Every now and then I attempt to explore different skirt styles.  However, if you want to avoid highlighting your mid-section, there are not loads of options to try.  I tend to end up in straight skirts.  That’s not a bad thing, but I do like variety.  I was pleased then when Style Arc released their Taylor Knit Skirt pattern.  Yes, it’s a straight skirt – but with some interesting seaming.

From the Style Arc website: TAYLOR KNIT SKIRT: This figure flattering jersey tube skirt features a split hem and elastic waist. With its great angles can be made in a stripe to show the design lines as well a plain knit.

My first rendition of this skirt was in digitally printed scuba from Spotlight.

I sewed size 12, as per my hip measurement. My waist is a much larger size, but this skirt is stretchy and has an elastic waist.

You can see how the stripes meet in interesting ways. There is no way of trying to make them match, so it’s actually a very quick skirt pattern to cut out and to sew.

I didn’t make any alterations to the pattern, so this is the finished length for a person of 158cm tall. Of course, finished length will depend a bit on where you where your skirt – high up on your body, or lower on your hips. Because I am fairly cylindrically shaped I can pretty much pull this skirt up or down around my mid-section and alter the length that way.

So when I was at Sewjourn, I made another one. This time I used Spotlight striped ponte. The stripe angles are even more obvious in this fabric.

There are only two pattern pieces for this skirt. You can cut it out with the pattern pieces oriented along the grain or along the stripes. There are no side seams, just some darts for waist shaping. The little split in the front seam is straightforward. I sewed the skirt on the overlocker except for the front seam, as I needed to be able to press the open split and topstitch around it.

I used a twin needle for the hem. For the waist I cut elastic to my waist measurement minus an inch, overlapped the ends and sewed it into a circle, then overlocked it to the wrong side of the skirt. I then turned it over once to the inside and zig-zagged to secure.

So although it’s yet another straight skirt, the seaming and stripe interplay make it that little bit more interesting.  I like it a great deal!