One Final Cotton... Then Velvet

The sole Halloween fabric I bought this season has now been turned into a skirt. I used my trusty Simplicity 2449. I trimmed the hem with orange grosgrain ribbon and black lace.

Then it was time to put on the ballpoint needles and sew some panne velvet! :D

I love the look of very long, flowing skirts, and I used to wear them frequently. Alas, they are a poor choice when one's job involves sitting in a wheeled office chair. After rolling over my skirt one too many times, I gave up wearing them to work. But I now have a height-adjustable desk at work, and I stand most of the day... so it's time for long skirts to make a comeback.

I used McCall's 6101, a costume pattern for a '50s "poodle" skirt -- basically a very long circle skirt. I made one in purple panne velvet.

And I made one in black panne velvet. I could not resist adding black lace at the hem on this one... even though I will almost certainly snag the lace on my boot buckles at some point. :P

In panne velvet, a circle skirt hangs deceptively straight. It's a very full skirt, though, with a lot of fabric. When I sit down... well, you can see why long, flowing skirts and office chairs don't mix. ;)