Wool Pencil Skirts Pattern Recommendations

We've written this blog due to an overwhelming majority on our Instagram poll on whether or not you'd like to some pattern recommendations to be able to create your own wool skirts. This is the post that kicked it all off, we're in love with in and it's ever so classy! Fabric used: Teal & Steel Herringbone from our bespoke Heart of Huddersfield collection).

Have you ever made a pencil skirt? This classic feminine wardrobe staple which has been a fashion favourite since the 1950s can be made in a variety of stable fabrics and is suitable for all seasons depending on your fabric choices. An ideal choice for a beginner, make this wardrobe staple in a light / medium weight closely woven wool fabric (such as our Yorkshire Tweeds and any of the Herringbone wools from Fabworks' bespoke Heart of Huddersfield collection.)

Generally wool pencil skirts are lined, this will give you ease of wear and a soft smooth feel inside and thus stopping any wool fibres rubbing against your skin. The lining part of a skirt is really quite simple and it doesn’t usually have to be stitched into the zip. Lining fabrics suitable for these makes here

A wool pencil skirt will suit most body shapes and most fashion styles, and of course is made at different lengths to suit anyone.  Dress your classic pencil skirt up or down, wear it with your smartest shoes and a stylish shirt or blouse to the office, or team with your thick winter tights and classic boots and a wool jumper / roll neck top and you have a smart casual outfit that you can wear whilst out shopping or sightseeing on a city break. By creating your own skirt it is made specifically to your body shape you will soon have a garment that you will be so proud of and can return to year after year. One of the first tailor made garments I made for myself was a pencil skirt. When you are happy with the fit, you will be confident enough to make different styles and lengths (and even ones with back vent styles too).

You can easily draft a simple pencil skirt pattern for yourself, it’s basically three, slightly tapered rectangles, rounded at the hips, with darts front and back, to achieve the shape to accommodate your body.  YouTube has lots of tutorials available, however we have a handy list of alternative commercial patterns to try yourself;

• Butterick B5466: 6 easy sew skirts with options for sewn on waistband, faced waistline, fabric belt and panelled styles.

• Simplicity 8652: A basic pencil skirt with options to create more styles, this pattern has a sewn-on waistband, front and back darts, options to create a mock wrap front with side vent opening, pleated back vents (two options) mock-tab detail pockets.

• Sew Over It’s Ultimate Pencil Skirt: This pattern is a super stylish fitted, high-waisted pencil skirt with a kick-pleat at the back for ease of movement. You can shorten this skirt to above the knee and so to avoid the necessity for a back vent or pleat and just widen the hem slightly. A concealed zip is an attainable stage in the sewing process of this skirt rather than a more difficult invisible zip.

• Style Arc’s Sarah Pencil Skirt: Another classic pencil skirt suitable for most shapes. This pattern is for woven fabrics and features a facing type waistline, with simple kick pleat and moderately tapered hemline.

• Style Arc’s Agatha: A classic pencil skirt with optional feature hemline detail, which can be made in a coordinating or contrasting fabric and has the back split for ease of movement. This will look amazing made in any of the Heart of Huddersfield herringbone wools.