The Susse Skirt, the most gorgeous scalloped hem skirt ever.

by - 19:22



I discovered the Eli Monster patterns last summer, and coveted some of them for quite a while. I eventually stopped coveting and bought a couple in her Black Friday sale. I had visions of making an outfit out of Japanese inspired fabric for Layla. But then the run up to Christmas happened and then New Year, and then we all got very poorly in January. Then I pattern tested the Latona dress, and I've got to say it totally spurred me on to actually sewing up one of her other patterns!



The Susse Skirt was first choice with Layla, and I have learnt recently that her opinion is more important than mine. She simply won't wear my lovingly made clothes if she decides she doesn't like them. I even gave her the choice of fabrics, where she quickly and efficiently told me no to the Japanese style ones here and here. So I pushed her gently towards this Lavish Mother's Garden Light print by Art Gallery Fabrics. I value Layla's opinion, but when she presents me with 4 conflicting fabric prints, in clashing colours and designs, sometimes Mummy knows best!



I fell in love with this fabric print when I first laid eyes on it, and had to buy some. But it's been largely unused so far due to the fact that a lot of my patterns either use circle skirts (Layla loves twirling), or pieces are cut on the bias. This totally doesn't work for a directional print like Lavish Mother's Garden. The Susse skirt seemed the perfect choice with it's large rectangular skirt to show off the print.



I stumbled at the first hurdle though with what size to make. Layla falls in age 5 for her height, and at the time of measuring her for this dress, she measured an age 4 waist. What I couldn't believe though was that she had increased 1.5" from a couple of weeks prior during the Latona test?? I figured though that I'd make the age 4, and if by some strange magic she dropped weight again, then the suspender straps would hold the skirt up. There is no adjustment really with this pattern as the waistband is fixed with two buttons, no elastic is involved! I like this though, and have been wanting to make a fixed waisted skirt for Layla for ages. Of course, you could use snaps instead of buttons, but I prefer the button/buttonhole look over snaps. It is more work, but I think it's worth it.



I made an age 4 waistband, lengthened the skirt to age 5, and used the age 5 suspender straps.



Did I mention the skirt has hidden inseam pockets??



Before I attached the straps, I tried the skirt on her, and of course, it practically fell off her, sigh. Measuring her waist, she'd dropped right back down an inch again. I despair at her tummy! She must have a sensitivity to something she's eating which bloats her up. But she never complains so I have no idea what it might be (except dairy, which we avoid anyway). But I thought, never mind, the suspenders will keep it up. The straps were a total nightmare. I used a fairly stiff interfacing as I wanted the straps to maintain their sharp shape. But this meant that turning them was really, really difficult as the fabric simply did not want to fold in on itself. I use a turning tool, which usually works a treat, but not this time. I took the straps in front of the TV that evening, and basically spent over an hour trying to turn the things right side out. I got there in the end, making a mental not to myself not to use stiff interfacing in future!



Trying the straps on the skirt for length just proved my daughter has a long body. The age 5 length barely fitted her. So I sewed the buttonholes as close to each strap end as possible to allow for as much length as possible. I preferred to be able to remove the straps entirely, without leaving an open buttonhole on the waistband, so I opted for hidden buttons sewed onto the inside of the waist and buttonholes on the end of each strap. This means that if fussy Layla wanted, she could wear the skirt without the straps. The pattern gives options to button the straps in, or have them hidden.



I debated putting on bows to the front waistband where the straps meet, but in the end, the fabric is so busy that I don't think it needs them. Full instructions are included for the little bows, and I think it's something I might do in the future.

The faced, scalloped hem is the winning design feature on this skirt. That is the wow factor. I chose another print from the Lavish Fabrics range for the facing, Pretty Ditsy Dream. Although the colours are of the same palette, the prints don't coordinate well, but I wanted a flash of something different and this fitted the bill. I love the fact that when she twirls, or moves about, you catch glimpses of the the tiny flowers from the inside of the scallops.



She wore the skirt over her pink tutu to show off the fullness to the max, it certainly gives a lovely effect! If I made this for your daughter, what fabric would you choose? Let me know in the comments below!

*Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission (the price stays the same for you) which will help me in the future to buy more patterns to share them with you!*

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4 comments

  1. It's gorgeous, do they do it in grown up size :-)

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    1. Thank you! I certainly could try and do an adult size, it should be that difficult to do :)

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