Finished Object - Simplicity 7995 Skirt (or, The Skirt that Almost Never Was)

You know those projects that make you think "This will be really quick/easy," but then end up taking ages and being quite tricky? Step forward Simplicity 7995.

I had wool left over from my Beignet skirt, plus some lining fabric, and had bought the pattern for £2 in a charity shop some time ago. I thought I would make view 2, a straight skirt with side zip. All very straightforward. I began the make on 20th January, and finally finished on....27th March. This was the target I set myself, so pat on the back to me for that, at least! So, what took so long?

After cutting the fabric and sewing the side seams I tried it on and it was far too big. I adjusted with pins, to find that it needed 1 inch taken off each side. Cutting done and seams re-sewn on both wool and lining - it was now too small. Argh! This has happened to me before, where I have taken in the fabric by far too much after fitting with pins. I think I need to take into account that there is more give with a pinned seam than a sewn seam. At this point, I abandoned the skirt and moved on to a new project, until I set myself a deadline to force me into finishing it, as explained in this post.

When I picked up the skirt again, I ripped out the seams and re-sewed, leaving only a small seam allowance. I couldn't be bothered doing the same with the lining, so I discarded the lining completely. I also did a lazy hem of only folding the fabric once instead of twice, so you can see the raw edge inside, instead of it being neatly turned over and hidden - "It's wool, and won't fray", I reasoned. But this was also a lazy move on my part. However I figured that my options were to take a couple of short cuts or leave the skirt languishing unfinished, which I felt could easily have happened.

Me in the finished skirt - also the debut wear for my self knitted jumper, Rosa as it's been too cold to wear since I finished it back in January

I would describe the finished article as adequate - I've actually worn it quite a few times as it's a practical skirt, but it is by no means perfect.

Looks ok from this view

Fit looks a bit dodgy here

It looks not bad from the back

Close up of wool I used (ignore the buttons, they're from the Beignet)

I am quite aware that I made a few short cuts to get it finished which I shouldn't have, but these were done in the effort to get it finished before I lost interest in it for good. I'm glad I avoided this skirt becoming a UFO (unfinished object), as it came perilously close, and have decided that it was worth the short cuts. Another self-made item added to the wardrobe!

Have you got any tips for avoiding unfinished objects?

K x