Susan Sews a White Linen Lutterloh Skirt & Saves $100s

Well here I am entering another contest on Pattern Review (PR). Back in 2007 or 2008 when I joined PR I was just returning to garment sewing. As a result of the 2008 economic crisis, I had lost my job. I was a little lost. That is when my Beloved said,

 “Go Sew, just sew.” “You have the perfect sewing room all the tools and now the time. Just go sew.”

And sew I did. And I joined PR and joined several of their contests. This will be the third contest of the year that I have joined and completed.

The brief: make a skirt with a finished waist, which meant no elastic waist pull-on skirts, No wrap skirts, no skorts.

I had one or two Lutterloh skirt patterns in mind. But I also wanted to snoop shop Niemen Marcus and see what they were offering.

Here is the skirt that I have been thinking about making for some time. I liked the jeans styling. And I also like that there was no fly in the front. Fly fronts add bulk, and if you wear your tops out, the closure makes an unsightly bump.

The perfect jeans skirt Lutterloh 294/144

Then I kept coming back to this particular skirt on the Niemen Marcus site. I saw myself with those long legs in that short sexy skirt.

This skirt retails for near $300.00

“Phhf! Who are you kidding? You have short stumpy legs and they are white, not luscious brown. Get real Sister!”

Those are the words from my “Guardian”Angel, Suz, The one with the messy hair and dented halo.

She is like bee buzzing in my ear.

“Don’t even come near me Sister! You are supposed to be my cheerleader. Telling me I look good!”

I swatted at her, the halo went clanking on the floor and sent two dogs skittering for cover. That felt good.

Long legs aside.I like the hard edge of the denim, and the softness of the lace. I was planning to pair it with a white lace-overlay tank top that I made last year. To cut down on the sweetness of all that lace, I planned to make a ribbon belt in an animal print.

When I visited my favorite fabric store, Telas Bonanza in La Paz, there was a spool of gold tone chain belt at the checkout counter. It just called to me.

The skirt on left is with the lace just placed to see if I like it

I threaded the ribbon through the chain for an effect that I really like. Too bad my leopard print flip-flops finally wore out they would have been a perfect compliment.

I used white linen for the skirt. It is too hot here for denim, and there was no white denim available. But since linen wrinkles and this last batch has been stretching, I lined the skirt with white batiste.

I took my time with the top stitching and used my ¼ inch foot which helps me sew a perfectly even ¼ inch seam.

And since I have only one pair of jeans. An animal print from Chicos, I used them as a guide. The coin pocket on the Chicos jeans is shaped like a standard patch pocket. It is not fully visible, but I know it is there, and I like knowing that  I took the time to sew that little detail

Here is the little pocket before and after inserting into skirt

I am especially proud of the yoke. Both sides meet perfectly and the top stitching is perfect as well.

The little puckers that you see, are actually gathers intended by the designer. They  help the yoke sit nicely.

The yoke comes to a nice point at the center zipper.

The lace appliques are ready made, and I cut and stretched them to fit on my skirt. I also cut away the linen so that the lace would show up better.

My Beloved did a nice job taking photos, but he missed the fact that the belt wasn’t laying right. So we snapped one more just before he left for work.

Not the best photo, of me, but it does show off the skirt.

Here are my accessories.

I do have a different blouse planned for future wearing of this skirt.  I will have a slimmer look in a different blouse.

I love the skirt. I am not sure that I love ME in it.

Tell me what you think.

Suz buzzed off, halo in hand. She is sulking. So I will not have to hear what she has to say.

My Beloved says

” Well you do have big hips.”

” Should I wear it again?” I asked.

“Yes”, he said.

What do you think?