A special skirt by very popular demand
I’m so thrilled to tell you more about how the Wattle skirt pattern came to be – because all of you (yes you!) in the sewing community are the ones who gave me the idea for this pattern! Ever since the release of my Flint pants pattern, the sewing community has shown it so much love and I’ve been thrilled to see it become a wardrobe staple for so many people. That crossover side closure really is so special and unique and we’ve received countless requests for a skirt pattern that includes a similar closure. So many requests that we knew we had to make you something really amazing.
Enter Wattle!! A very special skirt pattern with hidden crossover closure at the side seams. One of our pattern testers very accurately called this an entire wardrobe of skirts – which is probably a good indication of how much is packed into this pattern!
Let’s look at the details
I was really excited to work on this pattern – nothing makes me happier than seeing my patterns enjoyed in the community, and knowing how many people were looking for this pattern made me really motivated to make something special.
It’s always my goal to provide you with a lot of value in a pattern – so this pattern is designed to be modular and includes two different waistbands and four different skirt options. Though we have specified certain skirts with certain waistbands in our included views, this is by no means set in stone. You can sew any skirt with any waistband, whichever you’d like!
There are also a number of different lengths which are easy to adjust. There is the bias cut midi skirt, and bias cut above knee skirt. The pleated skirt sits above the knee but is easily lengthened to whatever length you would desire. And similarly, the gathered skirt is shown in a below-knee length, but could just as easily be lengthened or shortened.
Given a crossover closure negates the need for a zip, this makes the skirt a very beginner-friendly pattern, so I have tried hard to include a couple of different options for varying skill levels. This pattern has enough in it for a very beginner sewer as well as a very experienced one. Something for everyone!
You may be wondering how similar the pattern pieces are to Flint – and honestly, apart from the concept, they are not interchangeable. Given this pattern is a skirt it required being drafted differently. The pocket openings are much closer to the side seam, and the pocket bags are carefully shaped for each skirt option. These are great pockets, deep, anchored at the waist and perfectly shaped to make sure none of your stuff falls out. When i pick my kids up from school I throw my keys and phone in my pockets and I’m off! The ties for this pattern are another community request – they are much longer to allow you to tie them in a bow, or knot off and leave them hanging long. They look gorgeous either way! Though you can obviously shorten them if you like.
Fabric content-wise, you can honestly make this pattern in a real variety of fabrics. More structured fabrics like linen will result in a more structured garment, whereas looser drapey fabrics will result in a more flowy garment.
How does it fit?
This pattern is intended to sit on your natural waist, and as with all of my skirt patterns, the waistband is close-fitting with minimal ease. Given this pattern uses a crossover closure there is a little bit of wiggle room once you’ve finished sewing to adjust how tightly or how loosely your waistband fits, which is something that you don’t often get in a pattern! If you need to move the buttons slightly to adjust the waist fit a bit, feel free to do so – it’s easy and a small adjustment to the overlap won’t impact the appearance dramatically.
We’ve decided to provide quite a few lengths with this pattern, but it’s also quite easy to change them up if you desire. Keesh who is wearing the midi skirt is 5’9″ (175cm) and Sammy who is wearing the other view is 5’6″ (168cm).
I would describe the hip fit of this pattern as quite “free”. Obviously, View B & C are going to have the most ease at the hips, whereas View A & D have the same volume as a 1/4 circle skirt.
View A midi length bias cut skirt with button waistband
The perfect bias-cut midi skirt is something I’ve been dreaming of for years and the second I started thinking about the Wattle skirt pattern I knew the moment had come! View A has a centre front and back seam and is cut on the bias which means there are endless opportunities to play with pattern matching and placement. The bias cut also makes it drape so beautifully!
Don’t feel constricted to stripes! I have a version of this skirt in plain blue linen and it’s stunning (can’t wait to show you!). It would also be amazing in gingham or anything directional. If you’re sewing with stripes or gingham it’s worth taking the time to match up the print on the centre front and back seams for extra impact.
Remember there is room to play with grainlines! We actually cut this waistband lengthwise rather than width ways on the fabric in order to allow the stripes to wrap around the waistband and contrast with the skirt.
View B pleated skirt with button waistband
This view is a wonderfully straightforward sew with pleats and the button waistband. What I love about these pleats is how easy it is to change the look of the skirt by changing how you use the pleat markings. In the pattern, we have marked the pleats to radiate out from the centre front – but for our finished sample we showed what the skirt can look like when the pleats all sit in the same direction. You could also alternate the direction of the pleats to create a box-pleated skirt. I love the versatility of this pattern SO much!
Something I would love to try is sewing completely hidden closures with the buttons on the inside of the outer waistband, and the buttonholes sewn on the inner waistband!
View C gathered skirt with tie waistband
A classic gathered skirt is a wardrobe staple if you ask me. This view is a very sweet vintage-inspired version with a lot of volume in the skirt (more than view B). The length sits just below the knee and the long ties are just gorgeous tied in a big bow or left hanging long. We made our sample in embroidered linen and used the wide plain selvedge for the waistband and ties. I love the subtle contrast!
This view is also incredibly beginner friendly! With the tie closure, you only need to sew one buttonhole and one button, and they are hidden on the inside of the garment! Even better you could actually skip that buttonhole/button completely and use snaps or a large hook and eye on the inside of the skirt making this an absolute dream skirt to sew. That’s winning if you ask me!
View D bias cut skirt with tie waistband
This last view is bias cut with a centre front and back seam and lovely long waist ties. In this sample, we wanted to show you how it would look when using a fabric that is slightly directed but not obviously so. The length of this skirt is very flattering above the knee but never feels too short.
These skirts really can look so different depending on what fabric you use. This one pattern could be used for something very casual, to work appropriate and even dressy for a night out.
I think it’s probably worth mentioning that though Views A and D are bias cut, you can cut these on the straight grain if you prefer. It will alter the drape of the skirt, but if you’re short on the fabric it’s an option.
All the sizes!
The great news is that like the other patterns in this collection Wattle is available in my entire extended size range! Sizes 0-20 are available in printed and PDF format and Curve size 14-30 are available in PDF format.
Sewalong
Of course, we’ll be showing you how to sew this pattern up! We want to make sure that we give all of these patterns the time they deserve, so we will most likely be starting this sewalong in December.
I’m so thrilled to be able to share this pattern with you and I really hope you love it as much as we do!
If you have any questions at all please let me know in the comments below or send us an email at hello@megannielsen.com. We’d love to see what you make with the new Wattle skirt pattern! Don’t forget to tag your creations #MNwattle and @megannielsenpatterns to share what you’ve been working on, and check out what everyone else is up to!
LOOKING FOR MORE WATTLE POSTS?
Here’s the full list of Wattle tutorials :
- How to choose between Wattle & Wattle Curve
- Pattern Tester Round-up
- Inspiration + Ideas
- Pockets (all views)
- Bias Cut seams (views A & D) and Tips for Pattern Matching
- Pleats (view B) and Alternate Pleat Patterns
- Gathers (view C)
- Button Waistband
- Tie Waistband
- Hemming
- Wattle skirt hack: Bib overalls
- Wattle skirt hack: Gathered tier hem
Don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNwattle and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!
Don’t have the pattern yet?
