Making a late Victorian walking skirt

[@dcinrb8538]

"Blame it on Banner." A phrase that seems to be spreading. The video of Bernadette Banner and Cathy Hay in their walking skirts at a train station shows two versions of the same skirt. For example, Cathy's had 2 pockets, while Bernadette's had one. Your skirt is lovely.♥️

[@Grace_x68]

Angela Clayton made a beautiful walking ensemble about 4 years ago. The skirt and the jacket, etc.

[@suzismith9681]

Bernadette lined her fabric with Tarleton, while Cathy's is unlined. Hence the difference in the hang of the fabric. I had not noticed the difference interlining can make before.

[@MarciesWhimsySoaps]

Beautiful! Thank you!

[@GreenMartha]

I love how 1890s walking skirts are so In now on KZbin ! (says the girl who also made one, also from the Keystone draft)

[@epicwalrus7183]

They're so classy and smart looking I don't blame everyone for wanting one. Hell even I want to make one even though I loathe wearing skirts XD

[@yukukoyamada4824]

I've also made several in the last year or so. It's amazing how simple changes to the number of panels and the shape of the waistband can take a simple pattern in a different way, but maintains its overall feel and effect. This is by far my favourite pattern, and quite a versatile one at that.

[@anjiwiley]

It's never a project if there isn't some seam ripping. :)

[@angellinafosse1936]

Oh my gosh it’s true every project at some point needs it.

[@elizabethrobbins8580]

I so love the sound of a Singer. 100% metal innerworks and it feels and sounds like it.

[@lindabloom6666]

Those five little words . . . "All seams get this treatment" Hours and hours . . .

[@annettementzer5158]

How heart breaking to find the pocket in the wrong place. Major kudos for fixing it and not just letting the whole thing die on your UFO pile.

[@doro8856]

That's probably what I'd have done. : * (

[@roebearwhat]

I feel so much better seeing people with more experience than me making mistakes bc I always feel like I'm bad at sewing and lose courage. I recently messed up pockets three times and have put the project aside but I'll try taking it up again!

[@polkadot8788]

Ooh I need to get that victorian sewing techniques book

[@evelynbrylow3624]

It’s online! If you go to Bernadette banner’s video, she has a link to the online version in the description!

[@evelynbrylow3624]

Oh, wait, nvm, you meant the other book.

[@raeafoley6131]

A fork!?😂😝 That is so cool!!!😜 I'm sure plenty of people have used one for such purposes, but I never heard of it, let alone seen it! Genius!😁

[@marymcandrew7667]

Hi, lovely video and beautiful wool! When I was a kid and had my first camera, I always forgot to turn on the flash button, it was a Kodak pocket camera and you had to do this or it wouldn't take a picture. So I taped a small note on it saying, "turn on flash"! It worked. So when you have something you forget a lot, just tape a note to your pattern directions at the section you'd need to, about putting in or cutting out a pocket. Hope that helps! Love the old singer too!

[@CatsCostumery]

good idea!

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

Its beautiful 😍 and you just made me realize I completely forgot to put a pocket in my skirt 🤦‍♀️

[@CatsCostumery]

Happens so easily ! 🤦‍♀️

[@e_viola]

Big Victorian style pockets are the best! I just perfected my pocket pattern to the size I like. I might also draft a teardrop shaped one.

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

@@e_viola I definitely need to put them in all my skirts and I need to make more skirts

[@SingingSealRiana]

Scandalous!!! Says someone who totaly will forget about it too ^^

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

@@SingingSealRiana 😂

[@greatexp59]

Oh, the sound of a vintage machine! Thanks for sharing your process and your lovely skirt!

[@designdoctor247]

Thank you for showing the video clip of you in the finished product. You look like you are walking out of time into the present on the bridge. Love your music choices.

[@kitdubhran2968]

I was planning on making a skirt EVENTUALLY. But then I swam ripped a couple of pillow cases and realized that I did actually have enough for most of a skirt. With some additional piecing I can have a lovely walking skirt in black on black stripe. 😍 Off to draft my awkward measurements. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@sashaedwards9579]

What a lovely skirt. I feel you when it comes to forgetting pockets (or similar essentials that require seams to be ripped out once you remember about them) as I do this myself all the time.

[@fionacreates]

Really interesting to see you apply a different lining method, and how little pattern alterations allow each skirt I’ve seen made with the same basic pattern look unique :) i love it and I hope you are not too frustrated with your fixes, it looks grand and hopefully feels that way to wear too!

[@kitdubhran2968]

The movement may be because of the additional layers underneath. If it’s just one skirt and the fabrics cling together at all, they’ll also cling to your legs while you walk. It’s a thought anyway. The skirt looks fantastic! Love the way it turned out! Can’t wait to see what I decide to do with mine!

