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?






Comments

  1. Great skirt; and I absolutely adore those patch pockets!

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  2. I'm so glad you made this in denim! It looks great! I hear you on the frump factor. Mine is the same length and ditto on the styling requirements. I've often thought of shortening it, but have kept as it is with a commitment to a small heel. And that back wrap has been my downfall on a few occasions, so beware as your fabric softens with wear :0 thanks for mentioning my make, I do still love it! Enjoy your gorgeous denim number

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    1. Oh hell the last thing this world needs is a flashing of my arse! I'll keep that in mind! I'm hoping the weight of the denim works in my favour!

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  3. PS I just bought that radio, lol! I then read mixed, mainly poor reviews and I'm having second thoughts. How have you found it? Any problems? :)

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    1. Ha! No it's been great. We needed a digital radio especially to take away in Sunny and of course it had to be cool looking! Bought it in July, and it's been fine. Sound quality is pretty good - I've got a little Tivoli too, and it's not quite as clear as that but then it was about a third of the price too. I was a bit shocked at its size, but thus far very happy with it!

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  4. Oooh I'll take 6022, I've been thinking about a back wrap skirt and yours looks so lovely I must try one.

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    1. Excellent! It's between you and jana at the moment. The cat is super excited she gets to pick a winner!

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  5. I like your skirt! Nice denim fabric! It’s longer than I would wear it myself, but I don’t think it looks frumpy on you with the fitted top. If you wore a loose tunic over it, that would probably be quite bad. (;

    If no-one else wants the Butterick 6022, I would love to try it! I adore 70s patterns, I’ve never owned a skirt with a wrap in the back and I like the button tabs, so I think that that would be fun to try. For summer, mind you, not anytime soon.
    I’m wary of Butterick 4185 because I despise gathers, even though that one is in my size and the 6022 has a much too big waist, for some reason. What kind of shape is that thing drafted for?! Whoever has a 5cm difference between their waist and hip measurements? My hip measurement falls squarely into the Medium, but my waist measurement is off by 20+cm. I hope that that’s some kind of odd finished measurement rather than the body measurement! (:

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    1. Hmmmm! A conundrum indeed! I'm sure it will be very easy to fit. Can you believe I can never remember my measurements, always have to measure each time. The cat shall make her decision soon!

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  6. you've really been sewing up a frenzy ... !!!! Love this skirt, the length is spot on and I think you styled it perfectly. I see an a-line with fitted or shortly cropped tops. I vote indigo awesomeness!!

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    1. I've just had a week off and sewed up a storm! I'll have to try a crop, maybe a knit?

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  7. What a great everyday skirt! I fancy one myself...

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    1. Thanks Jenny! This pattern is drafted for a knit too apparently - right up your wrap alley!

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  8. Lovely on you! And I think the length is just perfect, very elegant and not frumpy at all, although I'm guessing you probably have to watch your footwear... :-)

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    1. Thanks! Yes I'm pretty sure it will be clogs or a heel/platform of some sort.

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  9. Definitely awesomeness. Summer chic is so hard to do- I always want to wear the least amount of clothing possible without looking like a teeny bopper. But you pulled it off! And the skirt looks great.

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    1. Thanks claire! I think it will be too heavy for really stinking hot days but fortunately we don't get too many here.

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  10. Indigo awesomeness!! And: I think I made this skirt when it first came out!!

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    1. Thanks Gail - how funny. I wonder if I'll be saying that in 30 years when someone unearths a copy of new look 6808! I bet yours was awesome.

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  11. I actually really like the length - it makes your legs looks endless! I think that the styling is key to keeping below the knee skirts from being frumpy, and you've nailed that here :) Both patterns are great - I wish I had the knack for finding ones like these at op shops - can I be greedy and put my hand up for either?

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    1. Thanks very much lady! And no it's not greedy at all to want either! I'll tell the cat.

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  12. This looks so chic and teamed with those wedge sandals it certainly has a very 70s look about it. I think that 70s patterns are great and definitely my favourite decade

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    1. Thanks so much - there good 70's and bad 70's but when theyre good they awesome!

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  13. I think the length looks good on you. I love midi skirts on other people. I think I'm too short for them and they make my legs look stumpy, but maybe that's just me being too hard on myself (as we all tend to be!).

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    1. Thanks Katie. It can be a challenging length! It definitely comes down to the styling of the rest of the outfit for me.....

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  14. You Look great! But then i love a midi skirt, I think they look so classy and denim is so classic. It's like an updated version of the denim skirt (even though it's a vintage pattern ha!).

    The pockets are great too, actually a useful size.

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  15. Brilliant! I think I had this pattern in the 1970s.

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  16. I love it! I love the 70s, and I love denim, so that's really the ideal combo. Makes me long for spring!

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    1. Thanks Sara - I'm really enjoying wearing it.

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  17. I know it's a long time ago since you wrote this but if you still had the 4185 please let me know. I'm currently having a wrap skirt obsession. Enjoyed reading you blog 😀

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