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Phi’s skirt progress

I’m mostly done with Phi’s skirt! This is what I have so far:

phi_skirt_06

This is actually the second one I’ve made. The first one came out a bit too short and too poofy. It was easier for me to just start over on another one than to try to alter the first one.

I used Kona cotton in black and peacock blue, and I used this bubble skirt tutorial as my guide. I went with a bubble skirt because Phi’s skirt seems to be gathered and a bit puffy which… is pretty much a bubble skirt!

The first thing I did was cut out the parts I needed:

phi_skirt_01

  • A. Waistband
    Width = widest part of my hip (since I’m using elastic)
    Length = 2 x waistband length (to fold over)
  • B. Lining
    Width = waistband width
    Length = Skirt length – waistband length – 4 inches
  • C. Outer skirt
    Width = a little over double the waistband width
    Length of black part = Skirt length – waistband length – 2 inches
    Length of blue part = 6 inches = 2 inches (bottom of the skirt) + 4 inches (to fold over and attach to lining)

Note: I added seam allowance to all measurements above.

The waistband might look a little funny because the ends have extra length. I wanted to give extra length to the back of the skirt (because, you know, butts stick out a little), so I added the extra length to the waistband.


Next was the gathering part! The outer skirt needed to be gathered and sewed to the lining. I used a tip I found online somewhere about gathering evenly.

Instead of one long basting stitch, I split it into 8 basting stitches that were the same length. You can’t really see it the photo, but I used a fabric marker to mark my outer skirt into eight sections. I did the same with the lining (except with pins), and I gathered each section to match with the lining.

phi_skirt_02

Then I pinned the two together:

phi_skirt_03

And here’s what it looks like after it’s sewn together:

phi_skirt_04

After that, it’s folded in half and gathered to the waistband. I used the same technique where I split it into 8 basting stitches on the outer skirt. Then the lining, outer skirt, and waistband are sewed together!

phi_skirt_05

The last part is just sewing the ends together and closing the waistband with an elastic band inside. What’s left on the skirt? The belt! I’m looking for a belt buckle first.

As for the rest of her outfit, I bought a couple tank tops from Old Navy for her top, and I’ve decided on a medium weight denim for her jacket. I just need to order the fabric and finish drafting the pattern for it!

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2 Responses to “Phi’s skirt progress”

  • Ongaku says:

    I really wish I had your sewing skills. Or some kind of sewing skill at all. Haha! I need to stop being so chicken.

    That skirt looks great so far!

    I just wanted to let you know that Killswithcake is now gone. I have you linked on my new cosplay site Singingaway.net.

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