I’m allowed to sew with patterns now. I feel like a mental patient who has been given back his shoelaces.
The first pattern-based project is for a six gore skirt:
…which is exactly like B3134 from Butterick…
B3134 | Misses’ Skirt | Skirts | Butterick Patterns
Which I have and the tissue is all cut out and ready to go. Bishop says that this style of skirt requires a self-supporting firmness to hold the gores nicely and suggests denim, cotton suiting, Indian head, or corduroy. On the other hand Butterick suggests crepe de Chine, which is about as non-self-supporting as you can get so if you are sewing along I say go nuts, use whatever you have lying around.
What’s that? You have noticed that I’m not actually sewing anything? That’s right, it is true. I’m a little paralyzed because I intend to use gorgeous fabric that I paid real money for — a lovely blue jacquard brushed cotton from Britex, and I just can’t bring myself to move forward because I think this skirt will look a tad dowdy. I mean it is a flattering shape for me since my body is beyond-pear-and-verging-on-meerkat:
Note: Waistline immediately under ribcage, followed thighs that terminate in feet -- bypassing knees, calves, and/or ankles.
A forgiving A-line is a forgiving A-line, but they are also frumpy and I strongly suspect I will not find this skirt adorable. Also I’m nervous that I will screw up the fit since this is the first Bishop project that I can potentially make but find myself unable to wear (Oh, that ‘screw accessories’ doesn’t sound so cute anymore!)
What say you, blogosphere? Should I just go ahead and make it with my beloved easy-to-sew-but-gorgeous cotton? Or should I save that yardage for some future project? If I decided to save the e-t-s-b-g-cotton for another day, am I on the slippery slope to stashing my best fabric for someone else to sew with after I’m dead? Because I’ll be honest, I think I bought the etsbgcotton two years ago.
The Messy Method 
LOL! no need to make the skirt up in the good stuff the first time you make up the pattern. Give it a try in a similar weight denim first before endangering your good cotton? I find an A-line needs to be cut “just so” to be flattering on me so even the tiniest adjustment in the seams makes all the difference in the frump factor. The length also matters quite a bit. Does Bishop allow you to play around, now that’s the question!
Unless you live near Britex (or some other fabulous fabric shop), I think the between-the-lines Bishop message “seams” to be to Invest only your time and patience right now–not your expensive fabric.
I think Mary Beth is right. You should make the skirt first in another fabric. Also I think you should not worry so much about whether the skirt is frumpy. Styling is everything. A plain skirt can be made to look good (even fabulous) with the right separates.
Now I am one for impulsiveness and a champion of messy, but on this topic I would say – make a muslin first, then cut into the good stuff. And you had me laughing at meerkat as a new body shape designation. I would love to know when Levis is going to add Meerkat Curve to their new line o’ jeans.
Sewing’s all well and good but I think it only appropriate that you take a moment to remember Daredevil. Oh, wait, was he a lemur?
Oh Gah, speak not of Daredevil and Snowball. I am still totally traumatized. Also, I love you!
I’m chiming in with the contingency that says to save your special fabric for after you test and tweak your pattern. But I don’t think I’d have the patience to do a muslin version. Do a test version with fabric that you would wear if it works out, but you wouldn’t swear & throw things if it doesn’t work out. And then you will be a total pro for when you make a second go with your special, pricey fabric. Also, just in case, if you sew something that doesn’t work for you but is otherwise a decent garment, chances are it would fit someone else: donate to La Casa or Community Thrift; and for real failures, well, maybe you can make a quilt?
Thanks for the thoughtful input, everyone! In a shocking turn of events I actually followed your advice and used a mystery fabric I had on hand — I think it is a poly-rayon blend. The skirt came out pretty cute! I will blog it as soon as I take some pics.
OMG, you should have offered a ‘spew’ warning before the Meerkat photo and note, I just spit coffee on my keyboard! It is probably all the funnier for me because 1) “Waistline immediately under ribcage, followed thighs that terminate in feet — bypassing knees, calves, and/or ankles” sounds suspiciously like you are discussing MY ‘figure’ and 2) we had a ferret, Frodo, who’s shape was eerily similar to the meerkat. We affectionately called him “Bean-Butt” – all long and lean until he sat up and all of his ‘beans’ shifted to his butt!