People often stay away from the elastic waist gathered skirt as it makes you look loose and fat around the hips…. The featured gathered skirt with a slim waist reverses such notions! The secret is the yoke at the upper waist. Bold use of the large pattern from Echino’s new design, Blossom creates a great impression.
Design & Work: Anriko
Fabric shown for this sample:
- (Yoke, Front and Back Skirt) echino JG96900-900c
Materials:
- Fabric (Yoke, Front & Back Skirt): 110cm wide×1.6m
(Pocket): 50cm×30m - Elastic tape: 1.8m (6 cord)
Size: Length 70cm
We interviewed Anriko about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think of the fabric you used for this project?。
Taking advantage of the solid texture of the fabric, I made a skirt with a soft flare featuring stylish bold motifs from one end to the other.
KF: Can you tell us any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
With this much fabric up to the waist, it could look heavy, so I added the yoke. To accentuate, the waist is set high with shirring style use of the elastic tape. Adding the gathering at the bottom of the pocket prevents the hipline from looking wider, creating a slim vertical silhouette in the front.
KF: What are some tips for making this skirt?
The cutting process is easy as it is a rectangle with no fabric edges. The gathering is almost double the amount, and for delicate gathering, manually assist as you stitch by machine.
KF:How should we incorporate this skirt into one’s styling?
Change the tops depending on the season – darker colors up until spring and white or pale tones after spring. It creates a completely different look. You can enjoy this skirt for multiple seasons, starting right now.
KF:Thank you very much, Anriko! Here are sewing instructions along with step by step photos from her. Enjoy crafting!
Instructions
1. The pocket is made as shown. The bottom is gathered. At this point, the top looks too tensioned. Once the yoke is added, it will be fine.
2. Since the skirt has a lot to sew, for ease of work, apply zigzag stitches at the top and score the hem before gathering is applied. While the seam of the yoke and skirt is pressed down to one side, with the gathering it may be difficult apply zigzag stitches. It is best to apply zigzag stitches separately.
3. Make the yoke as shown. Run four stitch lines to create openings for three thin elastic tapes. Don’t be too precise as it will eventually get scrunched with the elastic inside.
4. Gather the fabric and piece together the yoke. For a clean finish, use a stiletto to assist the machine for delicate gathering as the fabric is solid and thick.
5. Finished.
