Saturday, May 14, 2011

Back to the beginning....and then an epilogue. (You already know the middle bit)

Long before the shirred top and long before the trapese line top in my book, I made the bustle skirt, based on a square of fabric. I then started thinking about a way to make one based on a quarter-circle skirt.
Somewhere during the process of playing with calico, I thought, "....Ooh, I could make top this way...". So was the beginning of the trapese line top... and a hiatus in the development of the bustle-skirt idea. It was also the start of the patternfree skirt section in the book.


I only got back to the original idea this week.... and it seems to work!
It's a variation on the panel skirt in my book (only I thought of it before I thought of the panel skirts...). The hemline of this skirt finishes in a point - basically, it hasn't been cut in a curve at the hemline (except a bit of last minute trimming before hemming, just so I don't trip and break my neck on the stairs). It has been shirred randomly across the back - with the shirring in a kind of wildly random cross-hatch on the bottom half. There was a bit of slam-pressing, too. The fabric was a printed linen remnant that I bought for $10 at the Shirt & Skirt Market a few years ago. It was a light "faded denim" colour with red and navy flowers. I dyed it indigo.
And I've been swanning about in it like bustle skirts are the height of fashion. (Yes, I watch too many costume dramas).

16 comments:

Kate said...

It's gorgeous! I really think you look like you've stepped off a catwalk somewhere fancy. x

ps. thank you so much for your email.

Jenny from Ohjoh said...

Ooh I think even Mr Darcy would love it!

CurlyPops said...

I'm definitely loving the bustle skirts!

Vic said...

THIS IS AMAZING!

Fiona said...

Fabulous!

Fiona said...

Love it!!

Lola Nova said...

It's fantastic, I love it! I'm always a-flutter over something a bit different in the the clothing department, just lovely!

seabreezequilts said...

Looks fantastic. Going to have to do some of this type of sewing once I have all my deadlines finished.

Unknown said...

Love it a lot.

BOB & MABEL said...

Wow! Love it so much.

Gay McDonell said...

Very theatrical - looks great!!!

Jo McKay said...

I love it! Very funky :O)

Tas said...

Oh that is gorgeous! Bustle that bootie ;)

Anonymous said...

With a skirt that gorgeous, bustle skirts will be the height of fashion very soon. Love what you do.
Diana

Mary said...

Received your book last week and it looks great! Can't wait till school is over and I can sit down and read it through! Hope it goes well for you!

Fer said...

Love love love!!! You can never have too many costume dramas either. ♥