A-line skirt …. an epic story

Many many …… many moons ago, I embarked on a quest.  The quest for the perfect fitted waist A-line skirt.   An admirable quest for sure, but had I known the disappointments and pitfalls, perhaps I would have given my sewing fairy (aka me) a chocolate and told her to save her energy.

I have made myself a couple of straight skirts, with fitted waistlines.  Of course my fluctuating body shape has meant that one has already been taken in, and the other is in the sewing room waiting to be altered.  Its lined and topstitched, so its a major exercise to do any alteration.  I have wasted a large amount of fabric on testers for an online pattern … still no luck.

So … back to the epic.  I tried first with the StyleArc design ….. lovely, but too small across the hips, and a wide waistband that cuts in at the centre back.

And so to today’s effort.  I have the Ottobre 5/2012 #12. Aztec.  – quite a wide pattern, but measurements showed it not going around my substantial middle anyway.  However, adding width is not easy, as it has pockets.  And experience tells me that I invariably make mistakes, and end up with something too big ….. guess what ?  I was right.   So take over an inch off the centre front, and add extra darts at the back.  Take in the facing an equivalent amount, and I have a skirt that sits at my waist.  Great ….. it won’t fall down, but if I lose a couple of kgs, I am back to a baggy skirt that won’t stay up.

And even though the waist isn’t tight, the back cuts in at the waist.

I think perhaps, I need to accept that this is my body shape, and work with it. I think the next incarnation will be with hidden waist elastic, and leave off the zip.