We are wrapping up the first week of the Patti Pocket Sewalong today with some suggestions on different ways you can customize your pattern as well as a short video on cutting. One of my favorite things about the indie sewing pattern industry is the encouragement of sewists to customize a pattern and make it their own. The Patti Pocket skirt is no exception.
PLAYING WITH PANELS:
One fun thing about the Patti Pocket skirt is that it’s use of panels really opens this pattern up for playing with color blocking and mixing prints. There are a total of 8 visible areas on the skirt that can be cut in different fabrics for a truly unique effect. Need a little inspiration? I thought you might…
The simplest way to play with panels would be to color block. This means cutting certain pieces in a contrasting or complimentary color. My tester Meghan chose to make her center panels in a lighter color for a super cute effect.
Personally, I decided to play with asymmetry and do one complimentary panel on the right side.
Of course, your color blocking doesn’t have to be monochrome, There are so many ways you could play around with the pieces in this skirt.
Another fun way to really make the shape of the skirt pop is to sew it up in a stripe and play with stripe direction. My tester Jennifer did an amazing job of this, cutting the side panels on the bias to really amp up the geometrical vibe.
Here you could really go wild, cut each piece on alternating grains, use some large scale stripes and some small, all creating a very chic and modern effect.
Lastly, you know I love mixing prints so I couldn’t leave this option out. I have yet to do this myself or see anyone do it but I know the effect could be truly magical. Maybe I’ll play with this for the blog tour in the spring.
DRAFTING A LINING:
Being that this is a holiday sewalong and many holiday fabrics tend to be heavy or even itchy against the skin, I wanted to be sure and include direction on how to draft a lining for your Patti Pocket skirt.
With this lining, we will be clean finishing the bottom with the lining when it comes to construction. That will be covered next week, but for those sewing the midi length who only want a partial lining, cut your lining using the short version.
The only pattern pieces that need to be re-drafted for the lining are the pocket (k), pocket facing (m), and side front (c/j). The rest of the pieces will remain the same. In addition you will need a see-through ruler, a pencil, and pattern paper. Watch the video below to see how to re-draft the side front piece for lining purposes.
You will need to cut the following pieces from lining fabric:
- Center back (A/H)
- Side back (B/I)
- New Side front lining
- Center front (D/L)
- Pocket Facing (M) OPTIONAL – you could cut this in lining to reduce bulk, however being cut in a lighter fabric may cause your pocket to sag, especially if your self fabric is fairly lightweight.
You do not need to cut the hem facings at all – in self or lining. Unless you are doing the midi version with a partial lining, in which you would cut the hem facings for the self fabric.
You do not need to cut the waistband in lining.
CUTTING THE SKIRT:
You may have noticed that I do not include cutting layouts in my pattern. I made this choice for many reasons. Namely, when I was doing market research before starting Amy Nicole Patterns, I found that most sewists surveyed to not use or even look at the cutting layouts, myself included. After all they are meant as only a suggestion. And with so many variables on fabric widths, sizes, and pattern versions, it seems frivolous to me to try to cover all the potential layout possibilities. Even more so to try and cover one or two.
However, I don’t want to leave you completely in the dark. So here is a quick video of me cutting a Patti Pocket sample. You’ll also find a few cutting tips in there to help you with cutting other patterns in the future.
And that wraps up the first week of the Patti Pocket Holiday Skirt Sewalong! This is my first sewalong and I am having so much fun putting it together for y’all. Next week we really get into the nitty gritty. Be sure to use this weekend to accumulate your fabrics & supplies and get everything cut out and ready!
Happy Patti Pocket Sewing!
Lotte Rosgaard says
Hi Amy,
I’m planning to sew the skirt without pockets and with a lining. I’m cutting each piece on alternating grains in corduroy. How do I draft the lining, when I’m leaving out the pockets?
amy Powell says
Hi Lotte! If you are leaving out the pockets, you will need to re-draft the side front piece anyway. So you would draft the lining as shown in the video, and use the new piece for your pocketless side front self as well if that makes sense.
I’m so interested in seeing the alternating corduroy!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
~Amy
Lotte Rosgaard says
Thanks, that makes sense. I’m going to cut the side panels on the bias like Jennifer did – I’m a great fan of her version of the skirt. Now I hope, that I have enough fabric.
I will post pictures on Instagram :o)
amy Powell says
It’s going to look great!