My Gwen skirt, model from La Maison Victor - May/June 2021

The combination of the first rays of sunshine and the arrival of the new issue of Maison Victor inspired me to sew a little skirt for spring/summer.

Also, after constantly looking at the pretty poplins in the shop, I couldn’t resist dipping into the stock!

Here is my two-tone version of the Gwen skirt and my impressions of this model.

The model in a few words

The Gwen skirt is a short wrap skirt. It reaches mid-thigh. It has a high waist and pretty loops to slip a belt through. This combination highlights the waist. It has a light ruffle that gives it a little summery look.

Where to find the pattern?

The pattern is available in the May/June issue of Maison Victor. You can find it in bookstores or on the brand's website for 9.95 euros (for 14 patterns included in the magazine).

Be careful, like all Maison Victor patterns, seam allowances will need to be added.

Who is the pattern for?

The model is to be sewn in a woven fabric like a light cotton, a poplin, a satin cotton,... It is a material accessible even to beginners.

The pattern is rated level 2 out of 4 by the magazine. I think it is accessible for a resourceful beginner and certainly for the intermediate level.

Regarding sizes, the pattern is available from size 30 to 48, so from 66cm to 94.5cm waist circumference. I find it runs quite large; I sewed a size 34 and I am very comfortable in it.

In the seamstress's basket

To sew the Gwen skirt, you will need:

woven fabric like poplin, satin cotton, ... or two fabrics if you want to contrast the ruffle. Maison Victor recommends 1.35m to 1.75m depending on your size.
matching thread
some fusible interfacing (for the facings)
some bias tape (if you want to finish the facing with a bias binding)
your sewing machine and basic supplies, and possibly a serger

Sewing steps and points to watch

The technical points of this pattern are:

sewing the back darts
the small rolled hem of the ruffle
sewing the ruffle to the skirt in a curve (you need to evenly distribute the volume and follow the markings)
assembling the facing (flat-felled seam)
the creation of the belt loops and their placement
the placement of the snap buttons which you can replace with buttons or hooks.

I recommend doing the overlock stitches with a serger for a cleaner finish inside the skirt.

For the facing, I chose to finish it with bias tape. I selected a navy blue bias tape available in the haberdashery to match the patterns of my floral poplin.

For the ruffle, I chose to make a rolled hem with the serger. It makes it lighter than a gathered or hemmed edge.