I love this kind of skirt! 👏👏👏 If you're an upcycler like me, a king size bed sheet (halved, length-wise) is about the amount of fabric you'll need for the front and back pieces, if you are interested in using thrifted materials. (So long as you are a short to midsized human, anyway. 🤷 )
This tutorial is a lifesaver! I have stage IV endometriosis, and I’m honestly in constant battle with my body as If I have flare (that can last multiple days, if not weeks) the swelling is so bad that nothing fits/or I can’t stand the pressure of anything too tight around my stomach. Just adds more to the misery when you can’t wear the things that make you happy. But this is why I love historical fashion 💖 thank you so much for this! Will be making an obscene amount of these now ha
I love historical sewing, the haircare is just a huge bonus. I just washed my hair with clay and rinsed with apple cider vinegar. No soap or shampoo has been near my hair since mid November.
I have made of these in the last year and a half and they are absolutely fantastic. I have trouble finding skirts that I like and that fit me, but these are just so cute, flattering and easy to make. You don't even need a sewing machine! I did all mine by hand!
That's great! And so encouraging, as I moved a few months ago and cannot find the cords for my sewing machine. I can make it work by turning the wheel by hand, but it won't wind bobbins that way and I'm not sure a hand-wound bobbin will work in the machine. I have hand-sewn and found it relaxing. I'd promised my pre-school daughter a pair of lined wool pants but was delayed in making them then found myself living abroad with no access to a machine. "But momma," she said, "you promised!" So I made them by hand and she loved wearing them, as did her younger sister a few years later.
Your skirt came when I was at most discouraged with patterns and the styles on you utube etc, your channel popped up today, exactly what I was looking for, can't thank you enough! Looking forward to watching your other videos. ❤
This is funny timing because I am in the midst of making an 18th century inspired skirt out of a king sized cotton bed sheet! I'm hoping to make it a little differently, the back panel will lace together in front between two roomy pockets. I am also sick of the way modern clothing fits and find it in general very unflattering. One day I will make a pair of stays! I am pretty intimidated still for that one. It would be fun to see a video about how you became interested in historical clothing! 💜 Thanks for your content
I agree. Modern clothing is lacking in dignity. And fast fashion falls apart after three or four washings. This shows my age, but I remember buying good-quality t-shirts to wear with jeans or casual skirts, and they lasted, I kid you not, for over a decade. I wore them and laundered them once a week. For ten years. Now I go to a department store (not even a box store), pay good money hoping for quality, and the thing is pilled and all body gone from the fabric the fourth time I take it out of the dryer. I'm going back to woven fabrics just to get away from that nonsense. And the spandex. Just try to find *anything* without spandex in it.
You are so inspiring.. after watching your videos, and two other bloggers.. I just finished my own skirt - sewn all by hand.. thank you for your great videos 😆💖
P.S. why yes, yes I have felt dissatisfied with modern skirt options! Hence why I own mine and make all my own! :). Thanks for helping ladies like us on our journey toward better clothing!
👍 Excellent videography by 8yo. That linen is a gorgeous colour - rich and deep. Beautiful. Thanks for showing the process and details. As there are gaps in the sides, I wonder if pockets are possible/reasonable? Probably attach to the side gap of the front piece and up into the waistband to give pocket support. Hmm. Worth consideration. Also, if even pleats are desired, a cardboard template of some kind might help. Cheers
I was planning to make a skirt without pattern. As i don't have a machine. I will do it by hand ......slow sewing I think i will put my selfmade Victorian pocket underneath. This sharing is very helpful and good explained. Thank you ❤️
Nice easy design to follow that doesn't require buying a pattern. Neat that it's so adaptive to any body shape. Kind of reminds me of a Japanese hakama worn during kendo sword training. Another inspiring video! Great videography too! :)
I'm almost finished my first skirt, just hand sewing the hem tomorrow (it's all pinned and ready to go) Thank you for this beautiful tutorial 🙏 I have been too unwell to tackle any sewing projects for a few years now. This was the first time I have been able to actually finish a project (bar taking up some curtains last year, but it was a nightmare for my body at that time 😣) in years. SO SO satisfying! I love it already, and can't wait to wear it 🎉
How long (excluding hemming) did it take you? I've been wanting to make this but wanna get it done in one sitting so I've been putting it off for a while
Congratulations on your pregnancy! These are the best maternity skirts! For two of mine I chose to top stitch the pleats part way down, longer in the middle, shortening to the edges, to help the pleats stay and to help with the tailored look. I love how you tuck the ties in in the back; I'll definitely be trying this!
