It's Never Too Late for a Peasant Skirt!

So, the fashion pundits have declared that the resurgence of the 1970s Peasant Skirt has subsided, but it didn't stop me from creating my own version, to wear now and into the fall. This Simplicity pattern, from the 1970s was perfect for the skirt I had in mind.

My fabric, from Metro Textiles in NY, was purchased last year. I can not remember who I was with that day, but it was a fellow sewer. I bought three yards, and she asked me what I had in mind. I replied, "I don't know. Maybe a shirt?". You may be able to relate to that method of purchasing. You like something, so you buy it, knowing eventually you'll find an application for it.

This fabric consisted of strips of cotton, rayon, and poly lace, all stitched together from selvedge to selvedge.

One thing I know about the clothes I like best is that I hate to wear anything that visually adds to my waistline. So, I modified this pattern, which was, essentially, three tiers of fabric, joined to a woven waistband, with a zipper closure. The modification is shown here. I cut off the top five inches of the pattern, then cut a 11 inch wide band of knit fabric, sewing it into a tube. I folded the tube in half, and sandwiched a 1 inch piece of elastic (which also had been formed into a tube) in between. Then, I applied this new knit waistband to the woven skirt. The basis for this knit tube as waistband idea came from Christine Jonson. The addition I made to Christine's instructions was that I inserted the 1 inch elastic inside. This assembly creates a smooth line, without that dreaded waistband puff that can sometimes come when creating a dirndl style skirt from woven fabric.

Since the lace portion of my fabric was see through, and I did not want to have to wear a slip, I lined the skirt, to the bottom of the first tier, with the same lightweight rayon knit used for the waistband assembly. You'll notice that for added interest, I cut the top tier of the fabric on the bias, the middle tier on the "up and down" and the bottom tier was left horizontal. I chose this not only for added interest, but also for the figure flattery that diagonals and lengthwise stripes can deliver. (I don't care if the skirt 'reads' wide at the hemline, thus that's where I chose to put the horizontal stripes.)


As autumn arrives, I'll wear this skirt with a jeans jacket and a cool pair of blue-grey cowboy boots that I had custom-made for myself in Juarez, Mexico, back in 1985!