Pattern Review: Study Hall Skirt by Anna Maria Horner

Nichole of Indie House brings you this pattern review of Anna Maria Horner's Study Hall Skirt Pattern. Check out all of her wonderful creations!

The pattern can be found in my shop: http://mvansciver.etsy.com!

Description from back of pattern:
Bookish? Yes! Boring? Never! This kicky pleated skirt has plenty of flattering structure, but lots of room for interpretation. Four inverted box plats, 2 front & 2 back, and border all around leave you a novel of options!

Material and material requirements:
44in Wide Fabrics/ 54in Wide Fabrics:

1 1/3 yards for main skirt fabric

1 yard for contrast fabric

Allow extra yardage for matching or centering prints.

Suggested Notions & Tools:

1 Spool of thread in coordinating shade, craft scissors and sewing scissors, rotary cutter and mat (optional), straight pins, measuring device, fabric markers or chalk, iron and ironing board, pressing cloth, turning tool, hand sewing needle, One 9 in invisible zipper in coordinating shade, invisible zipper foot, small hook and eye

I used a home decorator weight fabric by Alexander Henry for the main skirt fabric and Kona Cotton in black for the contrasting fabric. Personally I think this skirt needs the structure of a heavier weight fabric. You could certainly use lighter weight quilter’s cotton but if you do I recommend reinforcing it with interfacing.

Pattern as described/shown?

I ADORE this skirt! I’ve been looking forward to making it since images of it were released on Anna Maria Horner’s blog but I was worried it would be too hard. I’ve seen a few reviews saying it requires intermediate sewing skills but I don’t think that’s true (and I am definitely a beginner!). Yes there are a lot of pieces and that can be off putting but really you do the same set of techniques four times and you are done!

How were the instructions?

The instructions were fairly clear and there were lots of line drawings to accompany them. I had to reread some of the instructions for the box pleat the first time but I was able to figure it out quickly.

Difficulty of pattern?

Skilled Beginner. This shouldn’t be your first skirt but if you’ve completed a garment or two then you will be fine!

Alterations made?

I didn’t make any alterations. I knew the size small was a little large for my waist line but I wanted it to hang lower than my belly button. Next time around I may shorten it so that the hem hits above my knee the way it does on the pattern cover.

Overall Impression

I loved it. The cutting and zig zagging of all the raw edges was time consuming but once I started sewing the pieces together I couldn’t stop! Now I don’t want to take the skirt off, I’m already planning two or three more.