A Reversible Skirt

I am getting ready to go to Uganda and wanted to try making a reversible skirt.  I figured I would use two sheer fabrics that would be light weight, but solid enough that they could act as a lining for each other.  I had this border print fabric in my stash that I got in Mazatlan a number of years ago and figured it would be perfect.  So, I made a trip over to JoAnns to look for something to go with it.  My daughter picked out the pink fabric, so I went with it.














I've made the CJ A-line skirt before, so I wanted to use that pattern.  Since I'd be cutting the fabric on the crossgrain in order to utilize the border, I had to think about the sizing.  I checked the little chart that comes with all the CJ patterns.  It showed that I would need to make a 14 in order to have enough circumference around the hips, so that's what I cut.  (Well, I had already cut the pattern a smaller size, so I just guestimated the added seam allowance.)





Since both fabrics are sheer, I used French seams on both.  I should have trimmed the seam allowances better on the pink fabric, because I do have some fringy poke throughs.  The blue turned out fine though.    I sewed each skirt separately, then joined them right sides together at the waist.  I then treated the two fabrics as one and made a casing at the waist for the elastic.  I thought about just using the two fabrics as each side of the casing, but the fabric was too sheer and you could see the elastic.  I wanted the border fabric to peek through at the bottom of the other skirt, so I made the pink skirt 4" shorter.  I used a rolled hem (serged) on the blue fabric since both sides would show.  I used a regular narrow hem on the pink fabric.

I think this skirt will be great for my trip since I will be able to get double the mileage out of it.  The fabrics are polyester, so they will wash easily and dry without wrinkles.  Poly is usually hot and makes me sweat, but I've found that the sheers are more breathable, and since this is a fuller skirt, I think it will be fine (even though it's pretty hot in Uganda.)

Now I need to make some tops to go with the skirts!