A few weeks ago I posted here with questions about the Birch Street Spiral Skirt pattern. My trial skirt (a "test" skirt from my second-choice fabric) is now finished, except for the hem. I love it! So glad I went for it. Can't wait to make the "real" one with the prettier fabric now.
Below are some of my observations in making this skirt. I think the results are well worth the effort, and my comments are just intended as information to keep in mind for those who might also try this.
- The fabric estimates on the pattern seem to be fairly accurate--you really do need as much as it says.
- Making the spiral skirt takes a lot of time, especially cutting out all those spiral pieces (12 of them, for a size small.) This is not a "whip-it-out-this-afternoon-and-wear-it-this-evening" project, unless maybe you're Kate Dicey.
- Cutting spirals is a bit slower than cutting the usually straight lines of more conventional skirts.
- I had some difficulty determining how long to make the pattern. The long version is 33" and the short one is 22", neither was right for me. But since the pattern doesn't hang straight to the hem, how long should I cut it? I finally decided that I wanted the skirt 24" long, and added 2" to the short version. Well, either I was wrong about the length I wanted or something, because the skirt was a little shorter than I wanted it. I managed to add the necessary length by adding a separate waistband casing, which gave another inch or so, plus then I didn't have to fold down a casing, which gave me the necessary length. Next time I will add a couple of inches to the top of the pattern. If anyone makes one of these skirts, I would advise making it a couple of inches longer than you think you want. It's quite easy to shorten the nearly-finished skirt from the top, but adding length takes some creative thought.
- The very soft, drapey fabric recommended can be a bit harder to control than plain cotton, but I didn't have too much trouble with it.
- I ended up catching some of the ruffles in the seams, especially near the pointed end of the spirals. Thought I was being SO careful, but still got a few. Not such a big deal on a sewing machine, as you can just pick out that part and do it over, but I was using the serger, which cuts the fabric as it sews. oops. But my oopses were just tiny bits at the hem, and no one will ever notice.
As I said, I feel this pattern is well worth making, but I would not recommend it for a beginning sewist as a first project. NAYY, of course, just thought that after our previous discussion, some of you might like to know how it went.
Donna G. Michigan's Upper Peninsula