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9.17.2013

Bluegingerdoll Pencil Skirt Hack

Hi ladies, it's time for a little pattern hacking or as I like to think of it "pattern drafting light."  Cause why reinvent the wheel if you've already got a pattern with the fitting kinks worked out? I'm preaching to the choir, right? Right!

So the back story here is that I found myself with the burning desire for a denim pencil skirt, all because of a twitter conversation. (Those of you who are to blame know who you are.) I'd just finished the sheath version of the Billie Jean dress and the skirt part was the perfect starting point for my idea.
Basically I wanted to keep the same shape of the skirt, but give it a little visual interest by adding decorative seams with top-stitching.
This change couldn't be easier to do, you just convert the waist darts into princess line seams. Since it's your lower half you don't even have to worry about pesky bust points and what not.

So here's a quick how to on how to hack the Billie Jean dress.
1. Draw a straight line from the bottom of the skirt dart down the entire length of the skirt.

2. Cut the pattern apart on the line and along one leg of the dart.

3. Cut off the rest of the dart on the other side of the skirt.

4. Added seam allowance to both sides of the new seam line, give the pattern piece new names, and you're finished!

You'll need to cut out 1 center front panel on the fold and 2 side front panels for the front. For the back, same thing but of course 1 center back panel on fold and 2 side back panels.  Sew your side panels to the center panels, press the SA to the side and top-stitch the seam lines.  Sew up the side seams and then give it a try on.

After sewing up all the panels you might decided the waistline was a bit high for a skirt.  Personally I like my skirts to ride below my natural waistline, so I cut down the pattern  1 1/2" and then drafted a curved waistband. The skirt is closed in the back with an invisible zipper and hook and eye.
The vent and hem were finished with the same to-stitching as the princess line seams.
And there you have it, one stretch denim pencil skirt added to my/your wardrobe.  Now go out and be fabulous.

18 comments:

  1. LeilaSeptember 17, 2013 at 9:28 AM

    Nice hack, Heather! You look smashing!

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  2. Melanie Romero-GussSeptember 17, 2013 at 9:29 AM

    and those red shoes again!!! Man, I need some red heel!

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  3. lisa gSeptember 17, 2013 at 11:03 AM

    i love being able to make easy pattern changes like this--nice job and cute skirt! and hey, i'm doing a pattern hack with some denim as well... also on a whim with a sudden I MUST HAVE IT NOW thing happening! ;-)

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  4. Clare SzaboSeptember 17, 2013 at 3:50 PM

    You're such a sexy motherhacker! You look wonderful as ever. Admiring that topstitching a lot xx

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  5. Katie DeshazerSeptember 17, 2013 at 4:16 PM

    Very nice!! Lovely skirt and hey, nice shoes! ;)

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  6. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 7:58 PM

    Thank you Leila, now if I could only work up to wearing heels while shopping. ;)

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  7. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 7:59 PM

    Yes! Everyone needs red heels....and boots... and sandals.

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  8. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 8:01 PM

    It is that time of the year for denim whims. :) Good luck with your hacking.

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  9. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    LOL, Motherhacker! I love it. Now I can't take the credit for the top-stitching cause the foot did all the work.

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  10. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    Thanks Katie, these might be my go to photo shoot shoes. :)

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  11. Melanie Romero-GussSeptember 17, 2013 at 8:34 PM

    I have red boots!!! 33% of the way there.....

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  12. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 9:36 PM

    Thanks Brooke, I think that a simple hack is my favorite too. Still a basic wardrobe piece but with a little visual interest.

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  13. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 9:37 PM

    Thanks Becki, I love top-stitching and for once my sewing machine didn't fight me about the thread. Hooray!

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  14. Heather BeeSeptember 17, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    You do need a denim skirt Shar, sew one..seeeewww one. I'm not creepily hiding in your bushes checking to see if you're sewing one. Nope, nope. ;)

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  15. Margo BergmanSeptember 18, 2013 at 6:53 AM

    Looking great Heather! Nice job on the pattern hack tutorial as well. I agree that everyone needs a pair of red heels!

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  16. Heather BeeSeptember 18, 2013 at 7:52 AM

    Thanks Margo, I feel like you might have a couple awesome pairs of thrifted red heels. :)

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  17. LauraSeptember 18, 2013 at 10:24 PM

    I just love this skirt! I might have to buy the dress pattern just to hack it into a skirt. :)

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  18. Heather BeeSeptember 19, 2013 at 10:54 AM

    Sweet, but wait until next week cause Abby is releasing a new pattern and I'm thinking it might be a skirt. (Don't know for sure, just starting at a pic on her IG feed.)

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