In this week’s session, I continued our work on drafting a bias-cut skirt pattern with a front extension piece. We focused on finalizing the pattern pieces, adding seam allowances, and making adjustments for a better fit. I demonstrated how to create the front extension piece and explained how it attaches to the main skirt body.
Demonstration Steps:
- Reviewed the previously draped skirt pattern
- Extended the skirt length to floor-length (43 inches for front, 44 inches for back)
- Created the front extension piece pattern
- Added seam allowances and notches to all pattern pieces
- Made adjustments to the front extension width for a better fit
- Marked grainlines and added pattern information
Questions & Answers:
- Q: Is the skirt open in the front?
- A: No, the extension is attached from the side seam to widen the center front, but it’s not open.
- Q: How is the extension attached to the front?
- A: The extension is attached all the way from the hem to the top of the waist. The top will be gathered and hand-adjusted.
- Q: How does the extension affect the waist?
- A: The center front will be sewn together for about 1-3 inches at the waist to cinch it. The gathered top of the extension will be folded and attached to the sides, creating room for movement while keeping a fitted waist.
Next week, we’ll cut out our sample pieces and fit them on the dress form to see how our pattern works in practice. This process of drafting, fitting, and adjusting is how we develop new patterns and achieve the desired look.
