I’m so excited to let you know that our beloved Kelly skirt pattern is now available in our full-size range AND includes three new variations! Kelly has always been a pattern perfect for beginners, with simple steps, clear instructions and of course a beautiful end result. For this update, we wanted to make sure Kelly & Kelly Curve would still be an exciting and approachable favourite for new sewers, but to also fit in more style options and techniques to develop your skills!
Kelly is a button front pleated or gathered skirt with pockets. The pattern sits on the natural waist and features two lengths, a wide waistband, a button front placket, large scoop pockets and the option for either pleating or gathering in the front and back. Kelly Curve also features an elastic back waistband option.
I’m going to go through what specifically has been updated, detail each of the variations, and tell you a little bit about them and how you can use them!
When I first designed Kelly it was intentionally drafted using simple geometric shapes to make it more accessible to beginners. These simple shapes make it easy to cut out and alter, are more efficient for fabric usage and create as many opportunities for sewing straight lines as possible. When extending the sizing and creating the new Kelly Curve pattern it was really important to me to maintain the original goal of the pattern, whilst still making thoughtful design decisions for our curve makers.
What has changed?
The pattern pieces have been re-graded to include additional sizes – Kelly originally included 5 sizes, and now includes 11! We used this opportunity to add three new variations with options for midi lengths and gathered waistlines instead of pleats.
Due to the particular draft of Kelly, most Kelly Curve pattern pieces have been kept intentionally consistent with the Kelly 0-20 pattern, with thoughtfully applied adjustments keeping a curvy figure in mind. The Kelly Curve 14-34 pattern includes a beautiful elastic back waistband option to offer flexible ease and great fit.
Both 0-20 and Curve 14-34 PDF patterns now include size layering so that you can choose to print all sizes or just the size you will be cutting out.
Choosing your size range
If you find yourself in the crossover 14-20 sizes and are struggling to choose between the Kelly and Kelly Curve patterns we will have a comprehensive post tomorrow detailing how to choose the pattern that’s best for you.
View A – Button front above knee pleated skirt
If this view looks familiar, it’s because this was the original Kelly view! The skirt is a button front, pleated skirt with big gorgeous scoop pockets. It sits on the natural waist and has a wide waistband, luxuriously wide hem and inverted box pleats in the front and back!
View B – Button front above knee gathered skirt
The first new view is View B; is a button front above knee gathered skirt. It’s got all the wonderful features of the original Kelly pattern but with a gathered skirt instead of pleats! View B in the Curve pattern also has an elastic back waistband option for more flexibility in the ease of the waist.
View C – Button front midi length pleated skirt
Oooo I’m so excited about this View! When we were working on adding some variations to the pattern I just knew a longer/midi length was a must-have. There is something so elegant about this skirt, the pleats and long lines make it such a wonderful wardrobe addition that balances comfort and simplicity with a chic and classic style. It’s also such a different look to the original Kelly view while having the exact same method of construction!
View D – Button front midi length gathered skirt
View D is a midi-length button front gathered skirt, and this one here (if I’m allowed to pick favourites) is my favourite sample! Made from gorgeous crinkle linen, it’s the lightest weight fabric we used for our samples and it really gives the skirt a more relaxed look and floaty swing to it, proving you can honestly use such a wide variation of fabrics for Kelly! Like View B, the Curve version of this view also has an elastic back waistband option to accommodate for different ease needs.
All the Tutorials!
To celebrate the re-release of Kelly, we have a brand new comprehensive sewalong for the pattern in the coming weeks as well as an amazing hack idea for you!
- How to choose between Kelly & Kelly Curve
- Kelly Curve Tester Round-Up
- Sewalong: Pockets & Side Seams
- Sewalong: Placket
- Sewalong: Pleats
- Sewalong: Gathers
- Sewalong: Waistband
- Sewalong: Buttonholes and Buttons
- Sewalong: Hem
- Hack: Closed Ruffle Tier Hem
- Hacks for the Kelly Skirt
DON’T HAVE THE PATTERN YET?
