Friday 14 December 2012

My Hollyburn Skirt

I've been on Tasia's mailing list since the beginning, but I'd never had the time to be part of her pattern testing before.  I thought about it a few times, especially when she was developing the Thurlow trouser pattern,  because I really need to learn how to sew my own trousers that actually fit in both the hip and waist AT THE SAME TIME!  Is that too much to ask?!  But then I thought that taking on my first fitted pair with a tight time restriction was a recipe for disappointment. 

When she put out a call for testers for a simple skirt, I thought I could probably handle it.  In fact, the Hollyburn is a very quick pattern to put together, and is designed to work for so many fabrics and body types that you really can't go wrong. 

Here are some quick and dirty photos I took with my son's point-and-shoot camera in my lab one morning; until Santa brings me a DSLR, I'm afraid this is the best I can do:

 
 

I really like the way the pockets are constructed without adding any bulk at the hips.  In fact, they lay so flat that they are almost invisible if you are using a busy print.  I decided to add the tabs to the waistband because I had enough fabric, and I had these two lonely buttons made of wood and brass that matched quite well, and would probably never be used otherwise. 

I used 3m of very narrow shwe shwe cotton from Botswana.  After washing and drying, it was only about 85cm (34") wide, but either of the shorter views (B and C) would fit.  I did have to cut the pockets across the grain as you can see below, but it worked with my fabric because the print is symmetrical.  Cutting the pockets with the grain or using view A would have required ~3.5m.


I chose to bind the hem with bias tape because I just so happened to have exactly the right colour and length in my box of tangled chaos perfectly organized notions, and because my fabric is quite stiff and bulky. If you were to use a thinner fabric, it could easily be folded over and hemmed as usual. 


All in all, it's an easy, flattering pattern to give a beginner good results.  It also offers enough variations to make an intermediate or advanced sewintist happy.  See?

22 comments:

  1. Love your skirt, it's a great shape and fit on you. The tabs are a nice touch.

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    1. When I first saw the pattern, I thought it was pretty basic and that I probably had something like it already; then I made it up and appreciated the small details like the pocket design. I'm sure I'll make it again.

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    1. Thanks! I'm waiting for the other testers to post today too, and see the differences between our projects.

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  3. Oh, that's nice. I love the fabric!

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    1. I always used to avoid brown, but shwe shwe is most often printed in blue, red or brown, and some of the designs are just so beautiful! I think I need some gold tops or cardigans to go with my shwe shwe skirts.

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  4. Love the fabric - super matching of fabric to pattern choice.

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    1. I admit to being a shwe shwe addict. I'm not ashamed.

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  5. What a perfect pattern for the shwe shwe! I've been wondering what to do with mine, so afraid to use it. I may have to copy you :-)

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    1. Have you used any of it yet? I have made both skirts and dresses out of shwe shwe, and I definitely wear the skirts more. I think that the fabric is heavy enough to be really better suited to a bottom. This is a great pattern, and since Tasia may be sending the printed pattern my way sometime soon, I may do a giveaway. Keep watching this space!

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  6. Love it! Your adventures in Shwe Shwe are always fun.

    I still want to see what you do with Thurlow, though. :D

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    1. I'm thinking about doing Susan Khaljie's class on fitting pants, especially since there is a sale on Craftsy right now. Santa?

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  7. gorgeous... i hope santa brings you that DSLR. those pockets & tabs are delicious...

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  8. gorgeous... i hope santa brings you that DSLR. those pockets & tabs are delicious...

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    1. Well, there is a tripod shaped present under the tree already....

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  9. Love a good twirly photo :) and your fabric is perfect!

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  10. Thanks! Now that we are allowed to post, I think I'll try to get some better photos.

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  11. That fabric is PERFECT! I love the addition of the buttons especially. It turned out beautifully!

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  12. Oh, I love this skirt! I have been considering buying this pattern and you have sent me a lot closer to YES.

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  13. I love this Hollyburn, the fabric is fabulous. I'm researching before I made mine up. Would you recommend a stiff fabric like this as opposed to a softer cotton?

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    1. I think it would work in pretty much any weight fabric. I've seen all kinds on blogs. The only thing is that with a stiff fabric like this, the centre front does tend to "pooch" out a bit and look like you have a beer gut. I don't mind, but some people may. I think I'm going to try a shorter, drapier version next time around.

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