Pattern Review: Simplicity 5914

S5914 Black Tweedy lined skirt

I made this skirt a number of years ago. I haven't worn it in a long time because the last time I put it on, I felt like a stuffed sausage. Apparently TurboFire and Chalene Extreme are working for me, because this time it fit like a glove. Mostly I pulled it out because the weather was gorgeous (+ 5°C which is unheard of in January). Last week we had a cold snap where temperatures went down to -45°C with the wind chill, so it was layers all the way, and not much thought to what I was putting together for a "look".

About a billion people have sewn this skirt with great results. My only complaint would have to be that it is drafted pretty long for the average girl out there I think... or, maybe I don't wear a lot of skirts and have trouble getting used to the proportions they give me. I also wish that I was aware of some better finishing techniques when I made this. In any case, here is the review:

Pattern Description:
Misses skirts each in two lengths.

Pattern Sizing:
6, 8, 10, 12. It was so long ago... but by my measurements, I'm sure I made a 12, although it could have been in between a 10 and a 12 (usual for me)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, but on my frame, longer

Were the instructions easy to follow?
yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Frankly, it makes my backside look fantastic ;-)  (I wish I would have straightened out my sweater - so much to learn about taking photos of myself. ugh!)

Fabric Used:
Black and white tweed. Is it wool? I don't know, probably not, because Fabricland usually doesn't carry a great selection of quality fabrics and I got this in the discount section. I hand wash it and hang to dry. The lining is just a polyester jaquard with roses in the weave and a seemingly random pattern of white and cream dots of different sizes. To me, it looks like the tweed pattern blown up and blurred.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I added lining, which was just the pattern pieces minus the facing plus a seam allowance.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I have sewn it again—in a corduroy that was too stiff and I wore it once and gave it away. If I do make it again, I'm going to make it shorter by cutting the length in the thigh area so I don't loose any of the flip at the bottom. I also made it for my mom in a brown double knit. That was an experiment in fitting, which went pretty well since the pattern is so straightforward.

Conclusion:
This is a good pattern. If you are one of the few who hasn't tried it, what are you waiting for??

On fake-me:


On real-me (after a long day at work, so it was getting dark, and once again, camera-fail):