McCall's 4875 - The "At Last" Full-Circle Skirt

I started dabbling in sewing around three and half years ago.  My first project?  A full-circle skirt, of course!  I've adored them for as long as I can recall and I was elated to find this pattern while browsing the catalogs at Hancock for the first time. (I was a newbie - I had no idea how easy it would have been to draft my own!)  I was a good little seamstress and immediately bought a cute length of fabric for it and only it.

I got started right away and, as I recall, it was coming together rather quickly (including hem!) until I got to the waistband.  It had two pieces and seemed to leave a gap on either hip.  At the time, I got frustrated thinking I didn't understand the directions.  Why would you ever want your skirt supported by two bows, not to mention expose your underwear at the sides?  Of course, I know now that I did understand the directions and it really should have two openings.  What I do not know now is why you would want this?

Anywho, in an attempt to figure it out, I tried on the partially unfinished skirt.  Much to my disappointment, I saw how unflattering this skirt would be, even if I could figure out the waist.

Twirling is not optional in a circle skirt! :-)

As I said, this was my first project, first fabric purchase.  I knew nothing of picking the right fabric for a garment.  I just liked the houndstooth!  Too bad it was a droopy, textured knit.  It looked very heavy and fell over my hips in the worst way - adding weight to the area at which no pear-shaped girl wants extra.

Discouraged, my first project became my first stash.

Then, I saw this week's Sew Weekly challenge.  And not only was it circle skirts, the call was for "true" circle skirts.  No gathers, no pleats, just a circle with a waistband. So... I had to figure out how to make the silhouette work for me.

Enter a petticoat.

Showing my petticoat - scandalous!

Of course!  A skirt such as this would have been worn with one (or more) anyway so, it just made sense!  So, the bulk of this week's sewing was spent gathering looong strips of muslin to each other to create three poofy tiers to support my skirt away from my hips (instructions here, courtesy of Sugardale).

I think a heavy skirt like this could really use another petticoat, as it weighed the first one down a bit. But, I do think the look is much improved and, at last, wearable!

Oh, and what did I finally do about the waistband?  I ignored the directions, closed one of the openings, and added a waistband a few inches longer than my waist, securing it with a button from my stash.  Easy!  (I'll probably always cover it with a sash anyway.)  If I ever make another one, I'll use a zipper instead.

By the way, you can read my [featured - eep!] Sew Weekly post, here.

How did your first project go?  Did you finish it?  Love the result?

Happy sewing! x