So, if you squint you might recognise this as the V1247 skirt. It’s been adjusted almost out of recognition. I got rid of the pockets, added three inches to the length, left out the waistband (thanks to Sunny Gal Studios for that idea) and added leather side panels. Keeping up?!
It also has an invisible zip insertion, is lined in navy crepe de chine with a grosgrain stiffener at the waist, and a hook and eye at the top of the zip. The darts became pleats in the lining.
Here’s a close up of those leather panels:
The leather was rescued from a leather pencil skirt that Handmade Jane kindly gifted me so that I could experiment with some leather sewing. Thank you so much, Jane! The wool is a dark, dark navy wool that I bought a year ago on our Edinburgh Sewing Meet Up. It was worth the wait to use this wool. It was just gorgeous to work with. So, black leather and navy wool. It works – it totally works! – but the navy is so dark that I can remember wondering if it was black when I saw it in the shop, so that detail may be key.
What I love about the navy/black combo of this skirt is that I can pair it with navy or black. I’m wearing it with the Breton Top that I made four months ago. The lovely silk scarf was bought for a meagre few pounds in a vintage clothing shop.
I’ll post separately with some of the construction details and my thoughts on leather. So, what do you think? If you went into a charity shop, bought a wool skirt and a leather skirt, you could totally make one of these for next to nothing!
I like it! The leather and wool contrast nicely. I’m envisioning one now in a plaid wool with brown leather side panels.
Wow what a great make! Love the combination of the wool and leather – you’re so talented *sigh*🙂
http://www.mancunianvintage.com
Karen, you look like a chic rock chick! I absolutely love this skirt (and outfit to be fair) and would love to hear more about the construction and your thoughts on sewing with leather. I could be seriously tempted to give something like this a go, even though skirts just don’t suit me! Gah, you look so cool!!!
Swit swoo is what I think!!!! xxxx
Very very nice! Looking forward to the construction piece too. I’d like to add leather straps to a handbag but not sure I’d I want to make the straps myself or buy ready made. Would be good to get some tips on working with leather in advance.
Love it! I never would have though to combine leather and wool, but it works beautifully and the style looks great on you. I’m sure the skirt will get tons of use!
wow – serious skirt envy. looks great!
I love that this is a penultimate Frankenskirt. This looks absolutely smashing on. Well played, madame!
Agreed! I’ve found some amazing things at charity shops lately! Enough wool fabric for TWO jackets (mint green & emerald) for a mighty $4. It takes dedication but you do dig up some real gems!
love it – and you are looking fantastic as well karen! great skirt. i would be scared to work with leather so tips would be great.
How inspiring! The skirt looks fabulous on you – actually your whole outfit is great. I think I may keep my eye out for a leather skirt and a wool one at a thrift store!
Lovely skirt, bang on trend! I wish I could find lovely things in my local charity shops; they seem to be a sea of sad polyester saggy pieces.
Wonderful skirt and great idea. Look forward to your construction details.
I’ll be honest, when you mentioned in previous poss you were going to make a leather and wool skirt I wasn’t convinced- but it totally works! It looks great. And hurrah for thrifting!
Brilliant! I love when wool or corduroy have a touch of leather thrown in. They seem to work together so well.
Now from the description: black leather and navy wool, I had images of ‘donkey jacket’ come to mind!! But obviously this is far more chic and ladylike. It’s a marvel and looks fabulous . Love the outfit too.
Ha, ha, ha! I should be wearing a donkey jacket on the picket line!
I am not much into leather, but you skirt made me reconsider. Well done. Love the shoes and tights!
You are killing it in that skirt! Looks great!!!
Wonderful! Oh I’m so pleased that parts of my old skirt have been given a new lease of life on such a chic make! You look fab. X
This looks totally amazing, Karen. Major wow. I bet you’re going to get a lot of wear out of this make!
Gorgeous, edgy and classic all in one go! I love it!
It totally worked! Of course, I knew you would make it work. Love it with the striped top, too. Awesome!
Great skirt. The black leather and navy wool look fantastic together.
Can you hear my cat call from over there? Because I’m totally whistling at you right now, just as hard as I can😉
I really want to sew leather so I cannot wait for your post. Looks beautiful
looks fantastic, great interpretation of that pattern.
Eagerly awaiting the construction details. Wowza!
What an awesome skirt. Love it!!!! You are too cool for school. 🙂
One question though… is the wool a stretch wool?
No, it’s just a 100 per cent wool – like wool coating or trouser or skirt wool. It’s not actually that clingy a skirt.
What a great skirt – the leather / wool and blue/black combos definitely work!
I love it! Great skirt.
Beautiful Karen (you + the skirt both :))! I’ll be interested to read your construction notes too – especially re: basting/pinning things together (or not as the case maybe).
Have to say I’m loving all the leather (or faux-leather) + other-fabric-combos on everyone’s blogs at the moment – v. inspiring (did you see Diary of a Sewing Fanatic’s diagonal-pieced faux-leather/ponte-knit dress http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/ponte-leather-dress-final.html that’s another fab one🙂 )
It’s perfect!! That is a fabulous outfit – and you look wonderful in it. I imagine the leather panels add just the right amount of substance without detracting from the gentle and comfortable line of the skirt.
Ha! I’m wearing my version of that skirt right now, and I have to say I HATE the waistband, so thank’s for the link to Sunny Gal Studios. Your leather/wool combo is great!
Yes, that waistband is a total waste of time!
I have a leather pencil skirt in my wardrobe. It is 25 years old!! Much too tight for me and for some time I have had in my head to put a panel of black ponte down the middle. I imagined it to look very similar to yours. Hopefully it will. What’s the secret of charity shop buying. Is it to go in on a regular basis? I only ever see very over-priced tat whenever I go into them.
To be fair, I rarely find gems.
Very stylish and a great job. I recently did a ponte/ faux leather dress (on my blog) and am still having nightmares from all the corners I had to sew. Your design is simple but very effective.
From your mentions of this I thought it was going to look amazing, and it does! The leather panels make it more wearable as an everyday look than entirely leather I think. And the way you’ve styled it here looks foxy!
Fantastic skirt! I love your entire outfit.
I have seen the wool/leather combo about and wasn’t sure I could pull it off, it looks fab on you so maybe I should give it a try too!
Wonderful skirt – looks great on you!
That looks awesome! I have a soft spot for leather skirts. There is actually a really awesome pleather dress at Dangerfield that I am in love with. It’s got a sweet 50s style silhouette but in leather so it’s like girly and a bit tough at the same time. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on sewing with leather. Maybe I can make one for myself.
This is so rad! I love it! It’s chic and tough at the same time!
I have nothing to add (I mean by that that I agree with what everyone has already said), except, wow, that navy wool sure is dark. But it looks lovely.
Love your skirt and the whole outfit.
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Love your skirt. The panels make it look designer-ish , and I really like that you’ve omitted the waistband – the proportions seem better to me without!
By the way you have inspired me so much with this skirt, that I am copying you today. 🙂
The ultimate compliment!
Ahh that is gorgeous. Great job.
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Holy cannoli. This is positively brilliant. I love the pairing of the black leather with the navy wool – it’s such a versatile piece, and it looks marvelous!
LOVE the black on black. What a great re-fashioning. I bought a leather skirt at a thrift shop recently that’s just a bit too big in the waist (but it was only $3! I couldn’t not buy it), and I’ve been scared to alter it (have never sewn leather). This post is inspiring me to dive in and do it!
I’m in love with this skirt! Oh my it is beautiful.
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