Failed! Burdastyle Michelle skirt in grey wool

Added Sep 21, 2010

by Rin Gomura

Sydney, Australia

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Description

This is my first Burda pattern sewing project. Apparently it is an “easy” pattern, but as usual, I made things far more complicated for myself by making it out of thick wool. Believe it or not, this is leftover fabric from our dining chairs which I re-upholstered last year. I covered the seats of our retro dining chairs using this grey wool. It looks pretty strange when I sit at my dining table wearing this skirt!

Perhaps the fabric is the reason why I failed. I thought did a really good job making this skirt, however, it is way too big. It’s such a shame, because I went through the heartache to pressing pleats and basting them in place, taking weeks, because if the thickness of the fabric…but I can’t wear this skirt.

My mum thinks I may have stretched the fabric out, because I had to iron it to death. I used the smallest size available. I don’t know what happened, but I am not that small, there are people a lot skinnier than me who have made this skirt successfully. All I know is that I am keen to try again!

http://sewinlove.com.au/2010/09/21/failed-burdastyle-michelle-skirt-in-grey-wool/

Material Notes

Wool

Difficulty

Novice

Categories

For
Women
Garment Type
Skirt

10 Comments

  • Sil-logo_large

    Sep 26, 2010, 11.00 AMby Rin Gomura

    Thanks so much everyone, for your advice! The skirt is tucked away because I can’t bear to face it yet, but when I can, I will try shrinking it in the wash. If that doesn’t work, I’ll give it to a friend who might wear it for me.

  • D02f8bae696102a266640aa28780dfce4fe1ab84_large

    Sep 23, 2010, 07.41 PMby bola

    Keep going! and try it out in a lighterweight wool perhaps? Although, from your pics it doesn’t look too big to me…bx

  • Logo4957b_large

    Sep 23, 2010, 05.34 AMby jenss-1

    The black bands on the gray look nice. If you are unhappy with the way that the skirt falls (though I think it looks fine) it might be because of the hem band. With a fabric like a heavy wool, a horizontal piece the lower band, especially if it is a couple of layers thick, would tend to make the hem stiffer. If it’s possible without becoming too short, you could just remove the hem band – the skirt would probably fall a little softer and closer to the body then. Or you could alter the band so that it is just one layer and then line the inside with a lining fabric.

    1 Reply
    • Logo4957b_thumb

      Sep 23, 2010, 05.37 AMby jenss-1

      Also-if you decide to wash it (as someone mentioned) test a scrap first to make sure that you don’t end up with a matted felt mess…!

  • Naburdaprofil_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 06.57 PMby janul

    Is the left photo with the clamp and the right one without? They look different… I think the skirt is lovely, and great for fall and winter. If you didn´t tell, I wouldn´t have guessed there is anything wrong with it. :)

  • 2010_07_12_beach_12_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 04.34 PMby tpaulin

    Wool shrinks when you wash it … you could hand-wash and lay it flat to dry. Don’t put it in the dryer though! And proceed with extreme caution, only if you’ve given up on modifying it another way.

  • Vatten_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 10.10 AMby ichigogirl

    I don’t think you did anything wrong. We’ve all made the same mistake (to trust the pattern size-charts) and ended up with HUGE clothes. If I use commercial patterns now, I always make a toile first (google it if you don’t know what it is, there’s loads of good info around). A weird but well known fact. There’s good info on this site on how to grade multi-size patterns down/up before sewing. Anyway, clamped in the back it looks great!

  • Cimg4603_2_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 06.33 AMby soaringviola

    i can only agree – it looks very pretty! Whats the problem with it? Is it too wide? So why don´t you just reopen the side seems, cut some inches and close it again? too wide is usually not a big problem, much better than the other way around :-)

    1 Reply
    • Dtg2zgrzsuao_5ejh-_ymzbs9qgrlobfcdcgqdqaouygozg11bymcgr1rk4z4i8f_thumb

      Sep 21, 2010, 12.43 PMby nutmeg1

      Agreed! Once you’re ready to face it again, pop open the seams and take it in a bit. Shouldn’t be that bad after all of the other hard work you put into it. Good luck! I love the way you’ve styled it!

  • Sil-logo_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 06.31 AMby Rin Gomura

    In the photo, I have the back of the dress pulled back, using a clamp! That’s why the photo looks good… I will definitely try again, with a thinner fabric :D

  • Dscn5250_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 05.55 AMby mixtlii

    It looks good on the pictures… What’s the problem? Anyway, it happens to everyone to fail some sewing projects because we’re too ambitious… Good luck with the next one! ;)

  • 9b6a2f8482f1e431b0a19a8ca8d654b3ccf1ed36_large

    Sep 21, 2010, 03.54 AMby pink-cornelia

    too bad you can’t wear it, in the photo it looks lovely. btw those tights are so cool.

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