[@katekilgour4794]

Your sewing machine is stunning, and makes such a satisfying noise .

[@constanzecalinaeija7053]

The Idea with the fork is genius. Thanks for that tip. And yeah, my Winterskirt doesn't have a pocket either.

[@digitaldgirl4459]

I love that you shared your mistakes as well as your victories. It just goes to show that we all make mistakes and no project is hopelessly created. I've found sewing helps to develop patience and that quiet space in our mind where the rest of the world and its problems fade away. The completed project and excitement of wearing something we created ourselves is so satisfying. I love listening to your soothing voice as I sew and other similar makers who have such lovely, reasonable voices.

[@noorazraq2245]

Oh,that’s funny. I was planning on making one too! Hopefully it won’t be unfinished like most of my projects end up.

[@mf4376]

I put a pocket in the back skirt seam of an 1860s dress once. Luckily , since I was using full widths of fabric with selvages making up the seams they hadn't needed finishing in any way, so it was a pretty quick swap. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it until I was already at an event, so I wore it that way for a weekend.

[@lynlijalysbalderdottir4563]

Oh, how many times I’ve forgotten the pockets! Too many to recall or bother counting. Looks fantastic you did a glorious job!

[@lynlijalysbalderdottir4563]

One suggestion I might make is that since you don’t have pleats making it obvious where front is, simply spin your skirt so the opening is now a side opening instead of back. I’ve actually had to do this and it really looked great for a wild mistake.

[@efjeK]

My sister asked me to make a skirt for her. She wanted one similar to a skirt I made for myself 'only without the pockets' she said. I just looked at her in horror...

[@angellinafosse1936]

That’s truly terrifying.

[@fionafiona1146]

I'd be baffled by my sister asking me to make her a skirt after waring any on less than 20 occasions in as many years (3 of wich since she was out of kindergarten)... She enjoys fashion on occasion tho.

[@fionafiona1146]

Not sure if you refer to my sister, she asked me to modify oversized jumpers, that's more in character.

[@dcinrb8538]

Oh well sisters...The month of May has come again. Time to buy a few yards (metres) of wool in a houndstooth pattern. 🍄🍄

[@pbonniejean]

Oh, dearie-dear! Time for a cup of hot cocoa and a therapeutic heated rice-bag applied to your knotted nape and shoulders...deep, slow breaths...That's the spirit! You are a strong, determined woman, and YOU'VE GOT THIS!

[@Hag_of_Fangorn]

Oh, I know that disappointment! I'm having a struggle today too. Great job sticking with it! It turned out beautiful.

[@pauladavitt2744]

I envy anyone that has the skills to draft a pattern from the keystone book. I love the skirt.

[@tegansutherland7299]

The first one is always the hardest. But so long as you have an understanding of word problems and fractions, I think anyone can do it!

[@pauladavitt2744]

Tegan Sutherland I don’t have any understanding of fractions, maths was never ever my strongest subject in school, this is why I can’t draft pat. I have tried on several occasions to draft this skirt and it hasn’t happened yet.

[@tegansutherland7299]

@@pauladavitt2744 Ahh that does make it harder. If it's something you truly want to do, you could probably ask a buddy to help do it? Two heads are better than one! Or sometimes sewing classes might be able to offer assistance -- your mileage will vary, as not everyone drafts and not every area is well served by sewing lessons. [When I still lived in Boston, I was at one point the ONLY non-quilting sewing instructor who posted availability online in the entire greater Boston area. It was bizarre.] I say this, assuming it's a desire -- there's also no need to draft if you don't want to, considering there are many wonderful patterns that exist. :)

[@hhicks2979]

Paula Davitt Try this pattern FOLKWEAR 1900'S VICTORIAN WALKING SKIRT PATTERN #209 available from Harts Designer Fabrics located in Santa Cruz, California, tel # [phone]. They have their own website and a picture of the pattern under Historical patterns. Good luck.

[@skog85sl]

Thanks for sharing the ups, and the downs. I had all the feels over your pocket drama. Can so relate to a bit of downtrodden unpicking.

[@BeverleyButterfly]

This was so interesting to watch, I really loved some of the shots you did and how well you explained everything. I’m about to start learning to sew it’s very scary and intimidating but when I see how lovely the items look it really inspires me xx

[@StarlingofAzerath]

As a heads up. Skirts are much easier to start with than a dress bodice or blouse. I sewed about 10+ skirts before daring myself to learn about dresses. and now im on my second one. :)

[@EagleRue]

Very nice. It makes me want to do the hanging lining with flounce on my green outfit! And do not despair over the pockets- I have done that exact thing before.

