Monday, February 2, 2015

Jalie 2796 Snow Day Skort

Jalie 2796 snow day skort
Last Tuesday was a snow day, so I spent ~9 hours working on the Jalie 2796 skort, the first skort I have ever sewn.
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Jalie 2796 snow day skort
I'm pulling up the skirt here so you can see the shorts underneath.  And because it's Jalie, the shorts are super cleverly sewn in.....

I love love love the shorts sewn into the skort underneath.  I read in the PR reviews that when they say they are compression shorts, they really mean it...plus Jalie wants you to use fabric with 70% stretch and mine (activewear fabric from Apple Annie online--54% nylon, 17% poly, 29% lycra, "From a leading sportswear manufacturer") was around 50%.  My hips are a 40 which means in Jalie that's size V....based on that info I traced the pattern with an additional 1" everywhere (seam allowance, top of shorts and bottom of shorts)  and used it all except on the bottom (the shorts were peeking out of the bottom of the skirt).  There are no side seams to the shorts, just the center front and center back seams, so I used every inch of those additional 4 inches.

The waistband also has 4" added to the size V.

For the skirt part I did not need the 1" SA....with 4 side seams that was 8" extra! The regular V was totally fine, even  though the pink side panels are only 25% stretch.

Jalie 2796 snow day skort
Here you can see the cute side panel.
Jalie 2796 snow day skort
 It actually forms a pocket for your iPod or iPhone or iWhatever.
Jalie 2796 snow day skort
There's elastic at the top of that panel on the upper layer.... and then it makes this cute crossover detailing at the bottom
Jalie 2796 snow day skort
Ugh it is not perfect but from 4' away it's totally fine.  If I make it again I will  do better with that.  It's too long of a story to describe why it doesn't look better.


Jalie 2796 snow day skort
The pink fabric (Joann's performance fabric from last year) did not want to take my stretch twin needle at all, hence it's just a plain stitch.
Jalie 2796 snow day skort
But that Apple Annie fabric?? It *loved* my stretch twin needle. It was like that needle and that fabric were meant to be together forever and never to part. and the hem was still actually stretchy!
Jalie 2796 snow day skort
SO even though it looks sort of a-line in some of these pictures (like above), it's very much a tight body-con silhouette. I didn't fully realize this just looking at the envelope picture (though I would have had I looked more closely at the review pictures).
Jalie 2796 snow day skort
You can see more clearly how it's very body con here (I lifted my tank to show the waistband):
Jalie 2796 snow day skort


How did it do???
I wore it to boogietone last Thursday.  BT is a pretty high impact, active, sweaty dance based class that I adore.  To stabilize the side panels, I used a layer of the Apple Annie black fabric...but that means there are 4 layers of fabric on each of my hips so it just felt like a lot of fabric on me.  The AA fabric is quite thick (it is actually recommended for cold weather workouts) so I think next time I would make the shorts out of the AA fabric (because it is compressing and comfy feeling) and the outer skirt out of thinner fabric.  Also I will never use the pockets so I'd either eliminate the side panel completely or change it to a one layer boring rectangle or even modify it to be A-line (my preferred silhouette).

There is an A-line Jalie skating skirt pattern that I just bought this weekend, so I'm eager to try that out with these shorts (the skating skirt has panties attached, not shorts and I prefer shorts as we do squats and lunges as part of the class).

So this is part of my entry for the PR Activewear contest.  I still need to make a coordinating tank (the one here coordinates but I made it waaay before the timeframe of this contest).  I started muslining Jalie and  Kwik Sew tanks this weekend...though I might go back to my TNT Simplicity pattern instead.  You know there will be a lace overlay involved!!!  Unless I totally scrap this plan and start working on the other plan percolating in my brain....
Jalie 2796 snow day skort

No dressform pix this time as it is a skort and Izzy doesn't have legs!

Be well!

30 comments:

  1. Love your skort and I think the pink side panels/pockets are really cool. I look forward to seeing the coordinating tank with it!

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    1. Thanks Tomasa! The pockets are a cute feature.

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  2. The skort is really cute. Great project for these winter days.

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  3. Great job! It looks wonderful. I was wondering if this skort would work for biking? Any thoughts?

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    1. Thanks! Hmmmm...I don't bike at all so I don't know. I'll ask my coworker who bikes what she thinks and will let you know what she says.

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    2. Update: I asked my coworker and she thought it would be fine for biking.

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    3. Thanks for checking. I have purchased the pattern and will give it a try. It is expensive buy workout wear in plus sizes, so this is a good place to start.

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  4. I saw this pattern over at Two on, Two Off and I love the side panel pocket detailing. Better than RTW. I prefer the color blocking.

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  5. Great job! If ever I get back into working out, I will definitely give this pattern a try.

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    1. Thanks Amanda! I bow to your seam finishes!

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  6. Your skort looks great! I really like this pattern and definitely want to make more of these myself this year.

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    1. Yes! In reading the reviews of this pattern before sewing mine, I saw your review so I knew it would be good!

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  7. So if your make the top and skirt, you'll have a knock out ensemble Kyle. Your skirt is wonderful.

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    1. Thanks Maria! I feel you are the queen of workout wear!

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  8. Great skirt Kyle! I have been wanting to try my hand at sewing my own workout gear. Jalie seems a good start to achieve good fit. Thanks for reviewing.

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    1. Thanks Paulinakoss! I think it's important to pay attention to the % stretch to get the best fit!

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  10. I really like that skort! It looks like it would stay in place during a hard workout.

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    1. Some reviewers said the shorts were riding up, so they used "gripper elastic". I ordered some on etsy and it didn't come in time for my first workout. The shorts rode up a little but not enough for me to be totally annoyed. Next time I will probably try the gripper elastic because I like trying new things.

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  11. I haven't worn a skort in years! I think I might make some for summer biking after seeing your version. Too cute and a good fit. Jalie rocks!

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    1. Jalie is pretty special! I appreciate them more now that I sew with a serger.

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  12. RTW workout skorts are expensive. Also, sometimes they are very short. This is a great pattern-one I need to get.
    The skort looks great and I am glad to hear that it worked for you during your workout at the gym.
    Thanks for sharing about Apple Annie's fabric. I have never heard of it before, but will be checking it out!!

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    1. Hi Dharma! I think the RTW skorts are hard to find--and when I do find them, they are too short!

      Apple Annie's has some pretty neat stuff!

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  13. I just found your blog through reading "Running With Rocket"-wow..you are an amazing seamstress! I wish I could do what you do! You are really inspiring....I used to sew when I was in high school ...SEVERAL years ago (lol) ...I've been dabbling again recently. You blog is inspiring me to try a little harder! Great work!

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    1. Welcome Mrs N! Thank you for all your kind words! Go for it with sewing again!!! Just jump right in with both feet!

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