During winter, I am always drawn to wearing skirts. I love wearing these in the cold weather with thick tights or leggings. I can wear fun coloured or sleek black ones and I get to show off my cute boots.

The comfort of not wearing pants but being cozy and well-dressed is so alluring. Moreover, a skirt and top have more versatility than most dresses. They can combine to make many different outfits. I can easily nurse no matter what top I wear. Plus, I can just change the top when it gets spit up on without changing my whole outfit!

Another benefit is taking a break from my ongoing quest for the perfect jeans fit. I do have one pair of ready-to-wear jeans but they are less than great and I don’t love the length. Skirts are faster and easier to make and fit and definitely provide a boost to my sewjo.

Skirts are faster and easier to make and fit and definitely provide a boost to my sewjo.

So, I am taking a break from pants for now. Bearing that in mind, here are the skirts I am sewing and wearing a ton of this winter.

Itch to Stitch Quebec skirt

I love all the traditional jeans details on the Quebec Skirt, so much. The elasticated waist is so comfortable yet flattering that I had to make two!

Sewing these took me 3 evenings each, where I worked for about 2-3 hours a night. I took my time to get all the details right. This pattern does not have no-trim pages, so I hesitated to make it. But, I am glad I did!  This was a new to me pattern company and I would make more of their patterns for sure!

Grey Denim

My first one was out of this knit denim hybrid in grey denim. The store I purchased it from is no longer in business sadly.

The only changes I made were to lengthen it by 1.25 inches and leave the hem raw for a different look. I only sewed a quarter inch from the hem and let if fray. My height 5’2’’ so this gave me the midi length I was looking for.

I followed the instructions for the back slit construction but I would probably use my preferred method if I made it with a slit again.

Light Blue Denim

For my second Quebec Skirt, I used a scrap of stretch knit denim I bought years ago from Mimi Fabrics. They do not have this kind anymore, but they have other jegging fabric that I have used before and prefer the quality of.

I left the length of this skirt true to the pattern, but as I was working with a scrap, I was a bit short on fabric. So, I only turned the waist down 2 inches and made a casing for 1.5’’ elastic. The 2’’ elastic on my grey one sits better but this one is still getting a lot of wear.

I also sewed up the back seam and omitted the slit. As it turns out, I prefer this skirt without the slit and it is faster anyways!

Both skirts are a size 22. I made no alterations to the fit.

Love notions sybil illusion skirt

The Sybil Illusion Skirt is the fastest sew out of all the skirts I am wearing this fall. This pattern is so full of options (SEVEN!) it is a steal!  I would recommend it 100%. This is the A-line view and only has 2 pattern pieces if you skip the pockets.

Preparing the pattern is a cinch because the pages are no-trim. Once that’s done you can make this in 30 minutes if your machine is ready. So, order a pizza and don’t make supper. Make a skirt!

So, order a pizza and don’t make supper. Make a skirt!

I made the skirt in the photo a few years ago and didn’t like how it fit me. I did make other views and wore them more. However, I found this one in my scrap bin when I was looking for contrasting fabric for another project. Something told me to try it on just in case.

Turns out I like it now! My body and my taste have changed so I am not surprised. The lesson: shop your reject pile! 

The lesson: shop your reject pile! 

The fabric is double brushed poly from Water Tower Textiles from a few years ago but they have many other DBP prints. I’d love to make another in one of the other views soon. For this one, I made the size 1X skirt in the midi length with no alterations.

Made for mermaids: Sienna Skirt

I just love the feminine vibe of the Sienna Skirt: all the romance, but all the gathers. This meant it was not the fastest to sew. However, it is easy to sew if you have made gathers before.

The instructions are clear and the pages are no-trim as well… as always with Made for Mermaids. I liked the separate casings for the elastic on this skirt, which is not something I had done before. This meant that I didn’t have to stretch and sew over the elastic. In turn, the delicate challis wasn’t ruined in the process. I will definitely use that technique again.

Although I made this skirt this fall, the fabric is from Blackbird Fabrics from a few years back. The quality was great, and I would buy their custom challis again. I just love the hidden little kitty cats in the print!  I made the size Orange in this skirt in the midi length with no alterations.

Perfect pairings

The new Dear and Doe Orage square neck top in black bamboo rayon spandex from Water Tower Textiles has been on heavy rotation in my wardrobe since I made it two weeks ago. This is the size 22 with my usual fit adjustments without making a muslin first. I was skeptical if I would like it but I’m so happy I gave it a shot. What a bonus that their new patterns are in an extended size range, too!

I can’t wait to make more of these soon and make a matching set with the Orage top and skirt. I am not a fan of binding but it was worth it on this top.

The Orage square neck tee is so good is giving my tried and true Cashmerette Conchord tee pattern a run for it’s money. It’s place in my heart is safe though because it has a looser fit and different neckline options. I made the grey one in these photos out of bamboo rayon spandex from Fabrications Ottawa.

Which skirts are next

Besides the Deer and Doe Orage skirt, I also want to make a Sew Liberated Gypsum Skirt, a DIBY Club Anna Button-Up Skirt and a Megan Nielsen Wattle Skirt to round out the different silhouettes in my wardrobe. I haven’t found the perfect fabric for those yet but you can bet I am on the lookout!

Accessories

I am wearing these Dara Booties from Naturalizer. I love how they go with all my skirts. Even if they didn’t, they are so comfortable I would wear them anyways. My tights are these opaque Snag tights in slate. I have loved all my tights from them and find them very comfortable and not restricting in any way.