Sewaholic's Gabriola Skirt pattern is a different maxi to those I have worn in the past. It is pieced and flared, rather than being more of a dirndl skirt. I love it.
I made it from a rayon from Tessuti. The rayon was gorgeous to sew with. Check out that beautiful fluid drape!
I did a few things differently. Firstly, I didn't like the idea of a straight waistband on curved yoke pieces. So I used the Clover pants waistband. It fit perfectly to the size 8 Gabriola skirt pattern pieces. Secondly, I cut the yoke pieces on the straight grain instead of on the bias. I read quite a few reviews saying they buckled along the seam lines when cut on the bias and sewn together.
Look - no buckling!
The zipper was horrible to insert. I used an invisible (the pattern calls for a regular zip), and it took 4 attempts of basting, sewing, unpicking etc to get all those yoke pieces to align. Grrrrrr.
Have I mentioned I love this skirt?
I have received soooo many compliments wearing it. A rather hilarious one was I was wearing it at the Gr'lld Burger place in Hawthorn with my sister Ruth and Little M. I ordered the 'Hot Mama' burger (love chilli) and the barely-out-of-puberty waiter said to me 'the right burger for you, love your skirt'! Embarrassing beyond belief.
Are you going to make the Gabriola? I urge you to!
Swish, swish, swish... enjoy the dramaticness (is that such a word) as this is an awesome skirt. It looked fabulous hanging in your wardrobe, but it is even more impressive on. That waiter was definitely on the money!
ReplyDeleteIt looks GORGEOUS on you. I do have the pattern but I expect it will wait until next year now.
ReplyDeleteI love this skirt - I now want it, so please don't be startled if a poor imitation appears, or it vanishes from your line.. ;) And yes, dramatic is the only response to such maxi skirted wonderfulness. =WANT ;)
ReplyDeleteYou would look amazing in a Gabriola. Absolutely amazing! I was in Darn Cheap today and they have some very nice rayons for $9.95. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteA wintery version could be pretty lovely??!!
ReplyDeleteThat waiter was hilarious. He was probably half my age. Thanks for the compliment too!
ReplyDeletereally cute! I love the fabric choice, it looks like it can be kind of casual or you could really dress it up! superb!
ReplyDeleteIt looks dramatically lovely on you! I love that you managed to piece some darker pieces in so that you see the connections. I love this on you, really love it, but not sure it would suit me.
ReplyDeleteI love how your mind works, and they DO have some nice designs....
ReplyDeleteThis is so dreaaammmmy! Clever mods too.
ReplyDeleteBwah ha ha! Check you out, hot mamma! This is seriously lovely- the fabric cascades beautifully. And epically played on the yoke pieces- yours is the first I've seen where there is no bubbling. Rad summer skirt, Rach!
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is just amazing! Definitely a hot mama! The Gabriola is seriously such a lovely shape.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, I've made two now, they are so nice to wear, I'm still struggling to get the size right though, I end up taking in loads on the back seam! My next challenge is to make one with a gorgeous chiffon overlay I've got in my stash, still trying to pluck up the courage!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kriston! I agree - definitely could be dressed up too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirsty. It was so hard to figure out where to put the pattern pieces. I think you could pull it off! I've seen it on some shorter women and it looks gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa! And thanks for all your advice about the buckling issue too.
ReplyDeleteIt was sooooo embarrassing Amanda! I do love this skirt - it has been worn a lot in it's short life!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie! Are you going to make this? I can see you wearing it with aplomb!
ReplyDeleteEgads, a chiffon overlay! You are braver than me! I feel nothing but nervousness when it comes to chiffon. Do you have a blog? I'd love to see your versions. Good luck with the chiffon!
ReplyDeleteI've recently started a blog at http://thecraftycreek.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteMy first Gabriola skirt is on there
I must admit I did eye up the pattern at the beginning of our (northern hemisphere) summer. I's not the kind of thing I normally wear but it does look mighty fine and it would be great for ceilidh dancing in. Maybe next summer.
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric you chose for this, really nice. Shame about the dodgy comments.
This is spec-fecking-tacular! I really wanted to make the Gabriola this year but I missed my warm weather window..... now you're making me regret the decision, hard.
