Reuse, Recycle
Friday, January 14, 2011 at 8:48PM 
The term upcycle (the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality) may not have been coined until 1994 but let's face it, Scarlett O'Hara perfected this practice years before when she turned her curtains into a ballgown. My skirt has a similar origin. When I purchased some winter white wide wale cotton corduroy curtian panels (whew!) from Ikea I needed to chop almost four feet off of them to make them fit my window. The resultant "scraps" were ideal for a long, straight skirt. I used a pattern drafted from my Pattern Master Boutique software which included waist darts, back zipper, and a faced waistband. To add some interest to this piece I hand stitched dozens and dozens ofwhite buttons around the hem, a detail that adds beauty but also an unanticipated loud jingling sound when I walk (I scare my cats every time I wear this skirt). I like to think Scarlett would be proud.
Reader Comments (4)
Love it! Would love to see it at our next PMB Meeting --- I'm curious how far below the knee the hemline is... Lynn
Hi Lynn. I'll bring this to the next meeting. The skirt is 31" long which is about 9" below my knee. I tend to wear skirts at one of two lengths: a couple of inches above my ankle or right at my knee. I think those proportions in relation to MY proportions comes out to a pleasing ratio (probably related to Fibonnaci's sequence, or something like that). I think I'll wear this to church tomorrow and have my picture taken in it so I can post it -- I was particularly unhappy with the pictures I have of this skirt, taken several years ago. Stay tuned!
Julie--I think this is about the darn cutest skirt I have seen in ages!! I love the buttons at the hemline- a detail I would never have thought to do. And yes, I think Scarlett would be VERY proud of you :)
I love this hem! I'm going to try this :)