Let’s real talk, peeps. Winter is great for three main things:
- Cocoa
- Knitting whilst drinking aforementioned cocoa
- Tights
I know lots of people are anti-tights but I love them. I have fleecy ones that make me feel like my legs are being hugged by teddy bears all day, purple ones for when I feel sassy and even these crazy ones that look like crochet. Tights help me feel rad in skirts and frocks that are just that bit too short for me to wear comfortably by themselves. So for my latest winter make I gave into the power of tights and finally sewed myself up the quintessential indie mini of the decade- the Moss Skirt. Huzzah!
This boss pattern is the Grainline Studio Moss Skirt. It is a semi-fitted skirt that sits slightly below the natural waist and features a fly front and button closure as well as a yoke at the back. View A rocks the whole mini vibe while View B has a hem band to add length. As I am a part-lizard person, the cold is my enemy and longer length is the way to go- though I went the Version A and added 3” as the hem band was not my bag.
The fabric is a gorgeous Japanese cotton duck that I picked up from Mill Rose where we all stayed for Sewaway back in June. After binging on delicious fabric at Tessuti the day before, I was super cash poor so scraped up enough funds to grab 1m leaving me short on what the pattern recommends. I mean, would you rather have possibly enough rad camera fabric to make your skirt or no camera fabric at all? I think we all know the answer to that… Luckily, this lady is as pigheaded as she is frugal and I managed to squeeze the Moss out of the metre AND matched the cameras pretty dang well. Let’s call this level of achievement Sewing Wizard, shall we?
Boom!
Construction wise, this was mostly a smooth make. The instructions are clear, the notches match and most things made sense… Except for my nemesis the zip! I spent two afternoons trying to work the insertion out and my brain just couldn’t comprehend the instructions included with the pattern or the supporting online tutorial. In the end it did work out but the zip isn’t sitting quite right at the bottom. Oh, well. You live and learn! And I am too dang lazy to rip that out and try again…
What I liked about this pattern:
- The pockets. These ones are designed with ease to get your hand in and out. Talk about a godsend for the lady with gorilla paws instead of hands. Now I can carry a bunch of bananas AND get my hands easily into pockets. Winning at life!
- Classic design. There is something so unfussy (is that even a word?!) about the Moss. It is a closet staple but can easily be sassed up. Which leads me to point three:
- Camera fabric! I can’t recall the last time I made something using a crazy printed fabric. Oh, novelty prints! How I have missed you!
What I would change for next time:
- Size up. I wants me some more room for ice cream!
- Add another inch in length. This is just a bit too short for me to wear comfortably without tights and I’d love to have a rad summer version. Maybe one with flamingoes on it- summery AND sophisticated… This needs to happen!
- Insert the zipper and fly correctly. Is it a weird sewing nerd thing to say I want to make some samples? Nahhhh, all the rad ladies practice!
The Deets
Pattern: Moss Skirt by Grainline Studio
Fabric: 1.1m of Japanese cotton duck purchased from Mill Rose, lining from the stash
Notions: zip, thread, Bakelite button kindly gifted by my sewing secret santa Buttontree Lane
See also: pretty much everyone else ever that has sewn and blogged as I am lagging behind…
Overall, I am digging the Moss hard especially when mixed with a novelty print. I challenge you to be sad when wearing a camera skirt! Which allows me to segue into the obligatory photo of person in a camera skirt using a camera… Oh yeah, you knew from the start this was going to happen…
Cheese!
I love this! Novelty fabric without looking like a novelty!
Also on etsy have you seen the ombre tights? I am not linked with any sellers but I keep looking at them and trying to think what outfit I could put with them to justify buying them!!
A novel approach to novelty fabric? eh? eh? (yeah, I went there!)
I just checked out ombre tights on etsy- holy monkey hats! I am so getting some!!!!
One word. Awesome.
And I love winter for the tights too.
Team tights!
And thank ye 😀
Awesome! Loved the write up too. You always make me laugh. What’s next in the sewing line-up? Who you bossing around?
*hat tip* Why thank ye!
Next up is a printed Archer and matching black Moss, me thinks. Though you know I get crazy distracted…
Thanks for a fab review. Definitely going to give this pattern a go. I’m tights all the way in the winter.
Another member of Team Tights! It is a crackerjack pattern for sure 😀
Crikey that thing would be a belt if it was 3 inches shorter! I love it on you, for what it’s worth I think the fit is great. Maybe next version same size but use a fabric with a little stretch? I too am yet to make this -one day it shall be so!