[@nessiemonstercrafts]

I almost cried for you when you discovered the pocket was in the wrong place, heartbreaking but as you know not the end of the world. Beautiful skirt

[@peggyr9623]

I can completely relate to the error with the pocket. No matter how hard I try to make things correctly, I always mess something up. It's the same way with baking. I always miss one ingredient. Luckily in baking that doesn't mean it has to be tossed most of the time. I literally have tossed some clothing that I was making due to a mistake that I just couldn't face all of the time it would take to correct the error if that was possible. I think I would have burst into tears. You are very brave to keep at it and complete the skirt correctly. Truly admirable. Congrats on the completion and it looks very nice an comfortable.

[@tls8688]

I like your skirt. It looks wonderfully warm for the current weather.

[@juliecain6397]

A bit of tarleton around the hem might weight it better and add sway. I think Cathy Hay does some in a green walking skirt...which see. Your skirt is gorgeous and it looks warm. I keep thinking I want to make one. You have inspired me to try it.

[@tegansutherland7299]

Well this is a lovely project. Some thoughts as to what might be "weird" about the movement. A) You removed a lot of bulk and weight from the back with the elimination of the back panel. Perhaps it is supposed to be pulled that direction more? B) You might have luck with a deeper flounce on your petticoat -- if the bulk started closer to your knees, it might change that flow. C) An additional petticoat covers a multitude of sins. I use modern linen or light cotton summer skirts for petticoats these days. Cause I'm too lazy to make them. :P How do you find your nice deep facing hem? I've started to suspect that is the trick for a skirt this long, as my most recent walking skirt I merely turned the hem up and bound it with a lace and my heels catch on the lace and pull the stitches out. :/

[@designdoctor247]

These comments helped me. Thank you for caring enough to share your kindness.

[@TravelsWithLittle]

I have been leaving off the pockets intentionally - for me they just add inches to a shape that doesn't need any extra inches and I have found I don't really use them anyway. I can see where a skirt with as much material as this (and wool no less) would be too heavy to flat line. I am almost finished with a mid length light cotton skirt that I did flat line. I love the way it adds weight to the cotton and cuts down on the sheerness. Your project turned out lovely, btw. :o)

[@haakdraakje]

Oh, i leave them out as well! Same "problem" with my hips.

[@brigidscaldron]

You're so lovely to show your mistakes. You could so easily edit that out of your video!

[@rachelunderwood4868]

Gorgeous skirt. I felt for you with the pocket mishap. Exactly the kind of thing I would do 😄

[@debrakemp7791]

Beautiful machine and sound great. Bring back memories from my grandmother sewing.

[@cihunter4986]

Your skirt is lovely I am inspired to make my own. You need to get some post it notes and stick one to your sewing machine with the word pockets on it and a big exclamation mark lol.

[@india239]

I have a Bernina and it thankful has a flat fell foot, but I have also seamed it like you did here

[@marcco44]

that is a very beautiful sewing machine! love watching you ladies being so creative!

[@natashabenjamin4222]

I am in the process of making my first one. Already messed up and undone stitches and redid them....just praying it comes out good.

[@raquelalmeida9002]

Love the pattern paper idea... Have a new purpose for my dad's old newspaper pile (until now it was to help package ceramics, but that's may be finished soon) thank you for the tip ;)

[@fishinwidow35]

I'm loving your videos!

[@cherylcentenioblessedvirgi3241]

I love your skirt. Thank you for sharing.

[@ginarydin7560]

Your sewing techniques are wonderful to see demonstrated. Good job!

[@sharonfernandez2739]

I think it look gorgeous on you and I love nature walks 💕

[@TheSewingHub]

Phew I ain't the only one then running around with chipped nails and stab wounds from pins. Love your channel just found today.

[@silvergypsylady]

Well done, in spite of your pocket incident, you have a beautiful skirt. Maybe you should do what I do. I put post it notes on machine so I don't forget. 😊😊

[@CatsCostumery]

that's a great idea!!

[@scarletpimpernelagain9124]

Good for you for persevering. I would have flung that across the room, chucked it in a plastic bag to be forgotten until found 20 years later having developed minuscule ecological systems of it’s own. This is possibly why I don’t sew much Lol 😂✌🏻🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 edit: it looks great on you by the way!

[@tegansutherland7299]

I generally scream and cry at the sky, but throwing the naughty project across the room is ALWAYS theraputic!

