Here’s one of my favorite vintage (1970’s) Stretch & Sew patterns. I won a lot of 50 on ebay last year and have picked up a few more since because I like them so much. Stretch & Sew patterns are multisize, never cut (they are printed on paper and meant to be traced like Kwik Sew patterns), and are usually very plentiful and inexpensive on ebay. The patterns I have are all for knits and cover a wide range from lingerie to swimwear to women’s clothes of all kinds to unisex and mens’ clothes to children’s clothing. Here are my versions of the long flared wrap skirt: first my “pucci” print skirt (rayon lycra knit)
then my skirt in basic black (also rayon lycra knit)
I’m sorry, the pictures are not the best –a dressform would help and I’m hoping I’ll be able to get one soon.
The only thing I don’t like about these skirts is that they have to be readjusted/retied several times over the course of the day. But I love the swing of the skirt and they are the only wrap skirts I own that I really don’t have to worry about how I sit so to maintain modesty (I sit on the ground a lot). The pattern is from the late 70’s, but has a very 1950’s circle skirt feel to it–maybe that whole 1950’s retro thing that was going on at that time (think Grease). Here is what the pattern looks like
As you can see, there are only two pattern pieces–the main skirt cut once on a fold and the waistband/tie. I think I had to cut two and sew them together to get the length I needed. My ties are long enough to wrap around my waist a couple times and then tie in a bow. My fasturn was so handy for this project. I actually added length to this skirt, even with my short legs. If I hadn’t, the hemline would have ended at the dreaded widest part of my calves. So I added a little more and the skirt now ends just below the muscular part of my calves; I believe this is called ballet length and it’s a great length for me. My legs are short, particularly in the lower leg, and I find that this length makes them look a bit longer. Rayon lycra was the perfect fabric choice for this skirt–so soft and drapey. And the skirts are great with strappy sandals or my high heel chuck taylors that I bought (cough cough) years ago. And I can envision wearing them with tall boots in the cooler months.
