Welcome to day 2 of the Patti Pocket Sewalong! Today we are going to do a brief overview of the fabric and supplies needed to complete your skirt. Many of you will already have your fabrics which is great! If not, be sure to order/purchase some today so you can follow along without missing a beat.
FABRIC:
Exact fabric requirements will depend on what size/view you are sewing so be sure to read over the fabric requirements chart on page 5 of your instruction booklet carefully.
As for types of fabric, I recommend medium to heavy weight fabrics with little to no stretch. For the holidays, fabrics like brocade, taffeta, and plaid wool would look great sewn up in this pattern. I don’t recommend super slinky fabrics with no body, as silhouette of this pattern would not handle these fabrics well and your pockets would end up a bit droopy. If you do choose a fabric and are worried about its ability to hold up, interfacing the pocket facing (piece M) will help to keep your pockets in order.
For exact recommendations head back to the inspiration post where I link to several examples for each holiday theme in the photo captions.
NOTIONS:
To complete this skirt you will need a 7-9” invisible zipper, 1 yd woven interfacing, and 1 hook & bar.
Granted, this is just what the instructions will illustrate. You could get creative and alter the pattern for an exposed back zipper like my tester Megan. Depending on the size you cut & the width of your interfacing, you could get by with 1/2 yd. And the hook & bar could be replaced with two hook & eyes or snaps. I am a big fan of shopping your stash first, look through what you have on hand and make it work!
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:
In addition to your notions and fabric, there are of course a handful of sewing tools you will use throughout this skirt making process. Aside from the obvious sewing machine, iron, and ironing board, this short video will cover all the tools I use in constructing the Patti Pocket Skirt.
- No invisible zipper foot? Us a regular zipper foot. Be sure to press you zipper teeth open with a cool iron to make it a little easier for ya.
- No tailors chalk? Regular chalk, a light pencil marking (on opaque fabrics), or a small piece of masking tape will help you keep your pieces straight.
- A dull pencil can be used in lieu of a point turner (be careful using this method with lighter fabrics!)
- Use regular scissors to cut threads if you don’t have a pair of snips. Fun fact: for the longest time I used a pair of kids craft scissors until I finally bought a pair of proper snips!
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
There are a few tools that did not make the video you may find handy if you have them in your studio:
- A tailors ham will help you press the curved side seams nice and smooth.
- An edge stitch foot could come in handy on step 26. (I have one but tend to be lazy with such things and never bother to switch it out when the time comes.)
- A clear ruler will be necessary if you are adding or subtracting length to your pattern.
- You will need a tape measure if you don’t know your measurements by heart or think your body has changed since you last measured yourself.
I encourage you to approach this project with an open mind, be creative, and don’t get intimidated.
Tomorrow I will talk you through selecting the correct size to cut and making any necessary fit adjustments.
Happy Patti Pocket Sewing!
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