lines, which I love. It's a lot more versatile than I would have thought it to be too - I especially like it with the grey. Looks like ponte is a winner!

Summer Flies said...

I love this skirt - the colour and the lines. I love it with the grey, the asymmetric top but especially with the yellow! How I wish I could wear that happy yellow colour! It is so versatile!

Sharon said...

Fabulous skirt and perfect for winter, great styling.

Robyn said...

It still amazes me how versatile fuschia can be - love your new skirt, the seam lines are very cool and that shape looks great on you.

Marie said...

It does seem very versatile. The colour is fantastic and the fit is great.

Cherrypix said...

I love that skirt pattern! Even more so in fuschia! Hadn't considered making it in a stretch fabric....but thanks to you, I can see it works very well.

meli88a said...

Wow, that really does go with everything! the fit of that skirt is flattering on you as well.

Bernice said...

You've managed to work this into your wardrobe with style and flare. I love all the looks you've created. The brown jacket and tucked in versions are my favourites. Hope it get lots of wear.

kbenco said...

The colour is so beautiful on you. I love it with the gray and the rust brown jacket.

Joy said...

I really like this in ponte knit. And I'm amazed at how many combinations you found for the fuschia. Makes me think we should redefine "basic" (:
I keep feeling the ponte knits in the store, but haven't bitten the bullet yet. Some of them feel too polyestery to me on the bolt, so I'm not sure how it'll feel while worn.

fabric epiphanies said...

That is a gorgeous cheerful skirt for winter. I have just bought the same shade in some cotton lycra just this week.

Audrey said...

I have a pair of pants in this color that I enjoy wearing. Now because of your post I think I need a skirt in the same color. I made that skirt pattern in a boring gray wool. It looks wonderful on you and I like all of the different outfits you put together.

Amy said...

This is a lovely skirt! I love how you've styled it with the rust jacket--gorgeous color combination. This is one of my favorite Burda patterns--I made the dress version of this out of ponte (and have a skirt version that's cut and ready to be sewn). Good idea to coverstitch the seams because I had trouble getting them to lay flat. Oh and ponte is a type of double knit--compared to a plain double knit, you can sometimes see little raised alternate lines (very fine), sort of like a teeny tiny rib knit. I really love sewing with it.

Jorth said...

Love everything about this skirt - but you know what a sucker I am for fuschia!