Advice on sewing/alterations appreciated

Hi. I think Amy said she would not be around for a while, but maybe someone else here knows? I just saw a pretty, 100% wool skirt in a local boutique today and it's a good fit and kind of my style and deeply discounted. The wool is rather thick and stiff, like felt, which is not a bad thing to me at all. It's well-made. It's not even itchy either, but I was thinking I would want to have it lined. I wonder if that's a complicated alteration (the skirt has one side zipper), or pretty basic, and approx. how much it would cost.

Later I was thinking that I didn't need to have it lined; I could always just wear a slip with it. Do people here have any preference or anti-skirt slip bias? It's a bit short (not to mention that I'm short, so for the skirt to be PSL it would be short-ish), so I will need to be vigilant about getting something the right length that won't show. A lined skirt sounds luxurious but maybe it's too much cost to be worth it? I should call my mom(my) and ask if she can do it

14 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Hi Mochi, I'm not an expert but I have a few skirts that are lined. The linig is always sewn into the waistband, but not always into the sides. I have one that my grandma made were the lining isn't sewn into the zipper at the sides (it's just split there so you can get it on), but I also have one where the lining is sewn into the zipper. I think with a bought skirt you'de have to at least unravel the seams at the waistband to attach the lining. I don't know if that's easy with a bought skirt. I think it would be a rather expensive alteration because it takes so much time and you have to pay the fabric for the lining too. I guess I would simply wear a slip with it instead. Do you have one?

Mochi

I do, Astrid, but it's probably too long so I'll try and pick up a shorter one (if I buy the skirt). I agree that it's not a worthwhile alteration, especially when I think on how many sleeves I legitimately need to have shortened

Yes, the sleeves are definitely more important. I've already had sleeves shortened two or three times and I couldn't believe what a difference it made everytime.

Mander

(website)

I think it doesn't necessarily need to be complicated, although if you are not doing it yourself it's not as easy to fudge things in the name of making it work. But see here for an example:

http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/.....ining.html

Tina

I am going to side with the 'line the skirt' argument. If it is a nice wool skirt that fits you well and you love the color, it will last you for many years. There is no comparison between a lined skirt and a slip, the lining wins hands down. Lining is not expensive to buy. If you can, I would get a quote from a seamstress and just see if you think it is worth it. It really shouldn't take that long and the lining does not need to be sewn in with the zipper.

Vildy

If you attach a lining to the skirt you don't have to remove the waistband. Lining piece can just be folded under at the top, the amount of a seam allowance and then hand
stitched to inside bottom waistband. If you use a backstitch it's even stronger than
machine sewing. Me, I'd wear it with a slip for awhile and see if I even wanted to
bother lining it. Some very gauzy wools would do better with what is called an interlining, where the two pieces are sewn as one. That strengthens it. But it sounds like this skirt
is not flimsy. If you can find one of those slips that is not like lining but is like taffeta, usually made for knits, then it will take any strain off the skirt itself and help it to wrinkle less when worn.

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