I don’t get to make stuff as much as I used to these days, I’ve been spending so much time doing that whole traveling to China and Japan thing, and trying to fit normal life in between has been hard enough! But I digress, as I’ve gone and made this adorable tartan circle skirt!
I picked it up the fabric from my favourite bargain bin at Rolls and Rems in Holloway. Probably about two years ago now I had the idea of a pinafore in mind as I was buying it, and into the stash it went.
And in true Melody fashion, I didn’t. I finished it in February. Typical, haha!
The construction is incredibly simple, It’s a circle skirt (as always, I use the By Hand London Circle Skirt App) with ginormous pockets that could fit a small human with a literal square of fabric for a bib and strips for straps. I stupidly didn’t take a photo, but the straps cross over the back.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!
The bib of the pinafore is REMOVABLE.
You heard me, I only went ahead and made something cute and functional. AND I can do a Clarke Kent style transformation from pinafore to skirt in seconds!
The bib attaches to the front of the waistband with four buttons and at the back with one button for each strap. An incredibly simple idea, but it’s proved to be a goodun’ for me, since I like a bit of choice.
There was a few hiccups with this skirt, though. Using cottons for most of my sewing life, I have never experienced an uneven hem that was particularly noticeable on a circle skirt, I’m guessing because it didn’t have the weight to it that this does. So it’s a bit longer at the sides than the front and back, and although it’s not horribly noticeable it ever so slightly grates on my nerves.
You might be able to guess from the above photo – I aligned the pockets to the pattern instead of the shape! Which means as a semi-circle the skirt sits wonderfully, but they slope when being worn. An easy fix, since they’re just patch pockets – but you guys know I’m so lazy I will never bother!
Scarf: Vintage
Top: Primark
Earrings: Bow and Crossbones
Necklace: Handmade
Brooch: Second hand, god knows what brand!
Belt: Primark
Bangles: Splendette
Shoes: Miss L Fire
Bag: Vintage