Make 9 #4 - Henrietta Skirt

A review by Annamarie Cripps, Social Media Coordinator @ Rick Rack Textiles

We're going western for the next project, with the Henrietta Skirt from Spaghetti Western Sewing.

Pattern Details:
This is a pull on, elastic waist skirt with gathered curved side details. I made a size medium using this lovely linen blend jacquard that has a woven grid pattern. It's a classic summer look, easy to pair with any top for a simple work outfit and the elastic waist means it's super comfortable! It has a great size range, from 3XS (36 inch hip) to 3XL (67 inch hip) and the size Medium is based on the average size of women in the United States, size 16/18. 

The gingham version has been living in my head rent free since the pattern launch, with the micro pattern screaming 'alt girl cool'. However, I have tooooo many patterned skirts in my wardrobe, so I got the vibe of gingham from the textured jacquard, while having a more monochrome piece for versatile styling. If you want to make a gingham version yourself, I think this Sevenberry gingham would be perfect, or if you're digging the brown sample, you could get a similar look with the Mocha Sonoma Stripe Linen Blend.

Rayon would also be perfect for this skirt, which works with almost any light-mid weight fabric. I think this Ruby Star Rayon would be so fun, with the midi length allowing a larger scale print like this to really shine!

Project Notes:

It's a simple design, with just 3 pattern pieces for easy assembly. The main challenge for this project was how shifty my fabric was! This was mostly an issue when cutting the pattern, more than sewing. I should have cut each piece out individually, on a single layer at a time to be safe, but you get so used to cutting things with the fabric folded and I didn't realize till it was too late that my center and back pieces, and side waist panels were a bit off-grain. This is hidden slightly by the gathering and elastic waist which creates nice volume, but could be annoying if you were more type A than myself.

Overall Review:

I wore this skirt to the Calgary Stampede this year and it was such a nice breezy outfit for the heat! The elastic waist makes it so comfortable and this pattern is size inclusive for all to enjoy! I've seen some fun hacks around with the side panels going all the way around, which I might try out in a floral print for maximum flouncy fun. If you're hunting for a classic midi skirt pattern with a twist, this is a great option. Minus 1 point for no pockets, but given the construction of the side panels it would interrupt the design lines if you added inseam pockets there.  I'm looking forward to wearing this in the fall too, with sweaters and tights it will be great for layering.