Finished - Vintage Wrap Skirt - Simplicity 7359

This skirt is all about the pockets. The humble wrap skirt rates pretty low on the scale of exciting makes, so I was keen to use a pattern that was just a little more special than most. Last year Jillian made a gorgeous skirt using vintage Simplicity 7359 and I was smitten. After incessant wrap skirt pattern research I knew it was the one for me so I tracked it down on Ebay and we are living together happily ever after.

There will be the inevitable comparisons to the Miette skirt, but I'm just not up for the exaggerated A-line shape of the Miette, and I think the pockets are in a weird spot. This is still A-line, and with the wrong top the shape is terribly frumpy on me, but with careful styling (fitted top, plenty of skin, clogs) I'm really pleased with the 70's vibe I've got going on with it. 

The denim is a nice medium weight with a reasonable amount of drape, from G&J's in Brunswick East. They have a consistently great range of denim there - it's all $15/m and most are quite wide. I did end up looking like a smurf by the end of the make - the dye that came off even after a prewash was awful. I actually washed it again before hemming as I was concerned that it might shrink (and I didn't want dye rubbing off onto my clothes). 

Wouldn't it be hilarious if I turned around to reveal the chicken appliqué that comes with it..... Sorry to disappoint! Here's a closeup of one of the glorious pockets - it's a bit hard to tell but there's a dart there over the hip that helps to add shape without volume. The pockets are patch pockets, and I learned the hard way the importance of pinning patch pockets over a slight curve if they will be over a curve on the body. The change in positioning was only a few millimetres but definitely made the difference between crapola homemade skirt and rather nice homemade skirt. Here's a link explaining in a bit more detail what I'm on about.... I also regret lining the pockets with a very contrasting fabric. Despite trimming away some of the seam allowance to allow it to roll in one can sometimes see a hint of beige lining. So let that be a patch pocket lesson to you all - use a similar colour lining, and pin over a curve or rue the consequences!

I did add a little extra to the centre fronts and backs as my measurements came in higher than the pattern I bought, but I ended cutting away an enormous amount from the back wrap so probably could have gotten away with it. But with a back wrap one clearly does not need to be stingy around the caboose region. It does seem to hold down quite securely.....

Thoughts on length. I deliberately hemmed this quite long. I'm not certain whether I've made it too long. My beloved is yet to see it and no doubt he will have a firm opinion on it. But from the get-go I had this length in my minds eye....

I do think it looks better in real life than in these pics. My tank is actually sparkly silver, and when I'm not posing awkwardly and hoping my neighbour doesn't come and ask what I'm up to I think it's rather chic....

Literally the week that I found my pattern on Ebay I had a rummage around at my local Savers and found a couple of wrap skirt patterns I couldn't leave behind. I have this tendency to want to 'save' vintage patterns in op shops. I have a fear that one day they'll just get chucked to make space. So if you'd like one of these let me know in the comments and I'll pop it in the post (worldwide)! If there's multiple takers in the next week I'll let the cat decide....

First up is Butterick 4185 in a size medium (to fit a 67-71cm waist and 92-97 hip). It closes at the front (a good choice if a back wrap closure makes you nervous) and has a very small front pocket. It has been cut but all the pieces are there:

And Butterick 6022. This has S-M-L (encompassing a waist from 80-102cm, and hips 85-107cm) and has been cut out in the large size - yay! It has a centre front seam, a back wrap closure like my skirt and the option of cute button-down tabs instead of a belt tie. The pockets are very similar to mine.

I'd love to know your opinion on my chosen length - frumpy or chic? Denim tent or indigo awesomeness?