Monday, August 23, 2010

Funky Fabric = Funky Skirt

I recently brought home a funky fabric from Fabrix. This piece is a rather heavy, crinkled, stretch cotton, black-and-grey, plaid. The plaid has a silver metallic thread shot through. On one side of the plaid, the fabric has been overprinted with a sort of faux-camouflage design. The kinda-sorta camo print is dark gray and cream and, where present, makes the fabric difficult to pin.

Plain plaid on the left, reverse side of fabric (with the kinda-sorta camouflage overprint) on the right.

The kinda-sorta camo print seemed odd to me, but I liked the reverse side of the fabric, even though I am not a big fan of metallic in my plaids. You see, I remember all too well back when I worked retail in the early 80s and I wore those oversized plaid shirts with metallic threads shot through - it was quite the fashion - you would roll the sleeves up and then hold them in place with a button tab. I had to shake off the memory - I decided that the fabric was neat enough that I could live with the silver thread. :)

But what to do with this fabric? I couldn't see it as a top. I couldn't see it as pants. I couldn't see it as a jacket. I washed it and tossed it onto my bed, where I keep other fabrics with which I am communing...

Then, one night I had horrible insomnia and during those hours of trying to sleep it came to me. The fabric wanted to be a funky skirt! It might have occurred to me sooner, except I haven't been wearing skirts for the last several months. For me, skirts are more of a fall/winter garment, worn with boots, or tights/leggings.

This skirt is inspired by a RTW skirt I saw about a year ago. I was lucky that I had bought 3.5 yards of this fabric (it's fairly wide) because I had requested 3 yards and was asked by the clerk if I wanted the last half yard. Good thing I said yes, because this skirt used pretty much all of it.

Self-Stitched-September is getting very close, so I really need to buckle down and make those jeans I have planned. Do I have enough discipline? We shall see. I don't actually wear jeans all that much anyway, so I guess it isn't the end of the world if I don't get them made. ;)

12 comments:

  1. That's a GREAT skirt. I love the way you've worked the hemline.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE this! What did you use as a pattern?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful skirt. That gives me some ideas about funky fabrics in my collection...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shams, that skirt is wonderful, and you wear it with such panache! Is that one of your Au Bonheur patterns?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, please, what pattern did you use?!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great skirt. You look wonderful in it. It's fun and funky indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the compliments, everyone! There is no pattern. It was inspired by a skirt I saw in RTW. I wish Sandra or Marcy would make more patterns like this for Vogue!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You look wonderful in that skirt and what fun details. I'd love to know more about how it was designed if that's possible.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful skirt! Please, please, share with us how you made it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your are just the cutest, cleaverest person! I WANT that skirt!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ooooo. Neato. You are so creative. Love the fabric and the skirt. You do Funky better than anybody I know!

    ReplyDelete