and yet, another Plus Size post! (this time, questions?)

If it were me (and it HAS been before I lost 40 lbs) I would go to a Lane Bryant type store where they feature clothes for the larger woman. Be sure to have your measuring tape and a small notebook in your purse. Ask the clerk what SHE thinks would look good on you, and then go try it on. Don't even look at the price because it doesn't matter. While in the dressing room, if this looks GREAT on you, then sketch it out in your little notebook, writing down all the WOW features-----cloth, pockets, gores,, just what it is that makes this GREAT. Now, go look in the pattern book and look at cloth to find something similar. Compare the cost of you making it and the cost of buying RTW, and think of the time involved in sewing it. Now, do what is best for YOU! Even after losing some weight, I still make most of my PLAY clothes, tops, shorts, and long pants, sometimes even my jeans, and some of my dressy casual clothes. Barbara in SC, now a loose 2X and tight 1X size

Don't limit yourself to one shop. Go to where you usually buy your tailored pants, and do some "snoop shopping". Try on every style of skirt, and make sure you either take along a good friend who will be brutally honest with you, or make good use of a three-way mirror to see what you look like in profile and from the back. THEN you may hit the fabric and pattern shops. (Some of us have been doing this for years, whenever a radically new style becomes popular. For instance, I KNOW I look dreadful in the surplice style tops, so I won't bother to make one.)

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Good, Good for you. In my humble opinion (and I spelled that out so you'd be sure to see the humble) the current skirt length that's just above the ankles looks frumpy dowdy and is kind to no one. So. Good for you to at least consider knee length. Mid-knee length is even better. In theory, the

6-gored skirt will be a nice choice. The vertical lines might even make you look 5'10" and blonde. ( My own life's goal.) Polly

Thank you everyone for the advice!

Polly-not 5'10", only 5' 6", but am blonde

off to shop, but i am thinking of ordering that pattern.....

betsey

It might be the kindest thing a person could do for

*others*. I know for a fact, no one would be delighted to see my knees, either coming or going. I have not worn skirts at all for about 15 years, and probably never will again. Dressy slacks, wool pants, jeans, now that's the ticket. ***BUT NO SHORTS!!!***

Sorry, I think most women over 16 have pretty gnarly knees, and should not expose them to the viewing public.

Good luck with that. ;-)

My legs are like those of a Victorian grand piano: short, bulbous, sturdy, and better hidden! But I do have ankles again, since I lost weight, so while I spend most of the week in trousers, I do own and wear skirts, most of which come just above the ankles. The most flattering shape is the trumpet shape that skims the hips, adding no bulk to the hip or waistline and flares from mid thigh or knee to hem. Lots of swish, length to satisfy my leg-covering needs, and can be made as smart or as casual as you need.

Smart:

MOB outfit in silk dupion and silk crepe de Chine over silk habotai lining (customer project) Casual: my shortest skirt! Raw-edged denim (personal project)

LOL! I think she gets it!

Even when I was exceedingly slim as a teen and young adult, I never had pretty ankles. I was very happy with the "New Look"

***hated*** mini skirts.

MOB outfit in silk dupion and silk crepe de Chine over> silk habotai lining (customer project) That is a gorgeous outfit, and a stunning color.

Raw-edged denim (personal project) What fun! Pattern #?

and ***hated*** mini skirts.>

> MOB outfit in silk dupion and silk crepe de Chine over>> silk habotai lining (customer project)>

I can't remember which pattern we used for the jackets and the top (in the crepe de chine), but the skirt is this one:

> Raw-edged denim (personal project)>

Vogue 8296:

I so hear you on that one! i have a gorgeous wool wrap skirt, hits mid calf length is gorgeous...sigh. I love it, and it looks GOOD on. unfortunately, it's a wrap skirt, not a faux wrap skirt. only good when standing. dangerous when sitting!! (so, in the winter months, it's my go-to for holiday parties where i KNOW i'll be standing the entire time!)

This skirt looks adorable on you.

skirt!

> Raw-edged denim (personal project)>>

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> Click on Kate's Pages and explore!- Hide quoted text ->>

Thank you. It was fun to make. I also did this from the same pattern, but cut it a little longer:

Wow, TWELVE gores in the skirt. Seriously pretty skirt. I have a tulip skirt pattern I made up for DD, but as I recall it had only 8 gores.

Thanks, I thought I remembered that it had some interesting angles.

And the raw edges! Don't forget the raw edges... They were very good for me and got me out of that 'finish everything neatly' thing.

And check the length in the back compared to the front length. I have to make skirts, slacks, etc 4 inches longer in back so I don't end up with a reverse-tapered skirt hem -- which is also why I wear RTW skirts longer rather than mess with altering them. OTOH I have to make dresses

4 inches longer in front than in back because of an abundant amount of mammary tissue.