Boule Skirt
A flattering skirt pattern featuring a unique paneled construction that creates a subtle, rounded 'boule' silhouette.
When To Wear
This versatile skirt offers an elegant aesthetic, making it a perfect choice for:
- Everyday Elegance: Its comfortable yet refined silhouette suits daily wear with a touch of sophistication.
- Office & Professional Settings: The polished design is appropriate for a chic and professional work wardrobe.
- Special Occasions: The unique shape and luxurious drape make it suitable for dressed-up events or social gatherings.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a distinct 'boule' shape, gently rounded through the hips and mid-section, tapering subtly towards the hem for an elegant line.
Waist: a clean, finished waistline, designed to be bound for a smooth, flat appearance without a separate waistband.
Construction: Constructed with multiple vertical panels and princess seams that define the skirt's unique rounded shape.
Closure: a discreet zipper closure is integrated into the center back seam, secured with a hook & eye at the top.
Length: a chic midi-to-maxi length, falling gracefully below the knee for a sophisticated look.
Hem: a neatly finished hem, designed for a clean, handcrafted appearance.
Lining: Fully lined for comfort, enhanced drape, and a professional interior finish.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in precision seaming, zipper insertion, bias binding, and lining assembly.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose light to medium-weight fabrics that offer elegant drape and structure:
- Silk
- Rayon
- Tencel
- Lightweight wool blends
- Viscose twill
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- Zipper
- Hook & eye
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Front Skirt Half (center) - 1 piece on fold
- Back Skirt Half (center) - 2 pieces
- Side (front and back) - 4 pieces
- Bias binding for finishing the upper edge of the skirt - 1 piece
- From lining fabric:
- Front Skirt Half (center) - 1 piece on fold
- Back Skirt Half (center) - 2 pieces
- Side (front and back) - 4 pieces
- From fusible interfacing: iron fusible interfacing to the seam allowances along the edges of the back lower slit.
Sewing Instructions
- Iron fusible interfacing to the seam allowances along the edges of the back lower slit (fusible interfacing is ironed to the wrong side of the piece with a strongly heated iron).
- Stitch the back center seam between the slit mark for the zipper and the lower slit mark. Press the seam allowances open. Press the seam allowances along the edges of the slits to the wrong side.
- Stitch the zipper so that the teeth are not visible.
- Stitch the front and back princess seams, as well as the side seams. Press the seam allowances open.
- On the lining pieces, stitch the seams. Insert the lining into the skirt, wrong side to wrong side, baste to the upper edge of the skirt, turn under and sew to the zipper tapes.
- Trim the seam allowance at the upper edge of the skirt to a width of 8 mm. Finish the upper edge of the skirt with bias binding. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, right side out, and press. Unfold the trim strip flat again. Turn one long edge of the trim strip towards the pressed fold and press. Turn the second long edge of the trim strip towards the pressed fold, stopping 2 mm short of it, and press. Fold the trim strip again lengthwise along the pressed fold. Insert the upper edge of the skirt between the halves of the trim strip, aligning the edge with the pressed fold of the trim strip, with the wider of the trim strip lying on the lining. Pin the outer half of the trim strip, turn under the ends of the trim strip, sew the edges, baste the trim strip and topstitch close to the edge. Sew a hook and eye to the ends of the binding.
- Press the hem seam allowance of the skirt to the wrong side and sew by hand. Sew the seam allowances along the edges of the lower slit to the slit seam allowances. Hem the lining so that the lining is 2 cm shorter than the skirt.
