Perfect Pencil Skirt – Apron Skirt by Paco Peralta

I think I have found the perfect Pencil Skirt! For this I have to thank Paco who designed a flattering pattern precisely for my measurements. I mean I only had to adjust the length and nothing else! This is a seamstress dream come true!

The part I was fearing the most: sewing the apron part turned out to be very easy. Out of all the possible techniques I used Ruth’s method. But I took the super-safe option of machine basting the seamlines, hand basting the apron seam allowance and then hand basting everything together as I didn’t want to risk it.

I love topstitching…thankfully my machine has a special foot that makes it work like a charm.

The background story: When Paco released his two new patterns, I asked him to set aside the Treky top for me. I wasn’t sure about the skirt. These days I don’t wear high-waisted skirts, I wasn’t confident about the skirt style on me and I thought the apron part would be difficult to sew. Then when we met in Barcelona, Paco gifted me both patterns and I made the skirt first from my stash. Turns out I was completely wrong! Sometimes it’s worth daring.

The mishaps: Boy this skirt had some serious mishaps…I burned the fabric as I was adding the last piece interfacing…and I only had one strip of fabric left that barely fit.
As I was assembling this piece…the seams didn’t match up: I cut the original longer version…so the vent was now too low. As I didn’t have any fabric left, I patched up the missing bit (you may still see in on the vent interior left-hand side).

I stretched the lining too much and had to fold it slightly…see the right-hand side white lining. Not perfect but invisible from the outside.

I am happy to report that luckily no zipper broke!

What’s up with the lining? This skirt is made from stash fabric and I said to myself it was pointless to waste some perfectly good lining just because I didn’t have enough for the whole skirt. So, I set my imagination free (OK this is a clear exaggeration…but I am normally not this creative) and came up with this…I like looking at this design feature

You may have noticed I’m using a different shade of grey In my next post I aim to show you how versatile this skirt and the color are!

Do you wear high-wasted garments or prefer a low-waist?