which skirt type

While watching "What Not to Wear", the stylists suggested in the summer to wear a cotton skirt as opposed to capri pants. The experts feel capri pants "chop" your legs. I thought I'd go with that thought and went to Kohl's department store to try on skirts. Kohl's had a clearance rack and cotton skirts were $5. Great deal! I tried on A-line skirts and I looked like a triangle! The skirts stuck out on the sides. I can understand a heavy twill sticking out, but the same effect happened with lighter weight cottons. I looked on the major pattern company web sites and I'm thinking a bias cut skirt might have a nicer appearance. What is the opinion of you expert sewers? What fabric would you suggest? I'm a substitute teacher in an elementary school that is not air conditioned. If history repeats itself, our Pennsylvania weather will turn hot and humid before the end of the school year.

Thanks Suzanne

Reply to
Suzanne McHenry
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Well, in reference to the skirt shape, an A line is supposed to have that shape, just not stiffly. to make it not take that shape you can make a gored skirt. Or you could run a seam down the center front and back as well as the side seams and make the straight grain go down the middle of that, so that the front and back as well as the side seams are bias and therefore softer, not as stiff.

Where in PA are you? I'm in Somerset.

Kitty in SW PA

Reply to
Kitty In Somerset, PA

Personally, Suzanne, I think a bias skirt might be the right answer. Why not make a muslin and check it out? Emily

Reply to
CypSew

Bias cuts can flatter almost any figure, but if made in a clingy fabric, will stick to all your lumps and bumps! Be careful of this if making the skirt in a matte fabric like cotton.

Maybe a solution would be to make a skirt with a yoke at the hips and hang a bias cut fuller handkerchief hem skirt from it. Lots of airy space for circulation! :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Keep in mind that if you did this in late March, those were likely heavier fabrics than you'd want to wear for early summer temps. Winter clearance.

Also, boughten clothing is made from fabric that hasn't been prewashed, which makes it lose that crisp edge and hang more softly. (In December I modified my favorite "tree ornament" dress, and wearing it really hurt because the gussets had sharp edges that wanted to shred my arms.) It might be worth it to pick up a $5 skirt and wash the heck out of it, with fabric softener, and see it that doesn't help. You might want to get one size larger because $5 cotton will likely shrink.

My favorite skirts are flared, made from 4 triangles. Assuming the print and nap allows it, you can cut one out of a length of fabric with minimal waste, and even have enough for pockets. (You teaching geometry? You might not even need a pattern.) I sometimes do a waistband (couple inches of ease, with elastic in the back) and sometimes an elastic waist.

Skirts are definitely more temperate than bifurcated garments (said the two decades+ experienced contra dancer). At my favorite dance events,

*guys* show up in skirts, partly for this reason.

Strongly suggest looking into petticoats as well. Cotton and cotton blends recommended. I doubt those are sold at Kohl's, but they are incredibly easy to make.

HTH

--Karen D.

Reply to
Veloise

If you're buying from Kohl's, it's a good bet that there is a lot of filler added to the cotton. For $5 you could afford to take a skirt home and wash it in extra warm water. That would remove the filler and make the skirt less crisp. Then you could recheck the drape. It might then behave. Sharon

Reply to
Seeker

Dear Suzanne,

Lots of good advice here. My favorite summer skirt is the sarong cut skirt, worn just below the knee. For a teacher (I was, too, before retiring), it's a graceful look, easy to make, and flatters almost every figure. Worn with a simple top and funky jewelry, you'll feel like a million, and the kids will think you're elegant!

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

Dear Teri, Was this a pattern you made your self or was it a comercial pattern. I keep hoping I can find a skirt I like. I just feel that most skirts are too much material or too dowdy . I'm not very tall, 5'5", short waisted and well endowed and always feel that I'm all "pushed together" in skirts and dresses. I loke pants because they give my body a nice long line. Longer skirts make me look short and fat and I'm a bit old for short skirts. Juno

Reply to
Juno

Der Juno,

It's one I made myself, but I have seen RTW, and patterns, too. I'm VERY short--under five feet. I'm also old, but I still have good legs, if nothing else. It's an easy draft, if you'd like instructions.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

We just got one of those in our neck of the woods. Are they a cheapie department store, or a Sears or Penneys type, or a Macy's type?

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

If you taper your skirts so the hem is a few inches narrower in width than the hip area, you will be surprised at how much nicer they look.

Melinda, who found this out after examing a RTW jumper she loved more than her others and was surprised at what a difference it makes

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

I would really appreciate it. Do you suggest any particular fabrics. My legs aren't bad but when I look in the mirror with pants and tops I see a really nice 1/3 - 2/3 look whether I use a long or short top. I have a harded time finding that look with skirts. I'm always willing to try though. Juno

Reply to
Juno

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Dear Melinda, I'll give you idea a try. Right now I'm trying to get my tab tops done. My back started acting up on me again and I've put the project on hold for a short time.I think I'll be able to start again tomorrow. I'm half way through and I hate leaving a project before it's finished. After the tab tops come a couple of summer dresses for my 4 little girl grandchildren. Then I think the sewing machine will be free for somethings for me.

Reply to
Juno

Most wrap-type skirts divide the body, visually at least, into thirds, which looks slimming. They are almost universally flattering because of this visual camouflage trick.

The key is to make sure they wrap in front all the way across on the underside of the wrap, and then they stay modest. My favorite skirt is a Liz Claiborne from the 90s that is a mock wrap; I've copied it in my patterndrafting software, and still get lots of compliments on it. The front looks like a wrap, but there is a side zipper, so the front stays wrapped at all times, with a sort of stay at the top near the waistline that curves down into the wrapover part.

Karen Maslowski > Dear Suzanne,

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

I shop in Kohl's with some frequency. That's about once every three or four months. I'm not a big shopper. They carry a fairly good line in plus sizes. The one thing I don't like is there 100% cotton Sonoma Tee's. They stretch out of shape. They do have some nice cotton rib knit sweaters in the fall. They are the only turtle necks I've ever been comfortable in.My oldest daughter tells me that Kohl's Sonoma Petite jeans are a good buy. We get jeans for DH there and some really nice golf shirts. Filenes is going to become Macy's before the end of the year. I just hope they continue to carry the Bill Blass stretch jeans I like.They have them in a color that's called stone and they come in short length.

Reply to
Juno

Juno, I second Melinda's suggestion. My friend Karen Howland used to taper all her straight skirts, and it makes an enormous difference in slenderizing, at least visually. :)

Karen Maslowski > Mel>>

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

That is true, Pat, no fabrics in Kohl's, but I like the store-no mall, lots of parking near the entrance and hours to fit most people. I bought a set of sheets to make the youngest DGD some outfits, such high-quality cotton and she didn't mind two outfits of the same color. And there is enough fabric to make one of the other DGD a shorts outfit, 3 nice outfits for the price of a set of double bed sheets, with scraps leftover for doll clothes. Emily

Reply to
CypSew

It's on the list. That's all I want.The appearance of looking nice. I can't change what I've taken so many years to come to unless I try for all new body parts, no chronic illnesses and the fact that I'm a D.... good cook. ;)That's probably the biggest offender and I like to eat. I feel that if I wear clothes that are becoming that's what really counts. Juno

Reply to
Juno

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