The Skirt Emporium

Madame Zsazsa (real name Kim) lives with Mr Zsazsa, three children, two dogs and a horse on a farm in the Kempen in the Netherlands. She is a writer and blogger who took up making clothes after the birth of her children. She blogs about sewing, sustainability and vegetable gardening, and writes features in collaboration with several Dutch magazines. She has authored four books. Visit her blog at http://madamezsazsa.blogspot.com

The very very beginning 5

How should I use this book? 6

What do I need to know already? 6

A highly in-depth sewing course lasting around a quarter of an hour 8

The skirt-making sequence 11

1. Take your measurements 12

Size table 13

2. Pick a skirt, a fabric and a few accessories 16

3. Cut out your chosen pattern on paper 21

Pattern sections 22

Pattern sheets 23

4. Cut the pattern out on fabric 26

5. Sew it together! 31

Lists and other things 35

What does that mean? Abbreviations and symbols 35

Techniques 36

The skirts and instructions 39

Elasticated skirt 41

A-line with facing 47

The zip that jumps out at you 54

Strip skirt 56

A-line with piping 58

Underskirts 62

Skirt with jersey waistband 64

Maternity skirt 68

Elasticated panel skirt 72

Panel skirt with zip and facing 76

Bell skirt 78

Bell skirt in stretchy fabric 84

Skirt with button strip 88

Wraparound skirt 94

Jersey wraparound skirt 99

Straight skirt 100

Circle skirt - the pattern 104

Elasticated circle skirt 108

Circle skirt with zip 110

Gathered skirt with stretchy waistband 114

Gathered skirt with normal waistband 118

Bow skirt 124

Pleated skirt 128

A-line gathered skirt 136

Gathered skirt with button strip 142

All-in-one skirt 146

The models 154

Acknowledgments 157

Index