Refashioning a skirt

A favourite store for me is Autograph …. most of the clothing is a bit sacklike, but for some reason I have nothing but good luck with their skirts, pants and jeans. They are still baggy around the thighs a bit, but that is a fault of my body, not the clothing. But, in plus sized clothing, I am bog standard. I am the size they sell out of first, the size the large proportion of women are. So its very rare that something in my size will be on the sale racks.

Sales are my downfall. And so I spent $20 on this skirt. A lovely marle suiting in grey, lined, perfect for work. Really sweet 6 seam detailing at the sideseams, But, one size too big. I got it home and tried it on (yes I know I have a thing about shop change rooms), and not only is it too big in the waist, but hips and thighs are huge as well. Cartoon parody huge, YouTube embarrassment (when it falls to my feet) huge.

Once-upon-a-time .. I would have taken a big inch worth tuck or two in the waistband, complained that it was uncomfortable, and it still looked huge, and the skirt would have mouldered in the back of the wardrobe.

Instead I took the slow road. I unpicked the waistband leaving the zip in place. I also unpicked the hem around the bottom of the seams. I took in all 6 seams by a total of 12cm, plus a teensy bit more just at the waist on the front two seams. I then pinned the lining back in, pleating in the excess, and basted it. I pinned the waistband starting at the back and centre front, until I got to the sideseams. This gave me a lump of extra fabric on the waistband. I unpicked the side seams of the waistband and facing, pinned up the excess, then stitched a new seam. Trimmed off the excess, pinned back to the waistline.  Stitched the waistband on, turn the facing in, and then ditch-stitched it in place from the outside.  My only real “cheat” was using my cover stitch to do the hemline, as I didn’t feel like hand stitching the entire thing.

I have tried it on, and its a tiny bit firm on the waist, but since I am still slightly swollen around the middle from the surgery, I figure I will settle down by the time I am back at work.  Plus, through winter I will be wearing a longline suspender belt when I wear stockings, so that will “suck” in the tummy slightly too.

And the completed outfit