The key to a fashionable summer? A fun and effortless look! And what better way to achieve that than matching separates? The skater skirt/crop top silhouette has been incredibly popular lately and if you’ve tried it out, I’m sure you understand why. It’s trendy, it works with all body types, and it’s beyond comfortable!
For this outfit, I went with 2 yards of one of Mood’s neoprene prints, which was terrific! If you’re unfamiliar with neoprene/scuba knit, it’s often used to make wet suits. Mood’s fashion-weight scuba knit lacks the insulating foam that is typically associated with the fabric, leaving it with a wonderful drape, perfect for swimsuits, dresses, or – in this case – skirts and tops!
To get the shape for the top, all I did was trace a basic t-shirt, ignoring the sleeves. I then made the front neckline slightly more scooped. To get the length of your top, measure from your neckline to the spot you want your hem to lay, making sure to account for your bust. Once you have your length, add 1″ to account for seam allowance and hemming.
The top comes together much easier than you’d think. The front and back panels attach at the sides, as well as the shoulders.
The neckline and armholes can all be finished with basic rolled-hems. Many machines come with an extra foot to assist with this, but it can also be done by simply folding your fabric over twice and stitching.
The bottom of the shirt can be finished the same way.
My skater skirt was basically a half circle skirt made up of two quarter circle panels, which I then widened on each side by about 5″. In the end, it came out more like a 3/4 circle skirt, with more gathering and fullness at the bottom. If you want to learn how to make different types of circle skirts, check out Mood’s super handy Circle Skirt Calculator!
For the waistband I cut a rectangle 6″ wide, and the length of my model’s waist (minus 1″ to account for stretch). To attach your waistband, fold it in half, and sew it to the right side of your skirt with a zigzag stitch. This ensures that the thread won’t snap when you stretch your fabric.
I finished the skirt the same as the top, with a slightly wider rolled hem.
What do you think of the whole ensemble, and which neoprene print would you use to make your own? Tell us in the comments!
2 comments
Love this and so easy good for any level of Sewer!
[…] For mine, I used an abstract cloud printed neoprene from Mood, which was absolutely beautiful, and reminded me of being on a plane at sunrise. Fashion-weight neoprene also has a fantastic drape and really lends itself well to circle and skater skirts. […]