Fabric and pattern swaps.
What a wonderful idea.
@adelaidesewists organised this swap in July. I took 13 lengths of fabric and it felt good. My no-longer adored fabric was going to a good home and not landfill. Someone else is going to make something amazing from it.
I come home with 6 lengths of fabric (not as much as I took – #winning), so I saved fabric from landfill too. So much to love!
This skirt is from one of those fabric. Thanks Rhoz! And thanks @adelaidesewists!
So happy about the fabric swap.
Also, so very happy with this skirt.
This is a Burda pattern I’ve made multiple time. It’s pegged and it has pockets. Some of my favourite sewing things.
The not-so-useful US Burda site has the pattern here. The German Burda site is much more helpful, even if you don’t read German (and is where I took the line drawing from).
The fabric is a bengaline with good stretch and recovery. I made the skirt up with an elastic waist but without a zip or walking vent or lining or top stitching around the hem.
Does it look like an elastic waist skirt to you?
It looks very corporate doesn’t it? Especially when I stand more normally.
I love the trickery of using the right fabric.
This is a size 46 waist and size 48 hips (thanks, no thanks, to hormonal imbalances for the size changes – yes I am a woman of a certain age).
This fabric was difficult to cut out because the print didn’t appear to be strictly on grain. I pinned every 5 cms or so and then stretched and ironed to force it into shape. I cut the front in a single layer and the back pieces separately.
The elastic waist was a bit of an experiment. I could have added a waistband to this pattern and inserted or sewed elastic to that, but I didn’t.
Instead, I cut a length of 4 cm wide elastic to my waist measurement, joined it, and then sewed it to my already prepared facing. Yes a nice even circlet of elastic sewn to a curved facing. I stretched the fabric of the facing and the elastic and used a zigzag stitch to sew the elastic to the facing just a smidge under the waist attachment sewing line. (No I did not change the thread in the overlocker to blue. I like the red. And I might be a bit lazy)
I then stitched the facing, with its elastic, to the skirt, using a narrower zigzag stitch and stitching very close to the elastic but not catching it in. Also whilst stretching. Which is why the stitching is a bit wonky.
Then trimmed the excess seam allowance of the facing close to the stitching line
After I turned and ironed, it all looked pretty good! The bottom edge of the facing has a bit of fluting due to the elastic but it’s very smooth from the outside.
I stitched in the ditch to secure the elastic/facing down at the side seams and centre front and back. So easy!
The hem was also secured with a zigzag. Almost invisible on the outside but pretty obvious inside due to that lovely red overlooking.
The skirt is about 4 cm shorter than drafted.
The orange and blue top is Burda 02/2015 #128 and you can read all about it here.
I’m very happy with this new skirt. It’s super comfortable to wear and just the right weight for the end of winter in Adelaide. Thanks again Rhoz! I hope you like my grey, black and white knit as much as I like your blue and white bengaline.
He Cooks... She Sews! 
Love your zip and elastic hack, and the red serger thread. I’d probably leave in kick pleat because I take big strides and ride a bike in my skirts 🤪🤣
Good point. I can take big strides but riding a bike would be bit like exercising with a resistance band
Lovely! I like that waistband trick Being of a very certain age myself,and never having had a waist anyway! The link about the top doesn’t seem to work for me…
Very nice skirt. I like your elastic waistband treatment.
Thanks I’m pleased with how well this worked. I suspect a lot of it is due to the bengaline
What a cool idea. I have never seen a fabric swap in the UK.
First time for me. And I’m a convert!
Great skirt and clever waistband treatment. also – great shoes!
Thanks. I feel like I might be channeling you with the shoes
Hi visited your site I read your blog post. Very nice idea for sewing dress. I like
Thanks for the skirt idea; brilliant! Yes I’m now in that age category and with extra ‘Covid’ weight… LOL. I didn’t realise there was a fabric swap meet; I’ve long been complaining to my sewing buddy that we need to do this in Adelaide as I have a huge stash and would rather give my fabric to someone who would appreciate it. I will have to watch out for this one next time (I’m not on social media much….!)
@adelaidesewists are worth following on Instagram. I’m not on Facebook but the group is probably on that too.
LOVE LOVE LOVE a good fabric and pattern swap. Fantastic way to reduce the collection and re-stock with fabric that will be used.
Your skirt is terrific – love the smooth yet elastic waistband. Being a certain age means we accept the need (that we always had) for wearing comfort. Sewing makes it possible to be stylish while comfortable.
Thank you!
I LOVE craft swaps! ❤ I would never have guessed that this was an elastic waist skirt. Not that elastic is the enemy but I like some sneaky sneaky business, at least when it's this successful. 🙂
Me too 😉