The skirt has a flouce on the back that gives it a swing that is very flatter on us larger girls.( i recieved so many compliments on my butt...I know i am laughing too). Here is my review of the BWOF 09-2009-137A Skirt
Here is the photo from the magazine. It's very plain, simple, kind of boring.
Here is the Line Art - Again kind of boring and Plain.
The instruction booklet shows the really image of this skirt. A plain pencil on the front with a flounce on the back. So here is my rendition of the skirt. (sorry for the wrinkles, but i took this photo about 10 min after wearing the skirt for 10 hours)
Pattern Review:
Pattern Description: A dream in rose pink.
This jacket of wool velour looks stunning as part of a suit but could also be teamed with jeans.
It has a chic Peter Pan collar and long kimono sleeves. The plainly classic knee-nipping skirt provides the perfect partner for your dream jacket.
Pattern Sizing: Euro 44 - 52
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes this skirt looked like the photo, i made 1 modification that was not in the instructions. I decided to add a waistband and to elimiate the facings.
Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were your typical BWOF. Not a whole lot of detail but take your time and you can figure out what the instructions are.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? This is a super easy skirt to make and can easily become a TNT for a standard pencil skirt. The flounce does require some manuvering and i would advise that you cut the pattern piece in full. more on that later. For my body type a waistband was needed so i dislike the facing on the skirt and opted for a waistbaind.
Fabric Used: Crepe Back satin on sale at Joann Fabrics in color "eggplant" (love this purple)
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: The skirt goes to a 52 buy my hips are a 54. So i drafted up at the hips to a 54. In addition i have realized that i have a round lower tummer (where did that come from) and a round tooshie (I know what that comes from). So i opted to do a pattern alteration. In The April/May 2009 Threads Magazine there is a seris on proper fitting. One method mentioned is the slash-and-pivot for bottoms. with this method you slash at the dart or infront of center front/back and then you slash where your tummy measures the fulles. Spread each piece apart and for me i slashed the dart & the vertical at 3/8". I didn't measure i just guessed. By golly it worked like a charm and this skirt fits like a dream. I don't have that long in the front short in the back skirt syndrome.
Another alteration i did was to add a waistband instead of using the facings. To do this i measured my waist added 8 CM and made the piece 10 cm wide. I had on hand some Perfect Wasitband maker interfacing. Pressed the interfacing on leaving 1/4" all around. Pressed down the 1/4" and stiched the bottom and sides to hold in place. Next i placed it on the skirt and the rest is standard wasitband. This allowed me to do a further alteration which is to lower the waistband at my tummy for a better fit. ( this must be why i received all of the compliments)
Finally the pattern called for hand stitching the hem...NO i refuse!.... I used 1/4" wide Steam a Seam to finish my hem. The satin is very picky and with my hand sewing skills it was obvious that there was a hem. with the steam a seam i recieved a very finished look, very professional.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?Conclusion: I will most certainly sew this skirt again it is a GREAT fitting pattern. The larger girls look fabulous in this beautiful curvy pencil skirt. Show off those curves ladies!