Saffron and Red

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I finished this skirt over a week ago, but am only now getting to my post about it. I have an idea in my mind of exactly what I want the photo to look like, but can’t seem to motivate to actually get it set up and photographed. I’m still hoping to take my dream photo, but for now, let’s just settle for some snapshots.

The fabric is a home dec silk (have I mentioned lately how much I love sewing with home dec silk?) It is just an amazing weave, with a billion different colored threads that settle into a saffron color from a distance. We all need more saffron in our wardrobes, methinks. I bought it about a year ago at a sample sale at Pollack in Soho (New York). I was hoping they would have another sample sale this year, but I have not seen it advertised. The other fabric is a red silk organza. After construction, I dip-dyed it with Jacquard acid dyes. I was going for a marled effect, but I think if I do this again I will try for a more even effect. The color combo makes me think of a Turkish bazaar.

For a pattern, I took a skirt block with 6 darts, combined the back darts so there were only 4 darts, then cut the pattern up through the darts and added the organza pleats underneath. Or something like that. The waist is a straight waistband that sits at my actual waist. I can’t remember the last time I made anything that did not have a shaped waistband.

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detail of dyeing. You can also see some of the weave.

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Sheer panels

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