Vogue 1239: Big Floral Print Skirt

Stash Busting 2014:  Retro Skirt

Fabric:  2.9 metres printed stretch denim and .5 lining fabric

Hooks and Eyes:  3 large hook & eyes from my stash

Thread:  I managed to finish off another spool of thread from my stash.  

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Where to begin?  

Let's start with the fabric. This denim fabric has been in my fabric stash for about a decade, at least. Don't ask me why I bought it since pink is not something I'm usually drawn to. It must have been on sale dirt cheap. That is the only thing that I could come up with to explain how this fabric ever became part of my stash. It probably explains how it stayed in my stash for that long too. It became my muslin fabric for this skirt that ended up turing into a wearable muslin.  

The pattern is a vintage Vogue Perry Ellis designer pattern, Vogue 1239 (circa 1987). I currently have two copies of this pattern. The second copy arrived today in the mail. I started off with the first pattern in a size 12. I haven't been a size 12 in quite some time but I had my eye on this pattern hoping that one would appear in my size. I finally broke down and ordered the size 12 thinking that I'll just adjust it up to my size.  

Adjusting the gored skirt pieces was easy peasy. The waistband was another story. I'm going to blame it on the sinus headache and sore throat that was interfering with my brain's ability to solve simple mathematic problems at the cutting table. After several re-cuts of the waistband pieces it finally worked. Luckily, there was left-over fabric to play with as I struggled with fractions. Did I mention the sinus headache? The sewing gods must have felt sorry for me because the second pattern appeared after I had already cut out the skirt. And it was in my size! I was thrilled beyond words. 

I have plans to make view B and now I won't have to worry about any more pattern adjustments. The big floral print skirt shown above is view A. It was suppose to be a lower calf length skirt but it looked more like the evening length (or maxi skirt length) during the first fitting. I chopped three inches off the length and hand-sewed a two inch hem. Other than shortening the hem and adjusting the size of the first pattern, the pattern is perfect. Did I mention it has pockets?   

I found something interesting about the two patterns. The pattern fronts were 99% identical (one of the envelopes has the word(s) "PATTERN/PATRON next to the pattern number where the other does not.  The big difference between them was found on the pattern envelope back.  

There is the difference in orientation of the text and information found on the pattern. One list the year the pattern came out, whereas the other does not. On one of the envelopes flaps there is a picture of the designer, Perry Ellis, along with his design philosophy. The other envelope flap contains a body measurement chart. I wonder why the design and information changes. Could it perhaps reflect where the patterns were sold? One envelope meant for the U.S. market and the other for the Canadian market? Both patterns offer metric and imperial references but only one envelope is bilingual (English and French). In a geek moment, I thought it was neat to see the differences between the two envelopes for the exact same pattern.  

I leave with saying that I like this skirt even though there are big pink flowers all over it.  Now what to do with the extra pattern?  

Happy Sewing!