Here it is, my Vogue 1247 leopard print mini skirt made just before Christmas & worn on Christmas Day (evening – not on the slopes ha ha ha!).
I bought the fabric in Birmingham at the Fancy Silk Store blatantly copying Karen’s purchase of it. Despite being weighed down by my earlier purchases, I could not resist, because believe it or not, I had a very similar skirt when I was 30 – except it was velvet & animal print & short & I had longer wavy hair. I have searched for a photo to scan in, but alas, could not find any in the large boxes of “to be sorted” photos of my life before the arrival of digital cameras. Anyway, straight off I knew that this was a Vogue 1247 – I bought the pattern for tunics for my friends, but the mini skirt was most definitely for me. I hadn’t realised just how short it was though …
So I have seen a few fab versions already on the interweb. And the pockets. Oh the pockets are a legend & are what defines this skirt. They are horizontal almost invisible hand pouches. They are also finished in bias binding, which I was reassured to read in others’ reviews was not that big a deal to undertake. I just couldn’t wait to get started & decreed that this was essential winter wear to go with my drafting top & would totally fit in with a capsule chalet winter wardrobe!
As I said the fabric is needlecord, but it’s not that thick considering it’s a winter skirt. OK, so how warm is a mini skirt ever going to be? But I felt a lining was needed to give it a bit more ooomph & because I just knew that it would make it more special.
Besides, this skirt will always be worn with tights or leggings & I could see the inside of the needlecord sticking to them & I didn’t have a slip this short! To make the lining I had to engineer the pattern pieces to determine the final front & back shape & size & then add a bit of ease onto them. I added pink rick rack to the lining’s hem. Just because.
So, that’s the telling. Not really intending to bang on about it, but this really was short & I used bias to make the smallest hem I could. And it is still short. I would probably make it a bit longer in future. But I LOVE it. I was very wary of it being such a mini, but had no choice once I’d cut the pattern pieces out. I had to bite the bullet & wear it. I have not worn a mini since – err, my early 30s perhaps?
Women my age wear shorts & tights afterall, what’s the difference? And with my OOh La La Leggings it just felt more like a “bum cover/ warmer” in the snowy Alps. I am so pleased I made this skirt.
The Drafting Top is its perfect companion at the moment
The pockets really are special, I also like the cheeky pink lining & as a complete make it really is a favorite. Now I made this in December so it doesn’t qualify for Pretty Grievances’ Jungle January….
so how much more animal print can a girl sew? Watch this space!!!