I can’t seem to get the finished item to look like the sketched picture on the front of the pattern envelope – but I think it turned out cute anyhow. I emailed Heather that although the directions were very simple and straightforward, my finished product did not look to me like the sketch. She emailed back within hours (try that with Simplicity or Vogue; this lady is a sewer’s best friend!) to offer help. I finally decided it must just be my weird way of seeing and put it together the way I thought it looked good; that worked fine. I have reversed the order of the long straight and pleated parts. So, if this pattern goes together for you easily, don’t be surprised. It isn’t difficult at all. (Just be glad you aren’t crazy like me!) If you have trouble, I suggest you just make each piece up as instructed and sew them to the waistband in whatever order seems to look good to you. Remember that with bustles, getting them draped is really an art form; and everyone’s idea of “art” is a little different.
Rated 5 out of 5
Frannie –
This was a piece of cake. I looked at the pleats and was initially concerned, but I just followed the markings and it went together like a dream. I trimmed it with some trimmings I’d bought in Florence, Italy, for just such an occasion.
Rated 5 out of 5
Cathy –
Although the finished result looks a bit intimidating, the construction is simple. It has the additional advantage of looking very different with different weights of fabric. Use a heavy needle if you’re making the overskirt out of a velvet. You’ll be sewing through several layers when it comes time to unite the skirt with the waistband. The only real question in the directions is where you’re told to baste the pleats, in the front apron, in place. There is no easy way to do it which will both hold the pleats in shape all the way across the width of the apron without letting parts of the basting stitches show. Fortunately, the apron looks fine even if you don’t baste the pleats or if you only baste parts of them. I’ve tried it several different ways on the two Overskirts I’ve made so far.
Lorraine –
I can’t seem to get the finished item to look like the sketched picture on the front of the pattern envelope – but I think it turned out cute anyhow. I emailed Heather that although the directions were very simple and straightforward, my finished product did not look to me like the sketch. She emailed back within hours (try that with Simplicity or Vogue; this lady is a sewer’s best friend!) to offer help. I finally decided it must just be my weird way of seeing and put it together the way I thought it looked good; that worked fine. I have reversed the order of the long straight and pleated parts. So, if this pattern goes together for you easily, don’t be surprised. It isn’t difficult at all. (Just be glad you aren’t crazy like me!) If you have trouble, I suggest you just make each piece up as instructed and sew them to the waistband in whatever order seems to look good to you. Remember that with bustles, getting them draped is really an art form; and everyone’s idea of “art” is a little different.
Frannie –
This was a piece of cake. I looked at the pleats and was initially concerned, but I just followed the markings and it went together like a dream. I trimmed it with some trimmings I’d bought in Florence, Italy, for just such an occasion.
Cathy –
Although the finished result looks a bit intimidating, the construction is simple. It has the additional advantage of looking very different with different weights of fabric. Use a heavy needle if you’re making the overskirt out of a velvet. You’ll be sewing through several layers when it comes time to unite the skirt with the waistband. The only real question in the directions is where you’re told to baste the pleats, in the front apron, in place. There is no easy way to do it which will both hold the pleats in shape all the way across the width of the apron without letting parts of the basting stitches show. Fortunately, the apron looks fine even if you don’t baste the pleats or if you only baste parts of them. I’ve tried it several different ways on the two Overskirts I’ve made so far.