Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A-line skirt with snaps and pockets.

I have mentioned a couple of times now in earlier posts that I used to have a fashion business in Denmark years back.  I drafted all the patterns myself - in the very beginning did I even sew the production myself later just all the salesmen samples....urgh THAT was hard work!
I have of course saved all those patterns and this skirt has long been on my list to sew for myself. It was from one of the collections where I got my act together and had a factory to sew my production. But that also meant that if a style did not sell enough then it became to expensive to produce and therefor got cancelled and that happened to this one. I think it got overruled by a very popular skirt dress with the same features that was also in that collection. See photo further down. I am still wearing that shirt dress by the way even though it is now like 6 years old.
I used a lot of cotton sateen with a bit of stretch in my collections back then. I still love that type of fabric. I love that it is cotton but the slightly shiny surface of the fabric adds an interesting dimension. Like with so many others things it took me a while to realize what the English word for that type of fabric was - I am not even sure I know what the Danish word is but that was not a problem since I bought my fabric after seeing it and touching it at a store, fabric fair etc. But here in the US I have only shopped as a private person and mostly online so I have not sewed with cotton sateen for a while....until like I said I finally realized the name: COTTON SATEEN yay!
I even found almost the same beautiful navy blue one that I used in my collection back then. Of course when I bought it I just bought my usual 1 yard (back then not yet decided what to do) and it turned out that that model in my size used a little bit more. Soooooo I ended up doing what I do in so many of my sewing projects.....mixing fabrics. And I must say I love the result. I know that the original one is much more versatile and goes with everything but this one definitely has a bit more character, right!
The lime fabric is corduroy and the check fabric is a thin wool cut on the bias - simply because I liked that look better. (all three fabrics bought on http://www.fabric.com/ by the way.)


Pockets!


The awake reader (anyone?) may wonder why there are no photos of me from the behind wearing the skirt. Well ahem let's just say that my sweet neighbor (who I forced to take these photos) and I were more busy talking than checking details like big grandma underpants showing through. 
But as you can see on this photo it is very simple on the back.

A detail shot of the top of the skirt. Because the check fabric is wool I put the corduroy fabric inside the waistband to avoid any itching. Plus I am planning on wearing this in the summer too (I skipped the lining I had in the original one for that reason too) and you don't need a wool waistband directly on your skin in North Carolina's heat....like at all!

A detail shot of the hem made with homemade bias tape of the lime corduroy fabric. 

Photo: Kasper Thye. Model: Kristina
Here you see the original skirt from my AW2006 collection.

Photo: Kasper Thye. Model: Kristina
And here is the dress in the same fabric with the same pockets, snaps and lines that won the buyers' hearts compared to the skirt. Can't blame them.

13 comments:

  1. Your sewing talent is amazing, love the skirt! Flickr icon looks good! =)

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  2. Love this skirt!!! Great job! Stopping by from Sew Can Do linky party and your newest follower. Here is what I shared: http://craftybrooklynarmywife.blogspot.ca/2012/06/kids-roll-up-nap-blanket.html

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  3. Awesome!! I would love to try something like this
    www.blissfulsewing.blogspot.com

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  4. This looks fantastic! Love it =)

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  5. Love the geometric colour blocking effects you've got going on - good job!

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  6. What a cool skirt and I love the backstory behind it. You are very impressive!

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  7. Love the way you've mixed different types of fabrics and also love the style of the skirt!!! Very clever design! Great to hear how the skirt came to be...

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  8. This is gorgeous! I just adore pocket skirts.. hope you will share with my Pink Hippo Party @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2012/06/pink-hippo-party-82.html
    I am your newest follower~
    xoxo
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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  9. Hi Mie, I have featured your A-line skirt today...
    http://threadingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/06/threading-your-way-features_16.html

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  10. OMG Mie, den er fantastisk, denne nederdel. Hold nu op, jeg er imponeret.

    kh
    Trine

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  11. As first look, you won't think it would look good. I changed my mind about the A line skirts. They could make girls look sexy in a different way.

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  12. You are the designer of my dreams: I love the A line skirt and Shirt dress look, and these were always part of my wardrobe. You have taken them to a new level of casual - those snaps ohh my.

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Thank you!