1950's meets 18th Century - Wildflower Designs Coquelicot Skirt

 Back in the early days of my engagement, before I knew how entirely wedding planning and wedding sewing would take over my life, I volunteered for a couple different pattern tests. We can all laugh now about how naïve I was when it came to the amount of time wedding preparations would require of me. Regardless,  I had committed to these pattern tests, and I am a woman of my word, so I completed them. Sometimes late at night, at the expense of a few hours sleep, but I completed them. And I must say, I'm glad I participated in these pattern tests as both added some great garments to my wardrobe, which I have been wearing regularly ever since!

Now one of these pattern tests can't be shared quite yet. The other however. . . let me tell you all about it!

Sometime this winter Wildflower Design on Instagram started sharing pictures of a self-drafted every day skirt they'd made with heavy historical influence. It was constructed like an 18th century petticoat with the front and back panels of the skirt attached to different waistbands. The back waistband wrapped around and tied at the front, while the front waistband wrapped around and tied at the back.

Beneath this double wrap situation, there was another fantastic detail. HUGE pockets resembling those of the 18th century, accessed through the side slits of the skirt.

Oh yes! This skirt absolutely enthralled me!

A month or so later, a call for pattern testers for this skirt came up on Instagram, and I jumped to apply!

I was accepted and began looking through my fabric stash, trying to pick a material for my new skirt. There were two different views of this pattern, both inspired by 1950's skirt silhouettes, and I couldn't decided which I wanted to make. This indecision made picking my fabric considerably harder!

View A was a half circle A-line shape, while view B was a gathered full circle skirt. Both would be welcome additions to my wardrobe! Which should I make?

After a week of dithering, I couldn't make up my mind, so finally I decided to just make both!

With that figured out, now for the fabric choices! I opted to use a very, very, soft maroon wool from my stash for the A-line version.

I only had a yard and a half of this fabric, picked up at a thrift store once upon a time. That was a little less than the pattern called for in my size, but I figured if I used a contrasting cotton for the pockets and bias hem facing it just might work!

And it did! With careful cutting I managed to squeeze all the main pattern pieces out of the wool, and I used a pink quilting cotton from my stash for the unseen portions of the skirt.

My plaid wool skirt has seen constant wear every winter since I made it, so I'm very happy to add a second wool skirt to my closet! And this one is such a versatile color and silhouette!

For the full circle skirt, I picked another thrifted fabric from my collection. 

A maroon polyester print with a rather open weave. 

Yes, polyester. It does have the advantage of not wrinkling, so I rather like having some polyester every day skirts in my closet.

Of the two skirts, I think this one is my favorite. It's just so full, and floaty, and fun!

And it's suitable for most seasons! I've worn this skirt almost weekly since I finished it.

I really liked how the contrast hem facing looked on my wool skirt, so I decided to do the same thing with this one, picking a blue gingham for the job.

And that's that! Both of my skirts turned out to be just as awesome as I'd hoped they would be, and I'm very glad I decided to test the pattern! I look forward to playing with it more after the wedding, when I have some free sewing time again!

If this skirt design fascinates you just as much as it did me, the pattern can be found here, on the Wildflower Design website!

*I received this pattern for free in exchange for testing it and giving my feedback. This blog post was not required or requested. All thoughts and opinions shared here are my own.