No no, your skirt method is definitely the standard- the other implies that they slide off their skirt, and I wonder why on *earth* someone would want their skirt gathered on the *floor* of a public restroom 😳 As a dancer that usually ends up in lots of layers, I could not possibly fathom crunching them all up on the floor in a public stall- it gives me anxiety just thinking about it 😂
Exactly! Like wearing a skirt in a public restroom is so much better in my mind than pants because I'm always seeing how bits of my clothing are touching the disgusting floor and its like... nasty! Up is much better than down!
okay also have those people never worn a dress? or do they drop a dress too?? because if yes to the first how did they not do the same for skirts and if the second...why??? hahah
You mean someone is ACTUALLY yanking down a skirt to wee,instead of pulling it up?!?! Dude,I knew at four years old to pull down pants and pull up skirts. Gahhh some had no logic.
I don't fling over the shoulder, but bundle in front, so I can hold it with my chin, but, mostly the same idea. I don't want things dragging on the floor in a bathroom if I can avoid it.
oh god. I feel like I just saw every project I've ever done flashing before my eyes. I'm just at the stage of "if the hem is crinkly, the hem is crinkly, so be it" but no! it doesn't have to be this way. there is light in the world, there is hope.
I've never flipped the skirt over my shoulder in the bathroom (a brilliant idea), I just pile it up in my lap. But yes, I just lift up the skirt, pull down my undies, and go. 😅
Omg yesterday I was reading Little 🎉Women, and one of the characters asks if she should walk with her skirt train trailing in the dirt or if she should walk with it thrown over her shoulder. I sat there for 5 minutes trying to wonder how long the skirt was and how she went to the bathroom, lol
Do you know what style of skirt Melanie's pattern uses? Is it like the skirt she made before the two in this video? That was a circle skirt but with a double circle, right?
I remember when my mum revealed to me that my school skirt could be hiked up instead of pulled down when going to the loo. My 5 year old mind was blown!
"I never make the same thing twice" I felt that in my SOUL. So many people have told me I should make a bunch of X thing and sell it on etsy or at local markets and I'm just like, "why would I make a whole bunch of the same thing over and over again... sounds dumb..."
Exactly!! I'm the same way with everything I do - embroidery, macrame, baking, whatever - I just get so bored the instant I try to repeat something and I can't help mixing it up and making it different in some way! The thought of making tons and tons of the exact same product has me snoozing already XD
I suffer so badly from "Never make the same thing twice" syndrome that I have a pile of sweaters that I knit the front, back, and ONE sleeve. Just could not make myself knit the second sleeve. Now when I knit sweaters I knit both sleeves at once. Some brains just need to be tricked.
@@gettheetothestitcheryI'm so happy that someone else understands this. Making the first is a creative process on the right side of the brain. Restarting the process is a boring left brain process. Completely different!
Thank you for this video. I am a plus…(ehem) PLUS+++ size woman. The pattern offered for sale would do me little if any good. The term, “You’re on your own kid.” Definitely applies to me. But seeing it done, I can figure out how to make my own pattern and assemble accordingly. So thank you from those of us who do not fit in the box, or anything for that matter. Not to mention the untold number of pregnant women who are going to adore you for this very flexibly sized garment.
"It's a joy my brain rejects" was soooo very relatable 😂 My brain sees a written instruction manual of any kind and it's truly like I never learned how to read. I may recognize individual words but in the end even if I "read" it I just go in blind anyway because none of it makes its way into my head. It's a video tutorial or messing something up myself and that's it, those are the only ways my brain allows me to receive new information.
I'm so glad that I'm not alone with this. I have wanted to learn to sew for a long time. When I was younger, there was no RU-vid and my mom, who is an amazing sewer, is not very patient with teaching anything. Patterns, how to books and instruction manuals are not my friends. Then my son came along and I didn't have a whole lot of time or money to get into sewing. Now, my son is grown, I have the time, and a world of teachers through RU-vid. So, I'm finally getting started on my sewing journey.
Also, your full-skirt bathroom method is BRILLIANT! I definitely have used the first two steps, but never gone so far as to fling it over my shoulder! You are a genius! Consider yourself validated!
