Nova Ha

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:Is there such a thing as a photo of such a skirt?
This is what I see... http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6940-products-48286.php?page_id=915
No freaking out allowed. I would not send you into town wearing THAT.
Reimagine veiw B as just a skirt, only one fabric used.
The image does not want to be posted. Hmm. I would have given proper credit.
To alter the pattern pieces:
Find the front and back panels. Find the natural waistline. Cut off, or fold back the bodice to create the skirt pattern pieces. If folding, pin the bodice part back to 'hide' it.
The front and back side panels will need to be changed, just use some newspaper, or butcher paper to alter the top convex curve to form a straight line, also extending up to the natural waistline. Be sure to have the length of the side/front seams match the length of the front/side seams. Front and back measurements will not be the same, so do likewise to the side/back and back/side lengths.
The side panels are cut on the bias, giving it more room for a stride than it may appear. While this one does not, most patterns list the circumfrence of the fininshed hem. You would need to measure the pattern pieces to acertain this number. Don't forget to subtract the seam allowances. Compare this number to the length of your stride. Take a step, stretching your step out to just uncomfortable. Measure this length. Double it and add 3 inches for ease.
Add a waistband, using a button and 9' zipper at back or side seam.
A flap can be added to use buttons instead of zipper. I don't know how to explain the process, I am a visual learner and teacher without a camera. Ugh.
Now cut out the fabric.


http://www.simplicity.com/p-11846-misses-pencil-flounce-flared-skirts.aspx#t-2
This skirt, veiw D, is only 23 inches long, from waist to finished length.
To alter the pattern pieces:
For veiw D, lengthen the 'straight'panels to desired length. Widen the hem edges of front and back straight panels by maybe 2 inches each panel, tapering panels up to hips. Side front and side back panels add no more than 1 1/2 inch each to the hems, half to each edge, tapering uo to hips. Lengthen the triangle inserts, aiming the insert to begin at about mid thigh, tapering them down to about the same width as they were to begin with. Add the length of all your hem edges together. Is this long enough to accomodate your stride? Adjust triangle pattern until it does. Don't forget to subtract seam allowances.
Now you can cut out the fabric.
The triangles can be made of a lighter weight fabric than the skirt. Perhaps denim skirt, calico insert. Or Linen skirt and chiffon insert. Ha ha ha! Ahem. Great farm wear! (You may happen on some sturdy linen or cotton lawn though. It does not do the snagging thing that chiffon will do.) Doing so will cause them to 'tend' to hide inside the skirt, not billow out into a fire.


I prefer patch pockets in a skirt. I have found that in seam pockets fight me too much, they twist the wrong way. They could look like jeans, cargo, flowers, etc. Whatever you like.
Also any skirt pattern can have a waistband attached to it, for belt use. I have yet to decide if I prefer a waist threaded belt for tool carrying, or more of a 'gunslingers' style. I always take garden shears, multi tool, and knife. If I take a 'quick trip' out, I always end up with a trip back to the house.
I like the idea of a skirt for working. Much less binding. For now though, due to chiggers, i wear slightly too big dickies. Not stylish. At all.

Any skirt pattern can have a lining added. To use less fabric, do not echo the style in the skirt though. Think A line skirt, with a back split, maybe side splits too, from knee level down. Attach at waistband, lining up with the zipper, some light gathering may be needed at waist.

Hey! Just a note, try a different shape of pocket.

You can extend the top edge to the waistband so that it is kept in your preferred orientation, and you don't even have to have it face to the right or left - I make my own pocket patterns based on older pocket styles and most of the time I end up with one that actually has the pocket seam in the middle, with the pocket flat against the skirt side. My current project actually has the seams going like a capital I in some fonts - one piece, long edges sewn up the middle with a space left for the pocket opening, and the top and bottom edges sewn shut. Top edge is going to be caught in the waistband so it doesn't drag down too much on the skirt. I just eyeballed the size, but I can fit my 32 oz insulated bottle comfortably inside.

r ranson wrote:There's another style that I like... I saw one long ago in the military surplus shop.  It was a Russian (from the USSR days) winter military coat.  Double-breasted.  Pretty buttons.  Beautiful wool.  Many many years ago and the shop is long gone now.

It was a huge coat and I thought to myself back then "if I had the skills, I could take that in and make it fit really flatteringly to show off the nicer elements of my shape and hide the others.  But it was a really heavy coat and I didn't have the confidence to spend that much money on a project I felt I would never have the skills to do.  I wish I had that coat now.  

You're probably looking for a soviet greatcoat! The design itself honestly hasn't changed much from older ones, so I'm sure if you look for patterns or similar ones, you'll find some!