Black linen Kelly: the 'Summer's not over yet' skirt

With at least a week more of temperatures into the 30's here in Melbourne and a gap in my wardrobe for warm-weather separates that will actually go with other stuff,  I decided to make a basic black skirt. It's the Kelly skirt that has been all over the sewing blogsphere since it was released last year, with a few lovely recent versions popping up, like Jane's and Anna's. It's a very basic pattern with just a few pieces and I really, really enjoyed making it.   

I'm laughing in this picture because my neighbour's 3 year old daughter is telling me I should 'stand like a statue, holding a book  with your arms out'

 

Slightly creased back view

The black linen is from Brunswick fabric - a steal at $4 a metre - and of course I couldn't resist some slightly more interesting fabric inside the pockets, a spotty cotton.  Linen creases of course, but it's nice and cool to wear. I wore it to work today, with my dotty Alma  and am happy to report that it is also bike friendly. In terms of sizing  I made the small and it is just a smidge too big around the waist so next time, and yes there will be a next time, I'll make it  a little bit smaller. 

Yay! polka dot pockets.

I confess to being quite scared of buttonholes so I chickened out and used marble-look snaps instead (bought from here).  Because they are a bit smaller than buttons I added a few more than the pattern suggested, just spacing them out evenly.  I can highly recommend these snaps for a button-phobe like me! Plus, you get to whack them with a big hammer which is always fun.

So, not much to say about the pattern that hasn't been said already: easy to follow, good sizing, nice pleats, flattering shape.   I did a smaller hem than suggested because it would have been too short to wear to work, but I do like the look of the deeper top-stitched hem so I might add an inch to the length next time.

Oh, and especially for Circe,  here are the 'statue poses'.

And the ethereal light shone down on the Alma-Kelly combo......

 

Details
Pattern, Kelly Skirt by Megan Nielson from Sew Squirrel =$18
1.5m  Black linen from stash (Brunswick fabrics) $4/m  = $6
10 snaps from Snap Source $3.75 plus part shipping
25cm of printed cotton from Spotlight, $6m = $2

Total cost = $29.75