Pattern Description: Maternity skirt with option for two styles of waistbands. This pattern was purchased and downloaded from craftsy.com.
Pattern Sizing:Pattern designer's chart of sizes: a - e (hip measurements of 36 - 44 inches)
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes. Simple skirt, simple instructions.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
LIKE - A nice basic, simple skirt. Good maternity wardrobe builder.
DISLIKES - Mostly problems with the pattern draft:
1. After downloading, pattern is to be printed and taped together.
WARNING ---> There are gaps in the registration marks one uses to tape this pattern together. It is necessary to use the graph lines to help one match up the printed pages. The grid printed out perfectly to scale on all sheets of paper, so IMO the problem is in the pattern itself (or designer's CAD program) and not my printer.
* * * See photos of this problem at the photo link below.
2. Because of the problems with the registration marks, I had to use a large gridded ruler and line up the sheets by the vertical and horizontal grid marks. I recommend others do this, too.
3. Test garment was made in a size 'd'. The front side seam is 3/16" (1/2 cm) shorter than the back side seam draft. I discovered this when I walked the seam lines and before I cut fabric.
Consequently, I had to lengthen the front side seam of the pattern. Pattern errors like this can discourage new sewers, leading them to think they made a mistake when in reality, the mistake is in the pattern.
4. No readily apparent or traditional yardage requirements chart for this skirt. There is a "cutting & yardage guide" that is the pattern layout guide. The length of fabric needed is indicated on the pattern/fabric layout guide. I've been sewing for almost 50 years, so old habits are hard to break. I like a straightforward traditional yardage chart, instead of searching around for lengths.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS:
a. The center back seam and vent instructions are not traditional. The "vent", if one follows the pattern's instructions, is really a pleat that does not open. (see photo in album, linked below) We are directed to sew the CB seam, down the diagonal, and continue down the vent seam. This keeps it simple for beginning sewers, and maybe that is the purpose. I made it as a traditional kick pleat instead.
b. This is not a true "pencil skirt" per se. In reality, it is more of a very slight A-line skirt as drafted. The line drawings at craftsy.com look like a straight skirt, but it is not "straight".
Fabric Used: A glen plaid RPL from Gorgeous Fabrics.com.
DDIL works in a corporate setting and needs professional career type clothing for work.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
None.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I will sew it again. This is a good "Basic" skirt. I recommend it as a wardrobe builder, but with pattern corrections and warnings noted above. I'll be making the second version of this skirt this week.
Conclusion:
I could not find a review of this skirt anywhere, so I paid my $5 and took my chances. For the price, it is a good pattern, but you need to pay attention to the issues I listed above. Correcting them was not difficult, just a little time-consuming and unexpected. (argh!) The wonky registration marks is the biggest problem with this pattern that a 'beginner' sewer needs to be aware of, then the side seam length problem. Other than that, it is very manageable by any level of sewist.
I made this in a size 'c' because DDIL is in her 2nd trimester. I'll make it again in size 'd' for the 3rd trimester and a larger size will be needed then.
https://picasaweb.google.com/famwald/Sewing2013LouLouJamesPRMegPencilSkirt
(I'm having trouble getting a link into this review, so copy & paste the above. I have several photos that illustrate the problems with the registration marks)
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