Carmen skirt and new YouTube videos!

I feel like this month was the skirt month for me, I made three and I have at least two planned. 

Today I want to talk about the latest pattern from Designer Stitch Patterns , the Carmen Skirt.

The description on the Designer Stitch website is perfect :

 The Carmen is all about being SASSY, FLIRTY and SEXY !!!

The length of the Carmen gives you the opportunity to wear it for all seasons – Short and Flirty for the warmer months and Long and Flouncy for the cooler months.

The styling of the Carmen gives the impression of a wrap skirt – but with the clever front seam construction it retains its modesty and stays fully closed at the front.

When I took the pictures it was really windy outside, not the perfect weather for pictures but perfect to illustrate how windproof this is.

I made my skirt in a cotton sateen with a bit of stretch. Because the wrong side of the fabric is showing on the flounce  I searched for a fabric with two nice sides but could not find anything I liked in my stash. I did find a piece of cotton eyelet and decided to face my flounce.

Long story short, if you want to do this, you need to remember to cut mirror images of your flounce pieces. I forgot that and ruined a big piece of my eyelet. I think this is a great idea, you also finish the edge of the flounce, so no hemming and it gives also a bit body and structure on the flounce.

The pattern, while it looks a bit complicated it is really easy, for some people, the most challenging part it might be the invisible zipper on the back, but the instructions are included.

The patterns come with 3 waist options and two length options. I think it will be great made in a drapey wool and worn with boots for the fall/winter time.

 

I did a little video review also on YouTube!

...and here is the "action" video!

I love this pattern and I am definitely going to make the longer option too.

The pattern is for a few days on sale . 

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Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you). 

Faux leather Santi Skirt -Designer Stitch Patterns

I don`t get so much sewing time these days so while I have a lot of patterns on my sewing wishlist, I  don`t have the time for tracing patterns, making muslins and so on. Testing patterns for Ann Grose from Designer Stitch is making it easy, as I know how her patterns are fitting me.

This is the latest pattern from Designer Stitch Patterns, the Santi skirt! 

The Santi Skirt has 8 gore panels for shaping, front patch pockets, and a self-shaped belt.

I made a size 3 and as you can see the original pattern is much shorter than my skirt. First I was planning to make my Santi in corduroy ( blue, rust or dark red) but while trying to decide on the color, I saw this fabric at Driessen Stoffen ( no affiliate) and thought that it will be perfect for my skirt. It is a kind of faux leather and the back side of the fabric is a kind of  knit...or something very soft and nice so I`ve got immediately this idea of a midi skirt and the result is exactly what I had in my head. The fabric drapes also very nice.

To get this look I lengthened the pattern by 19cm. The Designer Stitch patterns have lines for length adjustments so that was easy.

This is the back of the fabric, very soft and also easy to sew.

Of course, on this pattern, you can go crazy with topstitching! I love topstitching and I made a few swatches before I decided on the topstitching thread. I am happy with my choice, not too bold but also not getting lost in the color of the fabric. 

The pattern is pretty easy but all the topstitching can take some time.

The skirt has a centered back zipper opening. The belt should have been cut on the fold, but I have a center back seam because I did not have enough fabric. I ordered only 1.5m which it would have been enough for the original design but not for my extra lentgh.

I think this fabric is perfect for this pattern and now I only need to find some time to make my corduroy version or versions :) too.

The Santi skirt is now on sale for a limited time on the Designer Stitch shop. 

The turtleneck is the Hepburn from Itch to Stitch Patterns which I made a few times, also here 

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