I mean. Thats how my mom taught me to use the bathroom when i wore dresses and skirts. She would be livid if the skirt touched the floor (ie. Pulling skirt down like pants)
THIS IS THE BEST SKIRT TUTORIAL BY FAR!!!! LIKE NOT EVEN FOR THIS SPECIFIC SKIRT SHE IS LEGIT EXPLAINING HOW TO SEW NORMAL SKIRTS 😭😭😭 TYSM I NEVER UNDERSTOOD SKIRT LOGIC
I have so many half finished skirts because I hate waist bands. What a perfect way for no zip, no elastic and it's adjustable so I can't eff up the band size (like usual). Definitely trying this!!
One thing I really enjoy about the current culture/style of RU-vidrs is to let the watcher in on the difficulties of creating videos: the editing, changing light conditions, not having a soundproof studio. 🙄😏 Kind of a peek behind the curtain of being a creator.😊 Life isn't perfect and that is okay.🥰 Thank you for putting in so much time, effort and sanity to share your experience with us. 💖
I cannot express to you how cool it is to find a sewist RU-vidr whose brain works EXACTLY the same as mine- the only difference between us seems to be that you’re not allergic to pleating 😂
"If that grand show of confidence didn't steer you clear away from this video then--' *crickets* *buffering* *whole mountains rise and fall* 'oKay, let's try some stuff, shall we?" Hah, uuh, so this is my first vid of yours, and I'm diggin' yer chaos sewing. I'm excited to see this, let me tell you. Huge wrappy pocket skirt is win.
Have you seen the image instructions for the phrase "gird up your loins"? Gathering a skirt to get out of your way is a long established thing as far as I am aware lol. Also, if you don't gather your skirt, do you just like only buy skirts short enough to conveniently use the restroom? Do you take them off every time? Honestly I have MORE questions for the people who don't gather their skirts when they need to.
I'm with you! I was like, okay ya'll I can show you how I do it, but I have sooooo many questions for the original people who brought it up... Maybe they just aren't skirt-wearers??
My husband (who doesn't wear skirts) was surprised when I explained that skirts get lifted for bathroom use. I guess it makes sense when he has only ever worn pants/trousers that need dropping to use the bathroom.
@@SpringStarFangirlInteresting, I wear leggings under skirts almost daily and I personally hike up the skirt and slide down the leggings. I usually lift and gather the back of the skirt to the front and hold it in my lap so it doesn't touch the toilet or the floor. Super helpful for caring for kiddos who like to walk in and talk to me while I'm going to the bathroom, no one ever sees anything with the skirt gathered in my lap.
Just got to the part where she shows what she does with her skirts, that's how I gather them but I don't toss them over my shoulder. I like the privacy I get by keeping it in front of my lap. I've peed in nature while camping in a maxi skirt without anyone I was camping with being able to see any sensitive bits.
I'm over 50, and aside from the over-the-shoulder flip, yes, I hike up my skirt whilst using the restroom. Hmmm, come to think of it, I do have one excessively full skirt, and I may flip that one. 😊 Consider yourself validated! ❤
2:15 lol and she already warned you that she’s not an expert lol but ive said this before, over all the sewing channels, i love her best bc when she always evaluates what she made and what went wrong, why it is wrong and how she would fix it if she had to do it again lol it reminds me of that thing in science research they taught you in school what was it the scientific method? Something like that, she plans, theorizes, executes, observes, evaluates, and figures out how to do it better. I hope she knows, she’s literally my idol bc im a firm believer that mistakes are failures, their teaching tools for improvement lol
I may be three months late but Im here to validate your bathroom skirt etiquette, I dont toss it over my shoulder (great idea though) but I Definitely gather it all in the front and hold it there.
In addition to flipping the skirt over your sholder in the bathroom you can also tuck it under your bra strap. Not typically needed but when you are in a public restroom woth a toddler that you need to he able to grab so they dont eacape under the door it can be necessary.
I also gather large skirts in the front to use the restroom! you are not alone!! lol (Also, love your videos, very inspirational! Please continue being you
I do the same in the bathroom with my skirts. I dont want them to touch the floor in there! This skirt construction really reminds me of the way you would make wrap pants. A split skirt (or "secret pants" if your a Rachel Maksy fan😂) made this way would be incredible.