ReplyDeleteThis is super swishy in all its gorgeousness. I always sway away from long numbers because I find I trip up all the time and it's not conducive to being active with Miss 4. But this is such a head turner. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIf I wasn't on such a super tight budget I'd be calling up Tessuti to get some of that fabric!! Your skirt looks amazing so I'm not surprised by the random compliment from the burger shop :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn! The fabric is great and was fairly cheap - $22/m. I've been wearing it so much!
ReplyDeleteIt's not great for slippery slides and running about, so I totally get what you mean! I'm such a sucker for a maxi dress or skirt though....
ReplyDeleteWhy thanks! What about a more winter-y version - you could wear tights and boots? You'd look awesome in a Gabriola!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very good dancing skirt - nice and swishy. The comment was more embarassing than anything - he was so awkward and bumbling.
ReplyDeleteTights and maxi skirts = static electricity disaster waiting to happen! But maybe with a slippery material?!
ReplyDeletehahaha!!!!! Oh that is gold. You really can't go past an unsolicited compliment though, huh? Absolutely adore this skirt - the pattern and fabric are a match made in heaven. Definitely worth all of that invisible zipper pain!! It looks effortlessly chic and classy! Not to mention... no need for carrying out a little leg deforrestation prior to going out into public, and that is a total win.
ReplyDeleteThis rayon is pretty slippery, but I'm not sure if it would be anti-static. Probably need a slip, which I'm not into. You should definitely make one in summer though!
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty funny. He was probably only 17 or 18 and I felt ancient, handing my money over with a 3 yo hanging off my hip telling me earnestly she really needed lots of chips, and do they have sauce! I do loathe shaving my legs - but then I hate feeling all prickly. After having my daughter I didn't shave them for 8 weeks (way too tired and distracted to worry about stuff like that). The hair actually went back to being all soft. I probably should have embraced the hairy look instead of starting up shaving again!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely! I'll look out for your chiffon number.
ReplyDeleteThis is striking and one of only two that I have liked! It sits so well, is flattering and no weird pulling like I have seen in so many versions. That fabric is amazing too, how do you find rayon with creasing, I always find it an issue although it is lovely to wear. Fabulous shape on you, the youngster was right :)
ReplyDeleteNoone in my Grill'd has ever hit on me! Must make myself a Gabriola clearly! It looks fab...I love a swishy skirt!
ReplyDeleteOmg go grill'd guy! That's awesome. He is right though your a hot mama especially in this skirt. It looks fab on you! I love a good maxi skirt. Perfect for summer.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, I love sewing with and wearing rayon. This is one of the best versions of this pattern I have seen, The guy serving you clearly had good taste ;-)
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness this is just lovely! I have made a Gabriola but I'm not 100% happy with the waistband... too big :( so an working up the courage/patience to unpick and redo. *sigh*. After seeing yours though I am inspired to do it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story 'Hot Mama' ;)
ReplyDeleteThis skirt looks gorgeous. Looks so comfortable and versatile.
I've made one thing out of rayon and I really need to make something else with it too. It feels so lush.
What a pain about the invisible zip, but at least you got it right. There is nothing worse than garment grudge. That feeling you get every time you wear something that you just wish you had taken the time to make right.
Sooooo dramatic, but totally worthy of all the drama. I hope you strut your stuff just walking in a parking lot while wearing that. ;-) I'm JUST getting into the maxi-scene. I have one maxi dress I love and one I like and I'm on the fence about maxi skirts. BUT, if it feels like yours looks, I'm totally in. Hehe!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! If it helps, it feels verrrry nice to wear. Swishy, a little slinky, airy... just lovely! I think you should make one!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Rayon is so nice, isn't it? Almost like silk, but more affordable and hard-wearing. I love your term garment grudge! My recent spotty dress is a garment grudge make. It just annoyed me the whole time - I got it right in the end, but it was too annoying to get there. Now I don't want to wear it.
ReplyDeleteI am dying to see yours! You have to go back to it - I'm sending good sewing vibes your way - you will look amazing in it!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Rayon is lovely. I think I'm going to get some more - I saw that a fabric store near me has a new shipment of it in.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat! It was pretty funny.
ReplyDeleteI'd be okay if no one at Grill'd hit on me either - it was weird, embarrassing - but a bit funny too. Make a Gabriola! They are so lovely to wear.
ReplyDeleteBig compliment! Thanks Lizzie. I haven't found it to crease, however this rayon is different to other rayons I've sewn with - it reminds me more of the texture and hand of viscose.
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