Pattern Review: Hollyburn Skirt [Sewaholic]

Pattern: Hollyburn by Sewaholic Patterns
Fabric: Art Gallery Pure Elements Cotton in Empire Yellow, purchased at Grey’s Fabric
Size: 6

Cardigan: Coppelia
Tank: Gap
Boots: Nine West
Nails: Essie Bikini So Teeny

I don’t know why, but I’ve been on such a “loud color” fabric kick lately with what I’ve been buying.  I mean come on, look at how I paired this outfit: hot pink and lemongrass yellow, whoa!  And did you see the lime green for my Laurel dress?  Maybe it’s because the weather is hinting at warmer temps and things are starting to bloom.  Whatever it is, I’m tired of dreary, dark colors and am ready to embrace the brightness of spring.

This skirt was one of the three I sewed while on Sewcation 2013 two weeks ago, aka “Skirt Week.”  I took three skirt patterns and fabric to my parent’s house in PA and spent the week using my mom’s sewing machines and whipping up skirts for spring.  Gotta say, Sewaholic Patterns are so flattering and simple to make.  Even though I skew more towards “rectangle” in body shape, the garment measurements fit me perfectly and I rarely have to make fit adjustments.

What’s there to say about this skirt…oh, that it’s my new favorite silhouette and I can’t wait to make more???  Seriously, who doesn’t love a fun, twirly skirt?  And there’s pockets, too, and they don’t gape open!  I couldn’t stop putting my hands in my pockets as I wore this skirt.

I’m really proud of the sewing I did on this skirt, from the top-stitching at the waistband to the machine stitching on the hem.  But note to self – stop making skirts out of quilting cotton, they wrinkle too easily.

The only change I made to the pattern was using an invisible zipper instead of a standard zip.  I didn’t want it to be obvious in the center back seam that there was some zipper action going on.  I get it if you’re a beginner and you’re scared about zippers, because really, this is a beginner pattern, but I find invisible zippers waaaaay easier than regular ones.  I also finished the edges of the waistband the same as how the waistband edges are finished on the Ginger skirt…hard to explain how that is on here, but if you have the pattern, you know what I mean.  Much easier than hand stitching the zipper tapes down in place.

Looking at these pictures, I didn’t realize how short this skirt is (for me, at least).  I definitely see more of these skirts in my future since it’s a great “cake” garment; maybe I’ll try the knee length one next time.