Pattern Hack for Colette Patterns Ginger Skirt | Go-Go Kim

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Friday, September 7, 2018

Pattern Hack for Colette Patterns Ginger Skirt

The most exciting part of making garments is the moment when you realize that you can alter the patterns to make them how you want them!

One of the patterns that I love to and highly recommend is the Ginger Skirt pattern by Colette Patterns. You can see more of the Ginger skirts I have made in my post How to Sew Garments for Beginners.

This simple A-line skirt includes 3 waistband options and sizes from 0 to 18.  Every wardrobe needs an A-Line skirt...or 20!

Aurifil thread


If you are looking for a starter pattern, this one has lovely paper pieces that are easy to handle and refold. There is a pocket for the pattern at the back of the pattern booklet and a special place for notes.

I encourage everyone to take notes while sewing! In case there was something that was not expressed in a way that you could process the information ( this happens to me all the time) or you found a way that makes more sense to you while sewing the pattern that you will want to remember for the next time you sew it.



That is what happened this time when I was making this skirt!

As it is written, the Ginger Skirt has two sections that make the front. I am not crazy about the seam down the front of the skirt. Especially if you are using a large scale print, directional print ( you would require extra fabric) or even ditsy prints it can look not professional.

I decided to make the front one piece and placed it on the fold of the fabric.

The method is super simple and creates a seamless skirt front!




I am using muslin as an inexpensive way to show what I did. If you are unsure, please make a muslin first!


Place the pattern piece A skirt front on the right side of the folded fabric following the grainline. I am using the v.1.


DO NOT cut the small v of fabric where the pattern deviates.





Cut the pattern piece out.

Find a pattern you trust ( if you don't wish to figure out darts yourself) that has a single front piece with dart markings that you can copy to guarantee the perfect darts for you.

If you don't have a large pattern selection. Start checking out local thrift shops. I regularly find patterns that are as low as .10 to .50. I will use parts of the older patterns to help adjust other garment patterns that I do have in my stash.

For this skirt, I am using McCalls 3830. I made skirts a few weeks ago with this pattern and love the darts.

Place the pattern piece in the center of the wrong side of your fabric front. Line up the center line and mark the dots using a Pilot Frixion Pen.



Flip the pattern piece over ( you will see the wrong side), center it and mark the opposite dart marks.



Using a ruler, connect the dart marks.


Grab a few pins and put the pin through the dots at the end of the widest end and a couple more pinning making certian to pin through the line on both sides to secure a straight line.

The dots at the end will not require a pin and is your fading out point.

I used the #1 foot on my Bernina to follow the line I had drawn.  Starting at the edge not at the final dot, sew the line. I use a 2.10 stitch length.

**do not look at the backward pin, I was trying to get a fast shot)

Trail off as you get to the end of the line where the final dot is marked. Pull more thread out than needed to make a knot at the end. This helps create flatter more natural looking darts.



Press the darts in place!  SO EASY!  They are perfectly flat and lovely!




The rest of the skirt remains unchanged in how the pattern is constructed.




I had the great JOY of using luxury linen to make this skirt. The brand is Vittoria from Salerno, Italy and the quality is out of this world!



Honestly, if I had to choose only one fabric to make my entire wardrobe, it would be this one for sure!



This skirt was constructed on my Janome serger, Bernina 440QE and I used Aurifil 40wt 3ply thread.



All of the photos were taken by my in-house 11-year old that is becoming quite the photographer.

I hope you will give the Ginger Skirt hack a go and let me know how it works out for you!

Please feel free to share and pin this pattern hack! Sharing is caring  💓

I hope this will encouage you to BE ADVENTUROUS in your sewing! My nearest and dearest Jack the Seamripper is my guarantee that things can be made right time and time again!

Also, if you would like to collaborate on something, give me a shout at kim@gogokim.com!  My calendar is filling up fast!
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