Pattern Runway Gathered Skirt

 I love it when I discover that independent pattern designers offer a free pattern.  I tell you what could be better than a simple pattern, well drafted, and offered up to you for free?  So, its the little things that get us excited around this blog.

This skirt is a Pattern Runway pattern.  Its #1402 the Gathered Elastic Waist Skirt and is a simple design with some really nice small touches.  For example the front waistband lays flat while the back is gathered with elastic.  This is better than some of the skirts I've made in the past with elastic that goes around the whole waist.  Nobody who's ever had a baby wants more floofiness around their front middle than necessary.  Plus no zipper to insert.  The skirt also has pockets if you fancy that, I didn't for this skirt since I didn't want to wrestle this chiffon into submission.  

Alterations to pattern: A note about length on this pattern, I'm about 5'5'' and I cut the length of the XXS skirt with the Medium size.  After I tried the skirt on I shortened it another 5 1/2 inches.  So it seems to be a little long.  Also I think I could've used the small skirt as the medium was a little big.  The pattern doesn't call for a lining but I lined this since the chiffon is very sheer and just sort of winged it with some royal blue lining fabric.
Fabric:  I used a chiffon from Hancocks and some lining I had on hand.  The chiffon works great and I've already picked out another chiffon for a maxi length version of this skirt.  I would love to see this skirt in a rayon...that may have to happen this summer.  Another change in fabric will be to use a lighter weight fabric than quilting cotton for the waistband.  The quilting cotton has a tendency to bunch up with the elastic in the back and poof out.  You can kind of see it in the picture of the back of the skirt.

I highly recommend this pattern if you need a beginner skirt pattern.  Its quick, its flattering and did I mention its free...oh I did didn't I?  Well now you know again!