When cutting trapezoid shapes for a skirt like you are making, you might want to think of the whole front as the trapezoid, not the individual panels as trapezoids. So if you are making the front panel from two pieces, then the one side of each of your pieces is a centre seam and therefore would be straight up and down, not slanted (particularly if you are wanting to keep the directional patternstraight in front). That way when you sew them together, you end up with one trapezoid piece. Either way though, you will still need to cut the hemline curved. Love your tutorial overall, very well done. Cheers.
First off yes, you are 100% correct, I thought that was the only way to go to the bathroom in a skirt, not to mention the reason for wearing one in the first place. Also I'd like to add I love your videos because your method helps me so much more than the traditional methods. Thank you!
OMG, so many times I stopped this video, laughed, and said out loud " I love this gal !". Love your creativity and your humor. Thank you for sharing both! And yes, that is the best way to pee in a skirt!!!
I am an experienced seamstress and I have to say I really enjoy your videos. I love how you figure things out 😂 I will still do the same type of madness calculations that you do … I don’t do patterns anymore, they never worked for me then I learned how to drape, totally different, my life changed and I know you would be amazing at it seeing you pretty much already do drape… measure the body, drape the fabric over the form (or body) and start making the pattern pieces according to the body.. And I have to say, I love your humor… no matter how experienced a person may be, your head can still spin 😂
I was literally on the toilet as I watched your “going to the bathroom in a skirt” demo. And yes, I do all of that up until the floof it over the shoulder bit. If my skirt is long and it’s going to touch the floor in a public bathroom, I usually tuck it over my left arm. But I’m going to try the shoulder part while my hair is short and won’t get in the way!
When you threw your skirt over your shoulder, this came to mind. Do your skirts hang low Do They swishy to and fro Can you close them with a knot Can you close them with a bow Can you you throw them over your shoulder Like a Continental soldier Do your skirts hang low?
14:24 I am a MAJOR amateur with a mentor that is extremely experienced in pattern making and sewing in general, and I did once make a skirt that managed to be pleated flat AND elastic. The way I managed it was the interfacing of the skirt was elastic, but the outside of the top of the skirt was completely independent from the elastic save for the top seam. This allowed for the material to gap between where the elastic hugged my waist, and the flattened appearance of the waistline created by the outer material, which graduated to a pleat
I never thought to throw it over my shoulder, so thanks for that. I usually just fold it into my lap and work around it. You just saved me some time on the struggle bus. ;)
Okay yes I'm replying to a 3 month old video but I had to shout about it because yes, you're absolutely right about what to do with your skirt in the bathroom. It's been well over a decade since I wore dresses and skirts but that just seems like the most logical thing to do. People really be out here slopping their skirts on the bathroom floor??
My daughters sent me a short clip of your blue skirt a few weeks ago & I finally got up my sew-jo & made one (kind of lol) for her using your tutorials as a starting place! I wish I could share pictures with you, she's so happy!
Rewatching this tutorial to know what to do and what not to do. And realised I didn’t leave a comment on here only on the other one, so I’m doing that now because people always say comments are good. Your experimenting shows me things and seeing why I shouldn’t do something or why I should do something is a very good way to keep myself in line. In talking with other neurodivergent folks I found that it’s probably because I’m autistic. I need to see the reason in a “rule” or I will have the hardest time keeping to it or even remembering it. A lot of professional sewing people just say do this it’s better but don’t say why. Also I like when you go on tangents and “over explain” things because sometimes I need multiple definitions before my brain gets it. Oh also I hate gathering because I need everything to be symmetrical and even and as flat as possible when it’s touching my body.