Tis a short one for me (though I am 5’8″) – so making it 4″ longer next time. And stretch fabric is a great idea 😀
I bow to your sewing wizardness! Seriously, is it possible to own more than one Moss and not have a novelty print one? It’s just made for them! I look forward to some pink flamingo summery awesomeness!
I hear all the cool ladies have a novelty Moss 😉
Side note: totally committed to a pink flamingo one to wear with a white singlet, flip flops and a floppy hat. This. Must. Happen.
Awesome skirt. As you know, I’m a bit fan of the novelty print Moss and you’ve pulled this one off with your usual style. Now work it for the cameras baby…
Not going to lie- your rad deer print one was my total inspiration!
For real, the pattern is 3″ shorter? Who over the age of 16 would be wearing that?
This is super adorable and the camera fabric is the bomb! It looks great on you. Perfect flattering shape and so cute without being cutesy. Win!!
Yup! I am 5’8″ so I normally have to lengthen things 😀
Thank ye- the camera fabric was such the perfect find!
Pattern matching perfection and a cute skirt. Love the idea of a flamingo one for summer.
Thanks, Barbara! So happy with the pattern match on this 😀
You are just the cutest! That print is perfect amount of fun.
*hat tip* Why thank ye, milady! It is just the right blend of crazy and commonness 😀
You totally crack me up lady… Bananas..!
Great looking skirt and love the fabric..
I await the flamingo
Bananas for the win!
You better believe I’m doing a SYD fabric run soon to try and score flamingo fabric!
love, love, love. I have a moss front and back sitting about in a UFO pile – zip was done with a little bit of headscratching, but I used a metal one and it’s taken some muscles (but you still have to be careful) to remove the extra teeth. I cut that out of 1m remnant (at EASTER TIME)…..sigh.
Ohh, just sides to stitch up and a waistband to attach? You can do eeeeeet!
that fabric is supercute! I’m so glad you said that about the zip instructions – I made one a couple of weeks ago, and all the instructions were excellent – except I’m still stuck on how the zip was meant to be…
All the cool ladies are forestalling their zip insertions! 😀
You are so adorable! Love the skirt. Love the fabric. And of course love the camera taking while wearing a camera skirt photo. Killing it as always!!!
Thanks, Katty 😀 I had to go the camera/camera skirt photo 😉
This skirt looks awesome, and I had several good laughs reading this post – Sewing Wizard! And I haven’t made this yet – mini’s aren’t my bag, baby – but I wonder if the zipper insertion post from Closet Case/Heather Lou’s Ginger Jeans pattern would be helpful. I’ve found that to be super clear for jeans making.
I must admit to lots of success with the Ginger jeans zip insertion (okay, have used it once and was a dream!) I wonder if the principles can be moved across…. I like your thinking, sewing wizard 😀
Obviously that skirt is rad, but inquiring minds need to know: where did you get those boots?? I’m a little worried about the cobbler’s diagnosis on my current pair. And I love yours.
Thanks, Lia! These are Flore from Duo Boots (they fit to your foot and your calf which is rad!) They have rebranded as http://www.tedandmuffy.com but still do the semi-custom fit. They have great sales at the change of season too! Enjoy 😀
Perfect! Cameras! Fleecy tights! Cocoa! Knitting! All the good winter things. Love the skirt. How short must it be normally???
Mmm cocoa and knitting! Hope your knitting adventures are going well 😀 I am a few inches above the regular height peeps draft to so this is a normal length addition for me 😀
For once, I am glad to live in Ireland, so I can wear tights almost any time. Like, this summer, I went tightness only 5-6 times. The skirt is a killer! You need to make it in other crazy prints: koalas, cupcakes and raptors!
You know a raptor skirt is totes on the cards 😉
Your skirt is so cute! And; camera on skirt, camera in your hands, facing the camera… I love it. SO meta 🙂
We’re all about the meta here (or being crazy silly!) 😉
Holy superpowers, Batman! This skirt is so FLASH (geddit?)
Love that you used the button from La Collectione too!
Oh my! I love this ridiculously much!! I had the same trouble with my zip on the Maritime shorts. I’m not dismayed! Next time I’ll go with a method that makes sense to me.
Teddy bear leg hugs FTW! Great print on that skirt. You’ll be able to sip hot choc in that easily 🙂