I'm guessing that you top stitch the pleats on the inside so no stitching shows on the outside? And, a bit of ironing keeps the pleats looking nice to freshen them up after washing?
Beautiful! Would you wear it with a petticoat in case the slits open up? I would be tempted to keep putting my hands in them like pockets! Will you make a belt pocket to wear underneath? I love the idea of the separate pocket worn underneath and accessed through those slits. Just discovered your channel and love it!
I need to make 2 skirt for a cemetery walk.... this is what I want to do Saw a different one... but I like the waist band better on this skirt I will probably extend the front waist band , instead of the twill tap ties , so that we have more of a sash... to work with Thanks for an excellent video
I use my 18th century skirts all the time as well, I make a lot of historical clothing for my everyday wear. Loved seeing this and you're son did a great job filming
To the person asking about a petticoat, if you're worried about the slit, you can add large pockets attached to the back panel and at the waistband - they look a little bit like bad rectangles. They provide an extra several inches of coverage under the slit, and would be impossible to see past.
I am always disappointed with modern skirts. The never fit, terrible material options, and never long enough. I will definitely be trying this pattern. Th pleating is lovely.
I actually made this skirt following your written tutorial last year. It was one of my first sewing projects and I love it! I think it’s time to make another one now that I’m a little better at sewing.
I haven't liked modern fashions for quite a while. I like to wear skirts, and I like them long and loose. I've sewn skirts without patterns for a long time, and a few months ago I decided to make an old-fashioned skirt with slits at the hips and tying at the waist, just have you've done here. But the approach I had planned is not as good as what you've shown here. So my skirts will be better for my having seen your video. And I didn't know how to do the pleats; I didn't even think of doing pleats. Thank you for making this. I see increasing numbers of women rediscovering their sewing machines as they, too, apparently lose patience with what passes for acceptable clothing these days.
I’ve made a couple of simple skirts with elastic waist bands but they aren’t very comfortable and I find it hard to get the waist fit right, I think I’ll have a go at your method, thanks for the video 😊
Hi Katherine, I'm a big fan of your work. I share your interest in historical accuracy, and also your love for long hair and linen home made clothing. Originally my interest was sparked by a insight into humanities incorrect path causing degradation of consciousness and knowing our ancestors possibly knew the most advanced ways to live and they didn't recently evolve from savages. It is being more eco friendly the way they lived also which I believe in. My question is about a maternity skirt being different lengths from front to back. Lucky I'm not pregnant because I would not know how to do this. I'm now finishing this skirt from green linen I got on special years ago. It looks much like yours, only I used scrap linen salvage edge for ties which could be cutting my skin as my skirt is as heavily hemmed as yours. However with shirt underneath I think will be fine.
Thank you for this video! I've been interested in making my own clothes for a year and am still looking for a suitable sewing machine thats not too hard to understand but long skirts are my favourite and they're usually a bit pricey. :)
Your dress is beautiful!! Did you make it? I'd love to see a video on that if you did. I'm definitely going to make a couple of these shirts. Thank you for the clean instructions!
Wonderful video! I especially liked learning about the different front/back pleating patterns, and the trick with the waistband being longer on the underside for machine sewing. Also, I really like your blouse! Do you have a pattern/tutorial for it?
I am disabled and having a bit of a challenge getting dressed. If I can make a skirt like this, it might be a good solution for the bottom half. Thank you.
Do you not find the ties uncomfortable on the very top of your uterus during late pregnancy? I can barely wear a bra because of the discomfort of having anything pressing there! It's dresses only for me 😅 but I really would like to make some skirts like this for postpartum as my body continues to change.
Hello, Do you think this would still come out nicely with a 100% cotton fabric. I found a fabric I really really like but worried the end result may not be as nice. Thank you!
Maybe cut it on the bias to give it a better drape than cutting it straight would. That would result in an A-line skirt. Then the rest of it is sewn the same way. I made a complete wardrobe of skirts that way and didn't need a pattern.
YES. I saw this type of skirt once on a historical channel and I was like: “why aren’t ALL skirts like this???” What is this type of skirt called, do you know?