Tulip Skirt with Contrast Trim

This is the original tulip skirt design that inspired my Tweed Tulip Dress (after I saw the fabric at the FabScrap store in New York City).

I first envisioned this tulip skirt hem detail as a black skirt with white trim around the edge to emphasize the shape of the hem. I think this will be a perfect skirt to wear to office for Spring/Summer!

Sketch

Since I’ve already done a similar sketch for the dress, I just used that one for the base in order to do a fully rendered sketch (see the full process in my YouTube video embedded in the post below).

Honestly, I don’t love how the sketch turned out, it looks a little flat to me and I would prefer to keep going with the marker layering to get more dimension. Here is the original sketch I did when I first thought of the idea of the tulip skirt. I think I did a much better job on this one. Notice how I’ve taken out the waistband in the end, this helps with quick fitting and alteration processes.

Pattern-making

Now that the idea is down on paper it is time to get started on creating the skirt! I already had a good start for the pattern for the skirt, because I previously made the dress. So I just altered it so that it was finished off at the top with an attached facing that will be folded over elastic or better stability.

And then, of course, I made a mock up to make sure it looked right. You’d think it should be fine since I’ve already made in in the dress, but the fabric I’m using this time is a bit stiffer so I just want to make sure everything’s perfect with the added facing. After all, I put in all this effort into making something, I want to make sure it actually fits so that I’ll want to wear it 🙂

If items don’t fit right I’ve noticed that I never wear them, and that seems wasteful. See my post on the importance of fit.

It had pretty much a perfect fit, except it was just a little snug at the hip so I made those alterations to the pattern and got to cutting out the fabric.

I bought some already pre-cut donated black crepe fabric from the FabScrap store in the city (I can’t bring myself to buy new fabric anymore unless absolutely necessary). Current industry practices for the production of textiles and clothing is extremely wasteful and terribly harmful to the environment. I try to do my part by purchasing donated fabric as much as possible and making my own clothing that is easily altered and plan to wear for years to come.

Click the image below for more of my sustainability research.

Sewing

• First, as always, finish all of the edges of each piece

Sewing Basics – Seam and Edge Finishes Post

• Next, sew the front body seams

• Then the back body seams

• Next sew the zipper into the left side seam (when it’s flat) and finish the side seam

• Sew the right side seam after the zipper is in the other side

• Finish the top/waistband

• Sew the hem last (and I added the contrast trim)

Below is a time lapse video of my design process from full rendered fashion figure, to pattern making and fittings, and lastly to final garment sewing!

Fun Fact: The pattern making and sewing portions of this video are increased to speeds up to 50x faster than the original in order to make the video as short as possible.

All ready for Spring at the office!

Please leave any questions or comments below!