A Set of Skirt Fails

Having put on some pounds (God, is that all she talks about these days?), but wanting to evolve from my sweats-and-tee-shirt look to something more thoughtful (it's not very nice to not even try to look good and to go out in public looking dumpy).

But I don't have anything that fits.  I thought some circle skirts would be comfortable and nice-looking. ​

Skirt #1: Goodwill-Sheet Test

I first made a test skirt out of a jersey sheet I bought from Goodwill. I wanted to try a wider elastic waistband and I knew the diameter of the skirt couldn't be too much wider than my hips because I didn't want the waistband itself to gather. It was meh. I mean, it's just a test garment and the stitching on the waistband (and the thread color) can be forgiven, but the elastic is too wide for me, I think.

Skirt #2: Gathered Maxi

But then I found a cheap and lightweight jersey with a pretty design on huge markdown in the bargain bin at Joann's. I decided to try again using this fabric to make a maxi skirt. The elastic for this waistband was not as wide as on the test skirt—1.75" maybe—and I like it much better.  But really, this style is not the most flattering for me I think. I would like to be able to wear a maxi skirt—I think it would keep me warmer during the summer  months indoors at restaurants and such. But, alas, this look does not spark joy. Might be the pounds.

Skirt #3: Narrow Gathered Waist 

And then I was going through a bin of fabric and found a cheap knit I'd bought 10 years ago for a tie-making project that was never completed and I thought it might make a nice cheap and quick skirt for bumming around the house in the summer. This one I made with a narrow waistband and 1.5 x my hip measurement. It's hideous I suppose, but I wear it. In public.

Skirt #4: Woven Circle

Next I thought I'd try a woven skirt with a flat waistband and zipper closure. I went searching for a tutorial and found a helpful one at Megan Nielsen ("how to make a dirndl skirt"). I had a feeling a dirndl would not look good on me, but you can't sue me for at least trying. I used a remnant of a lovely Robert Kaufman lawn print in my stash.

Okay, so first off I cut out the pieces following the instructions precisely, including the 5"-width waistband, and basted it together. Five inches? Who has a waist that long? Well, I guess the model does because the skirt looks good on her. On me, it was comical. I took it apart and cut the waistband down to 1.5 inches. Then I sewed it all together and put in the zipper. (I used this super helpful tutorial by Angela Wolf.) I put it on and...no. Way too much gathering for me. 

I took it all apart. I cut the diameter down to a bit more than 1.5 my waist measurement. Put it all back together and this is the result. 

Sigh. No, I don't think so.