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Gold Denim mini skirt

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This is s skirt I’ve been working on and surprisingly enough has been probably my most successful draft of any pattern I’ve made. I had a basic straight skirt block and turned it into this, no fitting adjustments needed. Winning!

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I drew a sketch of this design, like, five or six years ago, crazy! Early pattern drafting days. I had completely forgot about it until I was cleaning up and I found my little sketch. Later I discovered an old UFO bag with green corduroy pieces cut out and some zippers. Apparently at some point I tried making the skirt but I hardly remember it at all and obviously never finished it.

Flash forward a few years and I’m now slowly working on making a PDF pattern for this design. Unlike my past patterns I’m doing 9 sizes meaning I have to draft two blocks to grade up and down from. It’s taking me longer but in the end it’ll be nice because the pattern can be used by a wider range of sizes.

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Basically it’s a mini skirt with a thick waistband and a bottom hem band (both with facings). It’s got a total of 7 “panels,” two of which have these slanted exposed zip pockets. It hits about 2″ lower than my natural waist.

This fabric is a denim I got from a new Austin store called The Cloth Pocket. The owner said she got it from a local custom jeans designer so that’s kinda cool.

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The pocket interior and facings are left over Liberty of London. Yay for using scraps! (especially expensive scraps…)

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The back zip is a regular zip and the front pocket zips are some metal jeans zippers. I top stitched all the seams in gold thread.

It’s definitely an above the knee mini skirt but I think it can be lengthened easily in either the panels or the hem band.

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I’ve been wearing it pretty often which is always a good sign. I made it in a solid so it goes with all kinds of tops but yet the seaming and zips give it some interest so it’s not a plain ol’ denim skirt.

Well, whatdya think? And would anyone be willing to be a pattern tester for me? More details on that in a future post.

Comments (57) for post “Gold Denim mini skirt”

  • Hey, I don’t believe in love at first sight—but I do love this skirt!
    I’d be thrilled to pattern-test it for you whenever you’re ready! I’m about a European size 36, which is about XS or S, depending on the pattern block.
    Want, want, want!

  • LOVE IT. I’ll test! My hips are 36 🙂 there are so many UK/US/European sizes I give up. Measurements are easiest!

  • i’ll throw my name in for pattern testing! this is a cute skirt! love the zipper detail.

  • This skirt is gorgeous. I’ve been trying to transition from wearing solely jeans to more skirts and dresses, and this is definitely in that vein. Can’t wait for this pattern!

  • Fantastic pattern – i’d love to test! it looks awesome made up in that goldy denim. I’m a waist 26″, hips 34″. I’m so pleased with my picnic in the park shorts that I can’t wait to see what you have in store here!

  • Oh my, I am buying this pattern as soon as you release it….unless you need more pattern testers! Pick me, pick me!

  • I would LOVE to be a pattern tester for you! I really like the pockets and all the extra lines. Can’t wait to try this pattern out sometime!

  • Love this skirt! Super cute. I have some denim in my stash that would be perfect — a girl can never have too many denim skirts. And who wouldn’t want to test for you? I know I would!

  • What a fantastic skirt! This is exactly my style. It would be excellent to try the pockets without the zips as well. I would absolutely love to pattern test for you. I love pattern testing as you get such insight into the design process. Good luck finishing drafting your skirt pattern.

  • What a great skirt. I’m always looking for cute denim options as I don’t wear jeans anyway, I’m plus size and would love to test this if needed. g

  • I’m not typically a denim skirt kind of person, but I love the construction lines on this and am a major sucker for zippers on pockets. I think I’d try a corduroy version, it’d be incredibly cute for a fall/spring skirt with tights… I feel like you’re gonna have an abundance of pattern testers, but if you want a sewing novice’s crack at it to gauge how difficult it is I’d be happy to!

  • This is so cute! I can see it in tons of different fabrics. I love colored denim, but I’m not really a blue denim skirt kinda gal. A floral or printed denim or a corduroy would be super cute 🙂

    And, if you’re looking for pattern testers, I love testing 🙂

  • This is such an interesting design, I love the pockets and seaming – makes it far note fun than a normal skirt. I’d love to pattern test!

  • Just when you’re looking for a denim skirt pattern….. and one pops up!! I’d love to be a pattern tester but hey there are already plenty of volunteers 🙂

  • I love denim mini skirts, I’m always looking for ones with interesting details. Your skirt is lovely, I can see it made in interesting prints, or even colour-blocking! So many options! My last make is a Grainline Moss mini skirt, (unblogged yet), and I practically live in it 🙂 If you need an extra tester, I’m in! (European size 42)

  • This looks really cute on you. And gold is a more interesting variation on the traditional denim skirt!

  • That’s awesome! I love the heavy zippers used in a new way (i.e. not just down the back). I’d really love to make up a test pattern! Will you be offering this in a rtw 14/ dressmaker 20?

  • I’d be up for testing the pattern! It’s such a cute skirt! Looks like something I’d definitely buy in store, but it would be so much more satisfying to make from scratch.

  • Woah, this is gorgeous! I love the fact that it’s so simple at first glance, but has fantastic details when you take a closer look.

  • I love it!!! I didn’t quite know it, but I’ve been yearning for a skirt like this for a while now. I’ve been mulling over several different patterns, none of which are just right, but this is it! So, yes, obviously, I’m game for testing 🙂

  • Love the zippers and seaming details! I’m totally into sewing mini skirts right now–just finished two Grainline Moss Mini skirts. Would love to try out yours!

  • Groovy! I like all the seaming details. This looks like a really successful pattern in the making, Dixie. Cloth Pocket–do they have knits? When I go off my fabric diet I must check them out.

  • They have a small amount of knits. It’s mostly quilting cottons but they have a bunch of Echino if that’s your thing. This denim was the only one they had.

  • I really like this design of yours, Dixie! What I think really makes it unique is the extra wide hem at the bottom–not many skirts showcase this detail.

  • So cute!! Very clever design. It looks like you already have a big response for pattern testing, but I would be very happy to if you need one!

  • I’d love to test! I have a flat butt so unless a skirt has interesting seaming in the back, I always pass on it (flat butt+boring skirt=unflattering). I love the back of this AND the front 🙂

  • I’d love to be a pattern tester! I’ve only made maxi style skirts before so it’d be nice to have something shorter that I could make casual or work appropriate.

  • I love this skirt! I am in the queue to buy the pattern when it comes out, although I’d also love to be a pattern tester – it would be just the motivation I need to restart my blog! Anna.

  • This is great. I’ve been wanting to make a simple skirt for the summer for a while now. All the ones I have right now are a bit too formal or I’ve worn them a million times and I want some variety. This looks like a great pattern and really in my alley style-wise. Would love to test it out 🙂

  • This is really cute! I see so many possibilities for customization with the piecing of this skirt! It’s going to be a huge hit!

  • Would love to be a pattern tester! 🙂 I was just planning my spring summer outfits and that shape skirt it is on the list 🙂

  • Yay pockets. What a cute skirt, I love how you’ve divided the front and back into panels. I’d love to be a tester.

  • I love it! I’m leaning more towards appreciating some nice seaming in a solid, rather than reaching for a print. It looks like you have heaps of pattern testers already, but I would love to help out if you need one more!

  • YES! always on the hunt for good skirt patterns. And that one looks great. Love the seaming and exposed zippers.

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