Pop quiz. There is a fancy sewing event coming up. Do you:
- Pull out a frock you have already made that hangs in your closet?
- Plan meticulously and craft something carefully with time to spare?
- Vague around for a while, drink some wine and pull something together in the last week or so and belatedly realise your outfit has the potential of making you look like you belong in the 90s cult film The Craft?
I think we all know where this is heading: DIY tulle skirt and black lace top… Thank goodness for the power of a killer necklace and Manon for making me feel like I’m in the 90s again but this time killing it style wise!
The top is the Nettie from Closet Case Files. This pattern is for a dress or body suit so in typical Amanda fashion I went rogue. I used the high back neckline, scoop front, three quarter sleeves and cut the bottom off the bodysuit pattern to make a top. The crazy awesome geometric lace is from Tessuti Fabrics in Melbourne and feels absolutely amazing. While the lace is rad it has no stretch and for some bizarre reason I didn’t take this into account when cutting pattern pieces. Doh! As such it’s a pretty close fit and there are some drag lines around the armholes. Oh, well. It does make me think of late 90s club wear which is pretty much a win in my book!
Now let’s get to the tulle elephant in the room! This number is a five layer circle skirt with an elastic waistband which makes for snazzy outfits AND the ability to eat all the carbs and still feel comfy. Double win! Like the Cotton and Curls tutorial, this skirt has two separate circle skirt pattern pieces. The bottom three layers are made to my regular measurements (I used my existing pattern from my last circle skirt) and the top two are made to my waist plus 10cm extra. This allowed for a slight gather and fullness on the top. In theory. Until I got my layers muddled up. Tulle is a slippery sucker!
Fabric wise the lining is a dry knit with a gorgeous handle which kept me nice and snug and made the tulle layers opaque. The top four layers are a bridal tulle instead of the flexible netting that the tutorial recommends. This has a bit more structure so if you are going for a dramatic silhouette this is a definite winner. The waistband elastic is rather neat and is two inches wide with horizontal satin lines sewn in. I picked all of this up from Spotlight at a 40% off sale. Winning at life!
Construction should have been fairly straightforward. Cut waistband elastic to size, gather and distribute tulle, sew, dance. But apparently that is not the Amanda way. Having bridal tulle rather than netting became an issue when it was time to try on the skirt as I ripped a bunch trying to get it over my shoulders. Oops. Back to the drawing board where I cut the waistband a bit wider, lengthened the zig zag stitch and tried again. But the elastic was now too loose. So take three had tightened elastic and a skirt that finally fit. It was then time to add gin to face. Sewing is hard, yo.
What I liked about this pattern:
- How damn cool this skirt is. I have never received so many compliments about a piece of clothing. There is something smugly satisfying about having ridiculously cool hip young peeps coming over and asking where you got your skirt from and watching their mouths drop open when you say this was whipped up in an afternoon #sewingwin
- The elastic waistband. I always thought these were kind of dorky. I was so very wrong.
- How (hypothetically) easy this was. Lots of bang for little buck. Whoa- that sounds all kinds of wrong. Lots of awesome for little effort is probably much better… O_o
What I would change for next time:
- I am not sure I need more than one tulle skirt in my life but if I did then the flexible tulle would be worth a try.
- More tulle layers! ALL THE TULLE!
- For the Nettie, using fabric with stretch. Since it is a stretch pattern /facepalm
The Deets
Pattern: Nettie by Closet Case Files and two self drafted circle skirt using the By Hand London app
Fabric: 1.3m geometric lace from Tessuti Fabrics for Nettie, 7m bridal tulle and 1.5m dry knit from Spotlight
Notions: 80cm of waistband elastic from Spotlight
See also: Cotton and Curls, a pair and a spare
Overall, I am beyond happy with how this one turned out! I debuted this at Canberra Frocktails last night and it was so much fun to wear! There is something to be said for a night out with some of the raddest ladies you’ve met, drinking (too many!) glasses of bubbles and talking sewing and randomness. And a big shout out to the CBR Sewing Crew peeps who organised this: Myra, Michelle, Kirsty, Jen and Siobhan. Awesome work, ladies 😀 Looking forward now to the Melbourne Frocktails coming up in August- time to make another top to go with this skirt…
So fabulous! That waistband was such a find! And what is dry knit, btw?
Thanks, Sarah! I love the waistband elastic so much 😀
Dry knit has a lovely handle and drape and doesn’t feel synthetic. Knitwit has a great explanation here: https://knitwit.com.au/what-are-dry-handle-knits/.
You definitely rock this look! You have me tempted to step back in time and rock some 90s grunge now!
Live the dream, Liz! The 90s are so where it is at 😀
Ow had never heard of dry knit before, so thanks for the explanation up above!
