I’m going through an “I like nautical” phase at the moment, and when I spotted the roll of striped grosgrain that I hadn’t yet put away, lying atop some recently acquired red linen, the idea for a new skirt was born. Sometimes being untidy is good!!
We nipped down to Westhaven marina for some shots yesterday evening. DH took the photos this time – look at my hair, the wind, the electricity between us!
On the left you can just see the Auckland harbour bridge, which locals have nicknamed the coathanger because of its shape. On the right you can see Rangitoto Island which is one of our many volcanoes dotted around about the city.
This is probably the best photo of the actual skirt (and my hair!) behaving:
This skirt has two outward facing pressed pleats either side of the CF and CB that are stitched to just above the hipline. It is easy to draft from a basic skirt block – you just add the pleat allowance and incorporate the darts into the pleats. I shaped the front waistband and gave it a centre notch for a bit of interest:
The pleats and the waistband are both topstitched at 6mm with 120weight thread. I got a bit carried away and did a bound buttonhole – I only did that because my machine doesn’t do buttonholes, and I couldn’t wait until Monday! It does look nice though, and was easy to do in the linen. I machined the hem and sewed the grosgrain over the stitching to hide it:
Look at these lucky guys getting ready to sail off for the weekend. We’re staying at home to work on the house – paint removal is not fun. Don’t be surprised if I choose to sew instead!
Super-cute skirt! (Without being too cutesy, if you know what I mean.)
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Wow that skirt is lovely 🙂 Great place to photograph it. 😀
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I agree – super cute skirt. I am crazy for pleats. love it.
looks like you are enjoying your summer 🙂
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Great skirt and a very picturesque photo opportunity.
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Oh, it's lovely! I love the pleats and the waistband detail. I have eighty million other things I'm supposed to do this weekend, too… and I want to SEW! 😉
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Very nice! I love the colour combo. I love that its nautical without being too nautical.
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A very nice skirt! I love the nautical look.
Compliment -the photos are very beautiful!
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You´re such a talented sewist! The bound buttonhole is an unexpected touch to a more casual skirt, I think it´s great. Love it.
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I love your skirt. One of my pet hates is a feature on the front of an item of clothing but not on the back … Just makes me think “cheap”. The colour is really you and it looks like a fantastic day in Auckland … lucky you… I loved living in Auckland it's a great city!
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Very cute! Love the photo with the boats in the background. Any tips on how to get the pleats to be more permanent in home sewn items? I have a pattern for a similar skirt but everytime I wash it I have to spend half an hour ironing the pleats back in.
Andjxx
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I love your skirt! It's nice to see nautical in red instead of navy blue. And you live in a beautiful place!
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That's a lovely skirt (I wish I had your skills). And Auckland is looking fetching – that light makes the colours positively zing…
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What a great shade of red! Looks like such a lovely evening.
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wow, that is really pretty. I love the little notch in the waistband and the ribbon on the hem. And the bound buttonhole is a really nice touch. That is something that would please me every time I wear the skirt.
And thanks for the photos of the gorgeous scenery.
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Absolutely beautiful pictures (and skirt – love the bound buttonhole detail). These were so nice to see. I love seeing a slice of other bloggers' lives and environments.
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I love it! And the pictures are wonderful, too. The notch in the waistband is such a neat little detail.
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Beautiful skirt and a great backdrop for it too! The ribbon is the perfect touch!
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Great shots and interesting skirt
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Just beautiful. Wonderful skirt.
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Such a lovely skirt! And Auckland looks really pretty in the background too!
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wow Sherry wow! Not only an impeccably created skirt but a gorgeous back drop. I love how you got to sneak in your navy thrifted purse and the nude heels look fab. Truly fabulous styling and great work on the skirt.
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The skirt is lovely and what a perfect setting- I'm very jealous of your weather!
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Beautiful! And I really envy the warm weather right now 🙂
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Beautiful skirt. Your photograph of the Auckland Harbour Bridge triggered a funny memory. I was 18ish, drunk and my friends and I were arrested (but not charged) for walking home using the underspan of the bridge. We were wild travellers then.
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Beautiful Skirt! Congrats!
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Your skirt is beautiful, I love the grosgrain ribbon on it,makes all the difference!
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Beautiful skirt! Auckland harbor was one of my fav places in NZ…
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What a fabulous skirt! I love the nautical look, that ribbon is such a nice touch. Your pictures are so lovely and show the skirt off perfectly.
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Very nice , Is that a bound button hole I see in your waistaband? If so themn WOW!!
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What an adorable skirt! It looks wonderful on you. The v in the waistband is my favorite touch.
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Sherry, you look wonderful in this sharp looking skirt. Wonderful ribbon detail. And I love seeing the Auckland views! We're flying from Florida next week and can't wait to spend three weeks exploring NZ.
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I looooove the skirt! the color, the ribbon the BUTTON HOLE!!! Well done!
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