While the pieces are out...

I will jump straight into my next version of this skirt. McCall's 5523 (same as last weeks skirt) but with a different rear-end feature. 

Funnily enough, I have never had so many compliments about my behind as I have with wearing this skirt. Kind of like plain on the front, but one almighty kick from behind. 

The feature on the back of this skirt adds such brilliant wearing ease, letting me chase after those little kiddies in the classroom gracefully!

So this time I used yet another fabric from Spotlight - they certainly are lifting their game of late - a printed linen/blend in black and white. This is going to be very useful in my wardrobe - I have a heap of plain tops to jazz this skirt up with.

Again, I lined it with a white cotton - but, again, not on the pleat detail area. I am really concerned if I lined the 'feature' section it just won't fall as perfectly as I planned. Really, since it is all behind me I shouldn't worry so much, but that's life!  You can see from the piccies that I also used the intended facing on this skirt, just to give it a little more 'something' on the waist area. Was this a wise idea? Well the skirt held up for the day without stretching, so it payed off (luckily).

An amazing fellow Aussie blogger, Suzy from Suzy Bee Sews, is always adding a splash of colour in surprising places when she sews her garments. So, on this skirt I used a strip of yellow bias to edge my facing. I know, out-there or what for me!

And I can't leave without showing off yet another brilliant invisible zipper - just not sure which seam it is hidden away in....it is there under the belt, somewhere....

So after a long, final (yeah, start that party) day at school my skirt held up, minimal wrinkles (unlike the arms on my jacket) and it didn't stretch and end up around my knees!!! I am in love with this pattern, but probably will move on from here now. 

Just will leave you with one parting shot of my rear view...it really gathered positive comments in the hallways. Guess the gym is finally working for me, or should my sewing skills take all the credit this time???

And make sure you pop over to You Sew Girl! who is also whipping up this same skirt, but using a beautiful rayon-poly-lycra stretch woven.    

A new skirt...

How good is it to know that all you have to do is whip up a new skirt, and you feel like you have a whole new outfit? And when it is an easy to sew skirt, with a little 'feature' it is even better.

New skirt for a night out to a Thai restaurant with a few friends was just the place for McCall's 5523 to be showcased. 

Not a bad little group of straight skirts, four variations to the rear hem area, and plenty of lovely sewers out there have already trialled, sewed, and taken the bugs out, so I was in for an easy sew-up. 

I decided on View D with the 2 rows of flounces. 

For a simple straight skirt it is very effective, and enjoyable to wear. I mainly aim at wearing it over the coming summer months with a little camisole tank top, or similar. Easy wearing, that's what I like!

Now for a few quick details. The fabric is an animal linen/blend print from Spotlight. Beautiful to work with, but fairly frayable which annoyed me. So even though I have lined the skirt all seams have fully finished.

The flounce on the back was easy, just two pieces, hemmed and joined onto the back panel. I found this to be extremely easy, and effective. 

The actual flounce probably isn't that noticeable with this busy print, but in a plain fabric I think it would be a super detail. Easily the two flounce hems could have lace, or a fancy edging added to up the looks value.

My fabric needed lining to add support, so I used a black cotton - it is a summer skirt after-all. But I didn't line the flounce section. My reasoning is that it will look dreadful and not fall correctly. So the back inside lining section is attached to the top of the flounce, and down the two back side seams. A bit crazy to photograph, but you get the picture. And for the hem I just used a strip of black bias to neaten it all up.

And zipper - what zipper? Just how invisible is that with this print...

Just love everything about this skirt, from its incrediable easy sew aspect to the easy wear value. Definitely whipping up another, or two of these for summer wearing...

Back view without jacket.