Mad Men Chic! (I hope)

'I like pencil skirts because they hug me in all the right places.' - Mandy Moore

Pencil skirts are a really classic piece that should be in every girl's wardrobe. On top of being super flattering, they can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion. So when I got this very Mad Men-esque Simple Sews Pattern free in issue two of Love Sewing, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to have a go at making my own. 

I was super impressed by the quality of the pattern and the instruction sheet. The pattern was printed on paper that was slightly sturdier than the normal tissue paper so I found it was much easier to preserve if I ever want to make it again but it was still flexible enough that it was easy to pin and it didn't damage my shears.

The instructions were printed on a folded A3 sheet making it much more manageable than other instruction sheets that come with patterns.

I also really like the fact that all the patterns are designed and made in the UK meaning you're supporting a home industry while you're creating something you'll love!

The only problem I had was the sizing that this company uses. Most patterns are cut in the same sizes as they were in the 1950s meaning you can take any pattern from any company and any era and blend it with another pattern knowing that it will fit. Simple Sew Patterns use sizes that are much more similar to the high street today meaning that I suppose in some ways it's easier to get the right size but could also be very confusing to someone who's used to normal patterns.

And here's the final result!

I'm really happy with the final fit and look of this skirt. I've never made anything this tailored before so getting the fit right was really important but I think it went pretty well. I bought the fabric from Minerva Crafts. It's a nice strong cotton drill so it holds the shape really well. 

I'm planning on wearing this skirt on my birthday with a top that I'm trying to find the right fabric for as we speak but I'm really struggling...

The Lottie pattern was an exclusive for Love Sewing but Simple Sew Patterns make another high waisted pencil skirt that I think would be a really nice edition to any wardrobe. 

So for your next project why not consider checking out Simple Sew?

Happy Sewing

Etta

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