Disclaimer: This is a new pattern company which two friends of mine have started. This is their first pattern, and guess what? It's free! You can download it here. I haven't been compensated in anyway for this review, but all the same I make absolutely no claims to objectivity. Nonetheless, you can see the results of their lovely pattern yourself 
View / Size used: There's only one view, I cut a 10
Fabric Used: Medium weight brushed cotton twill from Fabric Planet, super thin poly lining
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I used a regular zipper, and didn't bother with a hook and eye
Were the instructions easy to follow? There aren't instructions, but there's a super detailed sew-along on their blog, so yes, very easy.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It's really easy, and the scallops are really playful and cute. I really appreciated that the layout of the PDF was very carefully designed. They've obviously taken great care that pattern pieces aren't hanging over on to a tiny piece of another sheet of paper and things like that. When I reprinted my waistband, I was happy to discover I had very few pages to re-print.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the finished garment? I thought that my fabric was a little heavier than I'd like, making the skirt a little pouffier than I'd intended, but looking at the pictures now, I think I've achieved fun-level pouffy without going to cartoon-grade.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, yes! I think future versions would just have one or two layers, and would be made from from drapier fabric, but it's certainly worth trying again.
Construction notes:
The pattern comes together really easily, so there aren't too many things to say construction-wise.
I was excited to try out the scallop technique that Amity laid out here, so I got straight to that first. I was really glad I used really thin lining, since my main fabric was possibly a smidgen too heavy. It was especially helpful when pressing the scallops. I also noticed that it was good not to make the top of the scallop not too tight a corner, so it turns a little more easily.
Going by my measurements, I cut out an 8. Knowing it's a new pattern company, I decided to quickly baste up the waistband, and see how it fitted. It actually fit pretty well - 2 inched below my natural waist, just as described - but when I held up the skirt to the waistband, I realised it was a little shorter than I wanted, so I cut the size 10 waistband, so it would sit a little lower on my hips.
I love the curve of this waistband, and I'm actually using it on some pants that I'm working on right now!
More info and pictures over on my blog. |
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I love the fun-level pouffy! Oh, I love, love, love this skirt. Mine is cut out and ready to trace. I could not believe this pattern was free when I saw how carefully drafted it was. And the instructions at the sew along are so complete and helpful. I'm wondering if at the scallop edge the lining rolls around to peek out--kind of hoping it does. Okay, this is so perfect! Thanks for the VH review.
2/26/13 12:20 PM
The scallops look really cute! Thanks for the review, I wasn't aware of this pattern company.
2/26/13 7:04 PM
This turned out so cute! Sadly, I haven't started mine yet...I had good intentions for the sew-along but life got in the way...yours is really cute!!
2/26/13 8:04 PM
Thanks for the review! I downloaded mine when they released it and have yet to work on it. The scallops! That must have been time consuming... but they look so adorable and worth it. Nice job!
2/26/13 8:39 PM
Very cute skirt and I love the fabric! Thanks for giving us the link to the pattern!
2/26/13 9:14 PM
Cute skirt. Thanks for all of the info!
2/27/13 8:20 PM
It turned out so gorgeous!!
3/5/13 7:15 AM