the Canvas

Over the weekend I cut into my Saffron Pastry Voile by Anna Maria Horner to make this skirt...

Pastry Line voile & Flea Market Fancy yoke

I hadn't planned on using anything in particular for the waistband, but it had to be cut on bias, so something other than the pastry voile was in order.  I'm totally smitten with how nicely this grey bouquet print from Flea Market Fancy plays with the saffron.  It gives it all a sort of country maiden flair?  Which is perfect, since I'm the kind of girl who loves to take a turn round the May pole.

yoke from Proper Attire Skirt by AMH

Anyhoo, the yoke is taken from Anna Maria Horner's Proper Attire Skirt pattern, which I also used for invisible zipper insertion/finishing instructions on this lined skirt.   I dig how the yoke is wide in the front and curves to narrow in the back. Rather than following the skirt body instructions from Anna's pattern, I made a simple gathered skirt, following the lead of the favorite finished skirt in my closet.  It has gathers just at the front and back, not at the sides, which flatters my hips.

preparing the Canvas


I'm making this skirt as a canvas of sorts for a Handstitched class project.  For those of you who plan to take the class, you might choose to embellish a skirt the week we study Applique (or opt for another Applique project instead).  Actually, you could do a skirt or dress.  The class won't include instructions for making the garment - just embellishing it by hand.  I figured you might have a "too plain" item languishing in your wardrobe that could use some love or you could buy or make something that suits your figure.  The embellishment will be along the bottom of the skirt/dress and it won't be all that subtle, while also not being very "dressy".  So it's a casual, pretty look.  There are tons of great online tutorials for skirts, like this one and this one, but I also recommend Anna's pattern.  Whatever fits your style!  You'll see the finished skirt before class starts so that might help you source the perfect canvas.

Now I need to hem this one and I'm thinking a rolled hem might be the way to go because I don't have enough fabric left to do a wide hem.  But I wonder if a rolled voile hem is super tricky?  I'd better practice on some scrap fabric first! Or maybe a hand-pressed 1/4" wide or 1/2" wide hem would be better.  This is my first time garment-making with voile, and I know that many of you are so wise and experienced!  What do you think would look best?

P.S.  After selling out almost as soon as it released, Flea Market Fancy is back in stock at Fat Quarter ShopSew Modern, Pink Chalk, Pink Castle and Moona. If you've been eying it, get it while you can!