I'm so glad you enjoy the long rambling explanations! I am definitely the same way - if it doesn't make logical sense, why would I do it? And if you can't explain to me why it makes logical sense, then why would I assume you're right? XD
I love this skirt, thats exactly why I asked on your instagram for the pattern, I have ADHD and I’m Dyslexic and I’m absolutely awful at mathematics, equations make me cry so being able to buy a pattern where all the maths and measurements are already done for me is essential for me. I can sorta mod patterns and mash them together but that’s the extent I can do
I don't flip it over the shoulder but heck yeah that is how you do it... It doesn't surprise me folks don't even know how to walk in a long skirt anymore
Hey no one is perfect. I’m learning. I do a lot of sewing but am very open about picking up new techniques to help move it along. What I might have not known then . I knew now and move it a long to learn more and try to remember new innovations in patterns. I like it. 😊
You are absolutely correct, that is the absolute only way to position your skirt when having to relieve yourself. You are a genius, people who only see the negative are blind to your incredible intelligence. Don’t worry about them.😊😊😊
I’ve never thought about flipping a skirt over my shoulder but that’s genius actually. I usually just bunch it up in one of my arms when i have it scrunched
This is actually smart. I always felt that the Hakama method of wearing bottoms is superior and more comfortable. I never knew the technical term was called Coquelicot for the European version. 🥰🙏
It's only called the Coquelicot skirt because that's what Melanie called her pattern when she came up with it/released it earlier this year. Split-side/two piece skirts like this have a long history in Western fashion/culture and South American fashion/culture, with Western dating back to at least the 1800's. If you're interested in a more detailed exploration of the style, Stitchery has a video doing just that, and there's also various historical fashion channels that discuss them as well. Stitchery's video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RjjsI27O4Pg.html
The Great British Sewing Bee put out a pattern book with a 1950s style dress called a walk away dress. It shares some features of this garment, but the join if the back skirt piece sits on top instead of under the front. It uses buttons, but a switch to lacing might give the style more adjustability. Thought you might be interested in viewing this option
Oo I actually have that pattern and have been meaning to make it! But I was so curious as to why everyone was calling it the "walkaway" dress, so thank you for answering that question for me finally!
@@gettheetothestitcherypure marketing. The idea is you could make it in one morning and walk away to go to lunch, or whatever. I have seen maybe 10 made up on sewing channels, it seems to have fit issues on everyone.
@@lilolmecj Can confirm fit issues. You need to fit the bust and then adjust everything else. The shoulders seem to be one of the main areas that fitting is a nightmare.
@@lilolmecj The original 50's pattern assumed you were wearing a girdle. I bet fit issues on the pattern re-issue were attempting to adjust for that and adjusted the wrong thing.
First video of your I've seen. Gotta say, the way you speak abd communicate works SO well with my ADHD brain. Like I'm not zoning out while only listening to something, if I were religous I'd call it a miracle. Amazing video, very informative, and amazing communication 🥰
This was my brain during the restroom section; "you floof up the back" yes "you crunch it together in the front" absolutely "you fling it over your shoulder" WHAT ON EARTH?!!
@@gettheetothestitchery I’d never dare to fling it back, that way it can touch the toiletseat! I twist it up and put it in the crook of my elbow where I can see that it doesn’t touch anything😂 do love the visual of flinging it like a cape though
I just wanna say how much I appreciate your doing these videos on various types of split-side garments… I’m currently in the process of losing weight due to being diagnosed with pre-diabetes and would rather put the effort into losing weight rather than taking diabetes medication when i can easily get rid of this by losing weight… that being said i was afraid of making clothes for myself bc I live on a fixed income and can’t afford to buy more fabric just because i drop sizes and garments dont wouldn’t look right or would be difficult to take in… also, bc i sew by hand bc i cant handle the amount of noise a sewing machine makes and im also terrified of sewing machines so sewing a garment would take much longer for me…. Again thank you and bless you
I really love love LOVE how you broke it all down and actually did a diagram or whatever to help us visualize how to plan it out. I plan to make a really nice copy of said “diagram” to keep in my sewing journal (it’s actually a 3” heavy duty binder with dividers for tips and tricks and everything ive learned divided into sections labeled “fabrics”, “mending”, “alterations”, “project-planning”, etc) UPDATE: i will be making an outline not a diagram bc the outline will look much less messy bc i just remembered that my diagrams always look extremely sloppy but my outlines do not lol
I use a crop-a-dile for putting grommets or eyelets in. It's just good for small ones. I have to confess that I prefer hand embroidered eyelets. I like how you explain your process. Why would someone pull down their skirt to use the bathroom? Most of my long skirts are historical so I have split drawers underneath and facing the tank is the way to go with a hoop and corset. You do a variation of throwing it over your shoulder. But if it's a modern skirt flipping up in the back and pulling down undies is my go to. I gather the excess on my lap if I need to.
