At last we have a starfish skirt! This is the tulip skirt from Sew Over It featured in Simply Sewing magazine and I love it – and so does Doris!


The free pattern accompanied Issue 5 of the magazine and the instructions have been divided into three instalments. My lack of patience meant that I pressed on regardless.
There are only four pieces to the pattern : front, back, one piece waistband and a pocket. You may remember that I made a toile which resulted in me raising the pockets by 2.5 inches because I couldn’t reach them! There are darts at the back and two large pleats on each side at the front which create the tulip shape. I chose the shorter of the two lengths but realised at the toile stage that this would be way too short and so I added a couple of inches.



The instructions were easy to follow and the skirt came together really quickly. I’ve never really gone in for pattern matching before but because this was such a big bold pattern I decided that I needed to make an effort to avoid it looking messy at the back. I’m not sure of the ‘official’ way to do this so I just cut out the left hand back piece, individually pressed under the seam allowance and then lay it on the remaining fabric, lining up the large starfish. I then measured across ⅝” to the left, i.e. under the already cut piece, for the other seam allowance, marked this on the fabric and removed the cut piece. I then reversed the pattern piece, matched up with the markings and cut out the right side.
I’m quite pleased with the result for a first attempt, the large starfish match pretty well across the concealed zip, although the smaller ones are ‘pointless’ in a couple of places. The zip also went in quite neatly.
I wanted to line the skirt to help support the ‘tulipness’ of the skirt and used a crisp, spotty lawn that I’ve used before and always seems to appear on the remnants table in C & H Fabrics. As before I used Tilly‘s instructions for inserting a lining with a concealed zip which works like a dream and gives a really lovely finish.


I particularly like the pleats at the front, perfect for helping to conceal any sticking out in the tummy area!
The problem came when I arrived at the hemming stage. I can only think that I must be an odd shape but the hem dipped down a substantial amount at the front and I just couldn’t get it right. Cue a visit to my mother to stand on a stool and rotate while she pinned and my sister offered helpful comments.
Finally it was level but this involved a variance of more than an inch from front to back! I then had to unpick and re-sew part of the hem on the lining, which I had already done in line with Tilly’s instructions, as it was poking out at the front. I finished the hem with bias binding.
I think it was all worth it.
I do have a confession though. I was so keen to get started on this skirt that I didn’t wash the fabric first and I just know it is going to shrink – which will be a problem as it is a perfect fit. I can’t bear to think about it but given that I am the sort of person who can’t wear anything white for more than about five minutes without getting it dirty I could have a problem on my hands. I may have to resort to dry cleaning, which I really don’t like, and keep the skirt for special occasions.
Gorgeous skirt Janey! Xx
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Thank you Kyrie. I now need a special occasion to wear it!
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Fish finger sandwiches? 😀
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This is so cute! I love slightly mad prints and this looks perfect for beachy summer days
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Thank you – I wasn’t sure about the print to start with but now I love it. Just need the sun to come out again!
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This is really lovely! Well done on the pattern matching! I’m yet to attempt it but I bet it’s just so satisfying! I’m curious about how you finished the hem with bias tape – do you mean you covered the whole join with bias tape? Or just the bottom unfinished edge then stitched it up? Is your lining attached at the hem? x
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The pattern matching was very satisfying! I machine sewed one edge of the bias tape to the raw edge of the hem and then slip stitched the other edge to the skirt fabric. It is a really good way of doing a hem if you’ve cut the skirt a bit too short (which I often seem to do) but it also makes a really need finish. I’ve not attached the lining at the hem. x
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After all that effort and attention to detail you’ll HAVE to take it to the dry cleaners! You can’t save it for best though, it’s too nice:)
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Yep, it will have to be the dry cleaners and I’ll try and be very careful when I wear it.
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I often ‘forget’ to wash fabric but weirdly so far I’ve gotten off scot free. Try handwashing in cool water? Tis lovely fabric though.
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I hate washing fabric first because it loses that lovely ‘new’ feeling – and it means more ironing!
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So cute! Love the fabric!
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Love the shape and the nautical theme.
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Oh I love it! Such a shame that you didn’t prewash the fabric as you should wear it all the time!!
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I have learned my lesson!!
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It looks great and I love the lining. Doris won’t want to take it off! 😀 TTS
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