Pages

Friday, April 22, 2022

Tropical Print True Bias Mave Skirt

It's that time of year again, where I optimistically (desperately?) start sewing summer clothes and Vermont responds by bringing a snowstorm...!


While the snow has since melted, it's still pretty chilly out there, so I guess I'll just have to wear this tropical maxi skirt with long underwear underneath for the time being!

This unseasonal skirt is the True Bias Mave Skirt, a tiered, elastic waist skirt with multiple length options. I made one last year and got a lot of wear out of it, so I decided to make another.

The Mave pattern goes up to a 59.5 inch hip. Like my last Mave, I cut a size 20 in the maxi length with three tiers. 


I lengthened the middle tier by 2.5 inches to get it to full length. I'm about 5 foot 7.5 inches tall and the pattern is designed for a height of 5 foot 5 inches.


For fabric, I used this Oahu Textured Black Medium Weight Slub Rayon Woven from LA Finch Fabrics, which sells deadstock and surplus fabrics. I had no need for new fabric, but I loved the unusual color combo of this fabric- rusty orange, lavender, sage, citron yellow and a bit of chocolate brown. And I always love florals on a black background for some reason. 


I like the texture of this fabric - sort of a crosshatch slub weave thing going on. It makes it seem like it might have linen content even though it's all rayon. Construction-wise it feels less slippery than rayon challis, but still has lovely drape, which is great for the Mave skirt.


I did a self-fabric waist tie (shorter than the pattern calls for since I found it too long last time), and used grommets for the holes, which was a first for me. 

I didn't realize my bodkin for threading the tie through the waistband wouldn't fit through the grommets, thought, which was a bummer. I had to resort to a safety pin wrapped in tape (so it wouldn't open mid-threading); not my favorite!


Despite that snafu, I'm pretty delighted with this skirt and am hoping it warms up here soon so I can wear it! Paired here with my trusty Seamwork Bo top.