Found this really helpful to break down the thinking process of a skirt as it is so overwhelming when you are learning and your mind is everywhere full off information. Unable to unpack my brain and sort
I am in France....and all my friends are doing the first part of the skirt technique too ( all my female friends and 1 male one...do not ask)😉😉. And even if the second part (the shoulders part) is a new "technique" for me i do like this shoulder thing!! It should keep the skirt from being rumpled....i will surely give it a try😊😊😊
You give me “stem degree” vibes, it’s the pattern rejection and preference for the puzzle/diy of it all. Love the way this translates so well with such creative/artistic passion
Do not listen to any of the doubters or nay sayers. You are an empowered, extremely intelligent, curious, creative, and really groovy lady. I love your style and look forward to sewing with you. Blessings.
Just a thought: if you want to allow for possible future weight-gain, you want to allow for a bit of extra overlap at the sides to accommodate that later. Or, for a young girl, allowing for growth in her waist. 33:51
@HiNinqi I was thinking more along the lines of an extra inch or so in length on the front and back waist panels/bands. I'll figure it out once I find my fabric and make my first one. 😁
I'm totally sitting here thinking out how to make a skirt that will fit my 6yo until she's in the puberty growth spurt. But maybe 4 years stretch would be better because then it'll be handed down to her sister. 6-10, 10-14, 14+? 😅 planning too far ahead now. 😅😅
@@sudzy2779 an idea for the length would be to make the skirt have built in gathers via channels with a pull string in it So that it vertically shortens/lengthens the dress by gathering it via the cord. I had a cheap petticoat from amazon that gathered vertically like this and it was really nice til it fell apart from being made cheaply. I cant find a lisitng for it anymore for a visual tho. There were 4 spots where the cords were that brought up the skirt higher or shorter based on how much one pulled the height to be. It looked really pretty too.
@@sudzy2779 Definitely go for the smaller age ranges. My daughter added fifteen inches in ten years. Particularly as they are harder on their clothes when younger - mine exploded a pen in the pocket, jumped in the creek, ripped it on a swing - it can be unreasonable with more active children to expect it to last more than a year or two. If you made the overlap just a touch excessive, say three inches instead of one, she'll get at least three or four inches of growth out of each size. I can tell you that it makes very little difference in look or functionality. I did this to make skirts that fit over the entire course of a pregnancy. I currently have three made with a slightly smaller overlap so they'll continue to fit as I lose weight.
I have done historical reenactment since I was a little girl (about 4 or 5 years old), and this your dress/skirt bathroom method is what I was taught as a little girl. It works very well for modern Western toilets, even when wearing a chemise, cotte, and dress. Which all in all comes together for three skirt layers! I've also had to use a squat toilet in a long skirt before, in this case it is easiest to gather around the waist in front of yourself and hug to your chest with one hand while you keep the other free for cleaning yourself. Just make sure you keep holding it up until after you've stood up or you could dip it into the commode haha
Brilliant! I wear only skirts. (Ok ok ok sometimes sweats at home when not feeling well...) But, this is exactly how I use the bathroom ... gather to the front and tuck under chin or arm pit hahahaha! Thanks for this tutorial!❤
In sewing like in Excel, there are many right ways to do things but that doesn’t mean there aren’t wrong ways to do them. Most people just have preferred ways to do it and call it the right way (like loading the dishwasher) but if you get to the right result it’s all good
Thank you so much for the explanation of the different skirt shapes in the beginning! I have been trying to visualise a new shirt for myself and googling different types of skirts and how they fit different body types has been an absolute dead end. I had already decided to just wing it and hope for the best but luckily stumbled on to your video first. Now I understand why so much of the information on, for example, whether a gathered skirt suits a plus size body was contradictory: it depends on the overall shape of the skirt and not just on whether is is gathered or not! Thank you, I am now slightly less likely to make skirt I will never wear :D
As a plus size myself I don’t do gathers I do pleats as they give a smother affect on my wide hips and skinny waist, commercial patterns have to be multi sized because I am 3 different sizes 😹😹I have a size 18 waist (UK and AUS sizing) 24 bust and 22 hips, off the rake clothes just don’t fit unless they are a lose fitting or I go up a few sizes and then take it to the sewing machine.