This outfit ROCKED. It rocks d more than Dior. More than Zoolander, and much more than The Craft.
Yeah, it was an eye opener for me. It feels amazing on and kept me all snug on Saturday 😀
So. Utterly. Fabulous.
Thanks, lovely!
You killed it in this saucy ensemble! Total style win & a great night out, I knew it was a party when I saw that skirt, keep fighting the good fight yo.
Thanks, Rosie! We were all kinds of fierce!
Amazing outfit! The skirt in particular is stunning. I dream of a black tulle skirt, but fear I am way too old to wear one… and also have nowhere to go in one!
Thanks, Sam! It is so much fun to wear 😀 Urge to turn up to work in tulle is growing just so I can keep the party going 😀
I have a tulle skirt, too! Tulle rips very easily, doesn’t it. I’m glad this worked out for you, and the skirt and top look great together! You’re ready for a party!
So glad to hear it is not just me and my goofiness tearing the tulle, Abigail! Looking forward to taking this out for a spin again soon 😀
I love how much LOOK you got out of two simple (well, as you said, hypothetically simple) projects! That waistband elastic really takes everything to the next level for me. Glad your getup had the amazing debut it deserves!
Thanks, Morgan! I can’t believe how much I love the waistband- who knew elastic was so rad?!
Oh I so love this. Just fabulous. I went to see Holly Johnson last week and I’m right in that 80s zone. really want to make one now!!
Thanks, lovely lady! OMG give into the 80s!!!!
I need a tulle skirt. I didn’t know I did until I saw your awesome one!
Yes, yes you do 😉 Give in to the tulle!
Love this! Black and tulle go together so well. You should take yourself off to a MET gala in this one 🙂
Yes, please to the MET gala! Let’s go together and schmooze with Beyonce!
Killing it! I think I need a tulle skirt in my life now. Sassiest member of The Craft I’ve ever seen.
Thanks, Kat! I am so ready to get my wicca on 😉
Seriously fabulous tulle concoction, to match a fabulous night of champagne and fabric patting. The lace top is very lovely too.
Thanks, Barbara! It was such a fun evening!!!
oh, I love this so much! Sandra Dee kisses a bad boy behind the gym awesome!!!
Darn tootin’! His name was James and he promised to take me to the sock hop 😉
Dang, how awesome are you? This is just brilliant, and I want the skirt, even though I have nowhere to wear it!
Nawww, thanks, VK! This skirt is crazy awesome- I kind of want to wear it EVERYWHERE!
How cool is this skirt! Now you are guilty in my new envy . . . . Grrrrrr 🙂
Teehee! I think you need a fabulous fluffy skirt as well, Inna!
I want a tulle skirt now too!!! Seriously, I got a totally rad futuristic Melbourne chick vibe as you rocked this – SO much awesomeness in one outfit should be outlawed! Can’t wait to see you again soon x
Nawww, thanks Nic! It was so dang good to see you here- thank you so much for visiting. Mwah!
You look absolutely fabulous Amanda! how much I would have loved to join all you awesome beautiful girls…. talking sewing and stuff…. *dream evening* Hopefullly some time in the future 🙂
Thanks, Carolyn! I so hope we can catch up at a meet up soon! It is the best place to chat sewing and silliness 😀
What on earth were you doing pulling a skirt over your head?? Everyone knows it’s bottom up. Don’t worry, don’t answer that. WHO CARES??? After the brilliance of my Frocktails frock yours was a very close second. Bwahahahahaha! Just joking, I swear 🙂
J, my shoulders are smaller than my thighs and butt (thanks, derby!) so it was the easier way to get it on 😀 We looked so dang fierce!
Aaah! Amanda, this is the raddest garment ever! I would be tempted to just wear this skirt everyday, no matter the occasion. It’s somehow super freaking chic and crazy whimsical, at the same time. The best combination. You look fabulous, lady!
Thanks, lovely 😀 I have the urge to wear this pretty much all the time now. Tulle is appropriate for teaching preschoolers about history, right?! 😉
I absolutely love it!! I don’t think party dresses get any better than this!
Thanks, Heather! It definitely set the mood for me! All the wine!
I can hear the tune from Sex and the City in my head now! So cool!
That has totally made my day, Alex 😀
Um you look dope as shit! Of COURSE all those tweens wanted to know where you got your outfit! But I can’t imagine wearing the bodysuit in a non-stretch fabric… I’d probably be clawing it off my body after 20 min! You’re a hero for whipping this up in no time flat!
Bwah ha ha! Thanks, Sonja 😀
Love, love, love, love! I’m obsessing over this skirt, must have one.
Thanks, Michelle! Be prepared for swishing around like a boss!
Ohhhh I’ve been meaning to make a tulle skirt for years now! It looks like you’re having so much fun wearing it!!