Vogue pattern help

Shorten the pattern in three places: mid thigh, knee, and mid calf: that way you only lose a proportional amount of the fishtail. You should only ever lop the length off a straight skirt at the hem, and even then it's usually easier to take it out further up if there's a kick pleat.

The trick is to lengthen it proportionally: add a bit above the knee, a bit just below the knee, and a bit half way down the fishtail. Make a toile to see if you get the effect needed, and to check yardage and layout - the longer fishtails will need more fabric and may need a radically different layout to get them all on!

I usually find Vogue are pretty good on size, but do make sure you buy the pattern according to measured inches.

Thanks for the advice. I really like the first Vogue one better, it is exactly like the original very expensive designer skirt, except for the length.

The best way to check how much fullness in the lower hips for a floor-length model will be make up a muslin of somewhat the same weight of fabric you're using for the skirt. It may be fine as is, but if not, you can tweak it on the muslin to see what works. BTW, I like the pattern, having made it for a close friend to wear to an afternoon wedding last summer. I do very little sewing for others, but we've been close as sisters for 30+ years, and I didn't have the heart to say, "No" to this one time. She sews as well as I do, but had other obligations at the time, leaving no time to sew it. Emily

Yes, I was planning on making a muslin. Did you find the pattern ran true to size? I guess I'm somewhat preoccupied by the size thing because that's why I stopped sewing for myself - things didn't fit. I always had a problem with armholes being too small, and while I could easily adjust a jumper or something sleeveless, never quite figured out how to change the sleeve. I totally understand about sewing for a friend. I made 2 baby quilts for my very best friend and I wouldn't do it for anyone else. I also made her an upholtered headboard. I also had a friend ask me about how to make a pillow and it was much easier to say "here, let me do it" than to watch her mess it up. Thanks.

Cathi

I know the feeling of "let me do it", rather than watch someone mess it up. Emily

Cathi, Of course, to fit a skirt is quite different from fitting a blouse with sleeves, necklines, facings, etc, and my friend was easy to fit; if I recall, I just altered(expanded) the waistline a bit. Emily

It's a very fashionable shape at the moment. Very flattering too.

Thanks Kate. Never heard of petersham, but an internet search turned up several sources.

Cathi

Dear Cathi,

Petersham looks exactly like grosgrain ribbon, but the fiber content is rayon and cotton, so that it can be shaped. I use it all the time for hatbands. It can be found at any milliner's site. The fiber content is what makes the difference; polyester grosgrain can't be shaped as easily as petersham.

Teri

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