[@ChayatsujiKimono]

Thank you so much for your video, it's great that you also include the things that weren't going so well. I am currently in the process of also making a walkingskirt (Truly Victorian Edwardian pattern) and I learned from your mistake as I nearly did the same! I went and finished the front and back panels separately so I couldn't mistake the seams where I would put my pockets in, since I only had two side seams left to sew.

[@karensykas3809]

You did a beautiful job! Its lovely.

[@MrsCelesteB]

lol! beautiful, i love watching all your videos. I would have sat there crying on camera....lolol

[@vickieselep9725]

Good video! I really felt for you when you discovered the pocket issue! We’ve all done so,etching similar, but you went through it and finished it! I know I would have been tempted to just sew the blankety-blank seam shut!

[@Celticknit1]

Quite pretty!

[@TheresaHanssen]

It’s a lovely skirt! And the pocket is perfect.

[@wendydevereux4375]

185K is my favourite machine xx

[@sharontownsend-thompson9505]

Thank you for sharing your removing the pocket

[@BratBustersParenting]

I've been sewing for 56 years and still can't sew without a seam ripper by my side.

[@fishinwidow35]

I've been sewing almost as long and I remember using one of my father's razor blades to remove stitching.

[@l1brada]

I love this so much.

[@chikensaku]

Dat Singer be amazing!!!

[@sunnyruth8575]

Lovely job Lovely wool sorry that had to happen to you. But beautiful job

[@donnellemorrison6761]

My mom has that exact machine and still uses it.

[@doro8856]

I feel your pocket pain. Oh gosh, I really do feel your pain. Skirt looks great on. Hangs beautifully. Well done.

[@annereidy7981]

Good for you, great job!

[@VanessaWJ]

Kat, what is the thimble you use? I'm having no luck finding one I like.

[@CatsCostumery]

I use the metal Clover thimble and I really like it! It's adjustable and compatible with longer nails :) amzn.to/3aut7F9

[@rachelmiller2280]

I’m very intrigued by the fork...but it was all sped up, so I wasn’t able to see how to use it properly. Do you have resources to recommend about using forks to make pleats easier?

[@CatsCostumery]

I think the first time I heard about this was from @silkenstitches on Instagram (instagram.com/silkenstitches/?hl=en). I think she might still have an old post up about it!

[@TheExvangelicalCat]

And here I am, planning on just making an extra long circle skirt. I'm not very experienced with sewing though.

[@arianeobrien4873]

Awesome work on the skirt. I learnt to sew on a machine very much like the Singer you have. Does your one tilt so you can access & store stuff underneath?

[@CatsCostumery]

this one has a little compartment on the side, not underneath :)

[@TheGabygael]

How much fabric did you use? I've been wanting to make an edwardian walking suit and I found a gorgeous wool houndstooth in my mother's stash but it was purchased a few years ago (and I believe it was the rest of a stock anyway) and I only have like 2 or 3 meters (on 1m60 I think, I should really measure it once more) My favorite edwardian season is around 1908 because I love the details on the sides but I thought I would do a 1910s skirt because it would use less fabric maybe?

[@CatsCostumery]

Along the Lane I thinkI used about 4 meters!

[@debrabowden]

I feel your pain I do this quite often , big hugs

[@nadiajurriens8137]

Hi! What a lovely tutorial! I wonder if you could link the plaquette tutorial that you are referencing? I could really use one :D

[@fabioferreiragomes]

..........INCRÍVEL...........ESPETACULAR..........

[@dailylifevlogs7672]

Good 👍

[@mmw55122]

Regarding your pocket--i would have left it and claimed it as part of the design! But the vid showed that you are a better person and have redone it all!

[@kimlightfoot]

i feel your pain on the pocket placement. but you do a beautiful job of sewing. And as my grandma said, it isn't a project until a seam has been ripped at least once. lol.

[@CatsCostumery]

wise words!

[@ThatLazyStray]

Out of curiosity, do you remember how much fabric you needed to make this skirt? I'm looking into making my own walking skirt soon but i'm very new to sewing. I saved up and brought a lovely tweedy wool, but now i'm concerned i may not have brought enough. I suppose i could always make it more 'modern' and shorter, but it just doesn't have the same kind of charm. I wish to live out my swishy tweedy skirt dreams

[@CatsCostumery]

I *think* (sorry, it was a while ago) that I used around 3-4 meters :)

[@ThatLazyStray]

@@CatsCostumery Thank you! I should be safe then (I braught 6 metres). Oooh, perhaps i shall have to try my hand at a matching waist coat or jacket then as well if i have enough left over!