@@dawsie Thank you for the advice! I am a similiar shape in that my waist is a smaller size than my bust and hips. Finding a ready-made dress is almost impossible :D I am leaning towards pleats myself since the gathering would add some bulk to the waist. But then again, I am doing a chiffon skirt bext so the bulk would not be as much so I am tempted to give it a try...
You are not alone! I do have one dress where the skirt was so voluminous that I had to gather the back and flip forward over one shoulder, and gather and flip the front back over the other shoulder. I needed a second suitcase to travel with that dress 😂
For someone who doesn’t really like to make tutorials, you are doing a great job of explaining what you are doing and how you think about the construction. Thank you so much for showing us this process ❤
2:27 i wish you had made a whole video on your process for making this particular skirt i love every detail about it how you used more than one fabric the swooshability all of it
I'm a bit late to this party, but your way of using the bathroom is kinda what I do. my skirts tend to not be long enough to go over my shoulder though, so I bring my top up (usually tucked into the skirt) and tuck the skirt into the folded part, does the job for long enough to do my business :D
Im here for the success stories following this tutorial 👀 Im gonna be giving in a shot this week but as a Lakota style ribbon skirt. 😅🥰 You definitely inspired this Native pow wow mom! I can have all the random stuff with room to spare this spring and summer! 🎉
I'm a frequent skirt warer. As in I own 40 skirts and 4pants....yes 10 times more skirts. And 100% of them are tea to floor length. Lol and the gather up and fling over the shoulder is the best method I've used.
I bought the wildflower patter and am experimenting with the waist band and fabrics so your video has appeared at a very opportune time. I don't have enough fabric for just one skirt so I'm going to use a bunch of fabric from skirts in have made but don't love, upcycle! Now waiting for the paper to print the pattern out
I love that idea! I've been getting in to color-blocking and patchworking fabrics a lot lately, and its so much fun! Plus the final product is even more unique to you!
First off, I love how like every comment here is about using the bathroom in a skirt. Second, I started cracking up at the throwing it over your shoulder part! But this skirt is so pretty and I can't wait to give my own variation a try!
I have seen an adjustable blouse at John Seymour’s book about old crafting methods: He describes a blouse with ruffles/ pleats above the bust and at the shoulders. So the upper part is shaped like a rectangle and the size is fitted. The lower part around bust and belly is loose because of the pleats. It was cut as a big rectangle. So the size of bust and belly may vary over time. The long sleeves are also cut very wide and ruffled at the shoulder and the hand for changing arm circumferences. Bless you!
I can confirm that in the Renaissance Faire I perform in, we also pull the skirt up. I didn't know this was a debate! Hahaha. It's an outdoor event so we don't throw it over our shoulder but even with a full lenth chemise and a full silk skirt, I have no trouble using the bathroom this way. My friend who did 1840s reenactment with the added petticoat and penifore said she also pulls the skirts up.😂
As somebody who worked at a Renaissance faire for 20 years - in a shirt, corset, bodice, and two skirts - which only has porta-poddies for the cast members' relief... Your method is absolutely correct. Get that fabric out of the way of the splash zone and do what ya gotta do. As a note, if doing more than just peeing, loosen your corset or else you won't be able to reach where you need to wipe.
Do you have any tips for the conflict of corset vs undies? I mean, getting the waistband of the undies back in place under the corset is a challenge for me.
Sorry, can't really help you there. Because my character was pretty active and my faire went from July to early September (so very warm), I made my corset so it goes from just over the "bristols" down to my natural waist. Because of that, didn't have to worry about the conflict that you have. That said, wearing "bloomers", yoga pants, or stretchy shorts (without the undies 😮) could solve your problem as they would go over the corset instead of under.
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