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extra-sharp pencil skirts from our panelists
Today marks the moment we've all been eagerly anticipating—time to showcase the finished skirts from our Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt sew-along participants! If you recall, our panelists shared their initial ideas and fabric choices. Now, they’ve been diligently working away, and their skirts are finally complete. Today, you'll get to see the incredible transformations they’ve made with the pattern, along with how the skirts look when worn.
A huge thank-you goes out to everyone who has joined in on the sew-along so far—it’s never too late to participate! You can still enter your Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt into the contest, with entries accepted until Monday, July 2nd, at 11:59 PM ET. Let’s dive into the creations of our talented sewers!
First up, we have Camelia:
“I made my skirt in size 4 and only adjusted the front panel seams by 0.6 cm based on my muslin fitting. It’s refreshing to work on a project that requires minimal alterations. To speed things up, I hemmed the skirt with my sewing machine, and I think it works beautifully for a casual skirt. While I hadn’t sewn a skirt with a vent before, this one went smoothly—I feel confident adding vents to anything now. For this skirt, the vent was essential—it’s incredibly comfortable. I loved my skirt so much that I made a second one in denim. It took longer to topstitch everything than to sew the actual skirt, but it was worth it—I’m absolutely thrilled with both skirts!â€
Next, we have Darcy:
“Hello everyone! I’m excited to share my version of the Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt. Sewing this was such a delightful experience! The fitting was straightforward thanks to the side panels—I found it easy to tweak the fit here and there to ensure perfection. I sewed a size 8 and took in the waist slightly. The hardest part of the process was the zipper, but the instructions provided detailed guidance to help me through it. Plus, the back is the first component to sew according to the pattern, so once that was done, the rest of the skirt came together effortlessly.
Now that I’ve created a functional jean-style skirt, I’m considering making one in a bold pattern for special occasions like date nights and weddings. It’s always fun to experiment with different fabrics and styles.â€
Then, we have Emily:
“I absolutely adored sewing the Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt! I hope you enjoyed the sew-along as much as I did. The instructions were clear and helpful, and the fit is fantastic. As someone who’s a rectangle shape (with no significant difference between my waist and hips), I was initially concerned about whether the fit would be flattering and comfortable. After doing a baste fitting, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit straight out of the pattern, and I appreciated the ease of making adjustments post-zipper installation without needing to redo the entire thing. I love the security of the twill tape around the waist and the overall clean finishes.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how versatile this pencil skirt is for my everyday life as a stay-at-home mom. It’s wonderful to have a new wardrobe staple that can transition easily from casual to more polished looks.â€
And finally, Lisa:
“Sewing my Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt has been pure joy every step of the way! My invisible zipper went in perfectly the first time due to the precise instructions that guided me on where to mark the zipper placement. The waistband finishing was seamless thanks to the detailed instructions that outlined exactly when and how to incorporate the zipper tape into the seams. I made a few subtle tweaks to the pattern. I added black mini-piping (much narrower than standard piping) to each of the four vertical seams to highlight the vertical lines. You can find a tutorial on how to create your own piping online. To avoid detracting from the vertical lines, I stitched the waistband facing down from the top of the waistband to the bottom on the right side of the skirt. This method secures the facing without adding visible stitching on the front. I also had fun adding a pop of color to the inside of my skirt. The fabric shop was out of black hem tape, so I reached for white instead, but then decided to go with red—it adds a touch of personality!
Later, while working on the pattern, I remembered Liesl’s suggestion to use contrasting bias tape for the waistband facing. So, I used some vintage red-check bias binding from my stash. Initially, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make this skirt, as my previous pencil skirts had odd fits. But I’m so glad I gave it a try—the fit is fantastic thanks to the four seams. I love it so much that I already have a black wool piece in my stash earmarked for another Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt this winter.â€
Lastly, Liesl shared her experience:
“Unfortunately, Meredith couldn’t participate due to unforeseen circumstances, so I stepped in last minute for the sew-along. Here’s a quick update on my progress:
I chose a fancy gold brocade for my skirt. Since I live in Madrid, where people tend to dress more formally, I know this skirt will get plenty of wear for both formal events and casual days. Some inspiration photos motivated me:
I love the combination of a boxy top paired with a longer pencil skirt, as well as pairing it with cozy sweaters or simple white button-downs. For me, this skirt is all about texture and how it contrasts with other textures. I plan to pair it with my old denim shirt, T-shirts, and other tops.
Given the bulkiness of the brocade, I used leftover unbleached linen scraps for the facings. I also backed the brocade with woven fusible interfacing to add some structure and protect the delicate gold threads. I wasn’t sure the gold threads would hold up well against skin and other fabrics, and I wanted to ensure comfort. Additionally, I bound the seam allowances with leftover washed silk to enhance comfort and improve the interior appearance.
Here are the fabrics I selected, which I shared on Instagram a few weeks ago:
And here’s a sneak peek at the inside of the skirt, featuring the woven interfacing and Hong Kong seam finishes. I adore Hong Kong seams—they’re quick and look fantastic!
Once I cut out the brocade, I block-fused the woven interfacing to the back of each piece. You can also baste a second fabric to the back of the first for additional structure—this technique is called underlining and is a great way to add body to lightweight fabrics.
Other than that, I followed the pattern as written. I should note that I’ve gained some weight recently (due to stress), so I sewed the skirt in my usual size, planning to adjust it later if necessary. It fits snugly here, but that’s one of the benefits of this pattern—it’s easy to tweak if needed.
I can’t wait to wear this skirt! I may even bring it along on our summer trip to the U.S., as we have some exciting events planned. For these photos, I paired it with a stiff waffle-weave Maritime Knit Top I made a few years ago.
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Aren’t they all stunning? Huge thanks to the panelists for sharing their expertise with us. We truly appreciate the time they’ve taken out of their busy schedules to inspire us with their incredible sewing skills! After the linky party closes, the panelists will choose their favorite entry. Come back on Thursday, July 5th, to see who they’ve selected as the winner of the contest. Until then, happy sewing!"
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Weren't they all lovely? Many thanks to the panelists for sharing their talent with us. We appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedules to inspire us with their amazing sewing skills! Once the linky part has closed, the panelists will pick their favorite from the sew-along linky party. Come back here on Thursday July 5th to see who they chose as the winner of the contest. See you then!