[@browneyedbitch62]

Could you please tell me what kind of thimble will you use. I have the kind it just fits on the end of the finger and since I arthritis it doesn't fit well. Thank you for the informative program

[@CatsCostumery]

I use the metal Clover thimble and I really like it! amzn.to/3aut7F9

[@kckazcoll1]

hello Cat, I was looking for Walking Skirt videos and found yours. Is it ok if I ask about your accent? I love accents and I see you are from the UK, but wondered which part as I can't pick the region from yours :)

[@judithcollins3744]

I prefer the sounds of scissors cutting, sewing machines sewing, and your soothing voice to the rapacious looped track of music. I wish that all creators would ditch the music. Usually it's too loud and tiresome. Your sewing is beautiful.

[@micheleoftheoaks5506]

Your skirt might move better if you had a smaller hem. The heavy weight of the fabric appears to weight it down and keep it from flowing as you walk.

[@rivi3853]

I agree, it looked like the hem was too deep.

[@AnkaFurb]

"very intimidating math" I feel yah! Nice work! I'm making a skirt from the same draft these days! Drew the entire draft wrong on my first try (oops), so the mockup ended up double the width that i needed. This is why one should make mockups! Plackets confuse me as well, I never seem to get it right.

[@CatsCostumery]

Drafting this was probably the hardest step!

[@AnkaFurb]

@@CatsCostumery i mean... When i realized what i'd done wrong, it was pretty straight forward.

[@wilhelminavanessen8496]

We have the same machine !

[@alethearia]

I don't know if you noticed, but the rhythm in the music you used is akin to the rhythm of a sewing machine going very slowly.

[@cocoq3323]

How many of each piece did you cut? It wouldn’t make sense to only cut one of each, because the skirt wouldn’t be symmetrical, but cutting two each seems too much

[@solarjudgement4575]

Can you make videos for beginners to sewing, by hand and with machine? Or recommend resources to learn?

[@AlbinoMonkeyC]

That's the same machine I learned to sew on!!!

[@india239]

Omg. I tend to do an obvious mistake. Mine tends to be cutting directional fabric upside down

[@naomikatepp]

May I ask the reason for hand basting a seam that it already pinned and about to be machine sewn? I have never done that? I rarely baste anything but quilts (and turkeys).

[@CatsCostumery]

Hand-basting is very useful as it stabilises the fabric a lot more than pins, keeping the fabric from shifting as you sew :)

[@madelineenglese683]

Where is your thimble from? It’s super cute.

[@CatsCostumery]

I use the metal Clover thimble and I really like it! It's adjustable and compatible with longer nails :) amzn.to/3aut7F9

[@carlacolumna4809]

I've never seen a thimble in this shape, is there a word to describe this one? It also looks like you could wear it with long nails, is that really the case?

[@CatsCostumery]

yep it works well with long nails! I think if you search for metal thimble it should come up :)

[@carlacolumna4809]

@@CatsCostumery thank you ^^

[@Grace_x68]

You look beautiful.

[@naomijdj5179]

How much material did you need for this skirt (in cm if possible)?

[@marytavis9722]

What is the plaid devise that you lay your hand stitching on?

[@maggiehawkes1131]

It’s a tailor’s ham, I believe..

[@TealCheetah]

Did you ever try this over a petticoat?

[@olyerem8517]

Hello, I am using the same pattern drafting method as you and apparently the entire costube community, and I am confused by the number of pattern pieces, it seems enormous, but I dont know which part I should remove or alter, I have not seen which one you removed

[@CatsCostumery]

I struggled with that too. If I remember right, they offer two different fullness levels - the standard, the bell skirt and the full circle. I originally drafted the bell skirt, with the 5th panel (swung from L to M). However, in my mock up I decided this was too full, and just stuck with the first 4 panels.

[@laila.tov.]

I am having a hard time following this pattern and understanding how to sew it together. Do you know any other videos that go more in debt of the pattern??

[@CatsCostumery]

Bernadette Banner has a great video about making it! I'm not sure about any other videos. The hardest bit I found was drafting it, then I sewed each panel together, finished the seams, pleated the back and put it on a waistband (a very quick summary) :)

[@laila.tov.]

Cat's Costumery she doesn’t go in debt on drafting and is also the hardest part for me! Is getting to big on the waist

[@KazM-Made]

@@laila.tov. Try this video - it's the same skirt - from the same instructions and she goes through the drafting - so you can make your pattern. : kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2iwhYGpialmotk

[@nikkirey007]

I have quite a large waist 39", is it possible to still make this skirt?

[@chenoahenderson6525]

What is the thimble you are using I've never seen one like that and would love to have one

[@CatsCostumery]

I use the metal Clover thimble and I really like it! It's adjustable and compatible with longer nails :) amzn.to/3aut7F9