Gertie’s Pencil Skirt
Wow, it’s been a long, long time since I last posted! I haven’t actually done that much sewing in the interim, and my lack of a functioning camera has hampered my efforts of showing off that which I have managed to make, but I figured I would just suck it up and post grainy and massively unflattering iPad photos in the meantime. Keepin’ it real, Threadcarefully Style.
I actually made a muslin of the wiggle dress from Gertie’s New Book of Better Sewing and I really love it: the shape is simply outstanding. I’m saving that for one of the multitude of Christmas and birthday parties I have in December however so you’ll just have to wait until then for the big reveal. (That, and I still haven’t finished it.)
So, here it is: my first finished make from Gertie’s Book – the Pencil skirt.
Completely dorky looking photo with bad perspective. Nice.
This skirt was a joy to make. Going on the remarkably accurate fitting of the wiggle dress muslin I threw caution to the wind and just cut the fabric and underlining as is figuring that all tweaks would be minor. I was – thankfully – right and I didn’t have to do anything to it at all. Since I knew I would be wearing the skirt mostly to work I didn’t bother putting the boning in the waistband and, haven’t worn it today for a long time, I’m pretty glad that I didn’t!
I made it in a remnant of wool tweed that I bought in Cae Du Designs on a visit to Harlech on my camping trip during Me-Made-May, which is this lovely little shop here. It cost me the grand sum of £5 for 2 metres. I only needed 1. I had the acetate lining and lace in my stash. That all in, plus the zip gives you a grand sum of…£3.99 for the whole thing!
(click the picture to go to their website)
You can wholly trust me to find the only fabric shop in the vicinity.
I underlined the whole thing in white acetate lining, which I’m probably not supposed to do but, hey!, it meant I didn’t have to line it after and I wasn’t pulling the lining down all day or swishing it back to where it was supposed to be. I stitched a lovely, thin white lace to the hem and stitched this to the lining. Likewise, I catch stitched each of the seams to the underlining by hand (which took me most of “Return of the Jedi”, if you’re interested!) which was reassuringly soothing and reminded me that I actually quite like sewing by hand.
The finished result is great, remarkably comfortable even after a full day’s wear and makes me look like the stereotypical librarian I always wanted to be when I grew up. No, really. I really wanted to be an old lady librarian. (I still do). Someone did refer to it as my “headmistress” skirt too. Make of that what you will…
Gertie says you’ll want to make a lot of these in different colours. I can tell you that she’s right!
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Thread Carefully 
oooh, i love your skirt! great fit, and it looks perfect in tweed 🙂
Thank you! For a pencil skirt it’s amazingly easy to walk in as well!
Love the tweed. Looks great! I’ve made 3 of these pencil skirts…totally addictive. Can’t wait to see what you do next.
3 seems to be my magic number so I imagine I’ll end up making at least 3 of these!
I actually have a maxi dress I need to post about. After that, it’s the wiggle dress, to be made in the most beautiful deep purple satin. God knows when I’m going to fit that in though, between now and Christmas.
I’m gonna sound like a fangirl but MY magic number is 3 also!! So many ways things have really come in 3’s in my life. It’s very curious.
I did enjoy messing with the skirts. The second skirt I made I added pockets from another pattern. So cute. I can’t wait to see your maxi and wiggle dresses. Deep purple satin? I have taken a break from Gertie’s book after altering and muslining the coat dress. I may go back to it but for now I’m on to smaller projects.
STUNNING! Beautiful shape and beautifully made x
Thanks lovely! Can’t wait to see what you make with the pattern post pregnancy. It’ll suit you to a T (a double T!).
It’s gorgeous! I love the shape and the fabric. 🙂
Thank you!
Beautiful! The fabric is completely perfect, and it looks really great on you!
Thanks Christina. It’s very gratifying to find something that fits straight from the pattern and is pretty darn nice as well!
Love this style on you! Looks like a really versatile, wearable skirt!
Thanks! It’s a great skirt. You can’t really see, but there’s a little bit of a blue-grey thread running through the material which I’m going to try and pull out with some different coloured tops in future (I have a horrendous habit of just sticking to black).
Fit.
haha! Thanks lady! x
ooo great! i was going to make this soon but was worried about fit. this looks awesome! loving the trim on the inside too!
Thanks! The fit is great on me and it feels lovely to wear. Knowing that trim is on the inside is a bonus!
😀 awesome! i love it when there are little special secrets in ones own makes!
oooh pretty! It looks great on you, really flattering! This book is on my Christmas list, can’t wait to see your dress! x
Thanks Stevie. The book is wonderful! I can’t wait to get started on the other projects in it.