Another Skort With Minerva Fabric

Indeed I made another skort with Minerva fabric that was gifted to me by them. I’m a Minerva brand ambassador, so when I saw this fabric, I knew I wanted it, and I knew what I would make with it. So here are the details about this project.

The Pattern

Sadly, this pattern is OOP (out-of-print) and may be hard to find. I really hope Simplicity brings it back, because it’s so easy and quick to make. And there isn’t another new pattern that’s similar to this at all. Skorts have been in the stores for the past couple of summers, so they have regained popularity. In any case, this is the pattern I used, but with alterations.

Previously, I had given the skirt an A-line look. I’ve also added about 3 inches to the length of the skirt portion as well as adding inseam pockets. Much to my surprise, the shorts fit perfectly, so there was no need to change anything with those.

The Fabric

The name of this fabric is called “Minerva Exclusive Beauty Box Glossy Activewear Lycra Stretch Knit Fabric”.

This is a stretchy knit athletic wear fabric. It wicks away moisture so it’s great for things like leotards, leggings and all kinds of sportswear. According to the Minerva website, this can also be used for swimwear.

The only “issue” with the fabric for me was making sure to cut out the skort with all the pattern pieces facing the same direction. So, that was really no issue at all, just something to be aware of.

My Skort

this is so comfortable and easy to wear. I like these skorts because they are a great thing to put on when you want to look to put together, but you want to be really comfortable. The wide waistband on the pattern also adds to the comfort of the garment.

For the construction of this garment, I used my serger for almost everything but the hem. Using the 4-thread overlock ensures that the seams will stretch when you want them to, but not pop. That would be a disaster! Otherwise, this is a quick and easy project to make. Although this pattern isn’t available, here is a free pattern from Mood Fabrics that is very similar and seems easy to make.

So tell me, would you make and wear a skort? I hope you do because it’s such a fun thing to have in your wardrobe.

Latest Minerva Project – Sewing Faux Leather

My latest Minerva project – sewing faux leather was challenging but fun to work on. There’s a lot to keep in mind when using this fabric, so that’s some of what I want to touch on in this post. I was gifted the Minerva faux leather as a Minerva brand ambassador.

Here is the post I wrote for the Minerva website.

*This post does contain affiliate links.

The Fabric

The name of this fabric is Minerva Core Range Soft Supple Stretch Faux Leather. You can check it out here. It really is soft and supple and there is enough stretch to make your garments very comfortable.

Minerva faux leather in Cornflower blue

This is a fabric I didn’t prewash like I do for every other one. Shrinkage of faux leather shouldn’t be an issue. Machine washing in cold water, then hanging to dry should work well to care for the garment.

The Pattern

BurdaStyle magazine 03/2019 #107

Above is a picture of the pattern I used for the jacket. It’s a biker jacket from 2019. I find that BurdaStyle magazine patterns are trendy but often timeless. That’s a good thing, because it can be quite an undertaking to trace the patterns from the pattern sheets in order to sew them up! This faux leather jacket is actually the second time I’ve used this pattern. Here is the post I wrote back in 2019.

Sewing Faux Leather

For the actual construction of the garment, I used a #12 jersey needle. Although some say to use a jean needle, I felt that this would be too large a hole in the fabric. The jersey needle worked out great! Sewing this is not like going through denim. The stitch length I used most often is 3.0, then topstitching was done at 3.5-4.0 stitch length.

I used a 1/2″ seam allowance which gave me more room and was what I needed (even though I allowed for 5/8″ seam allowance in my pattern). I added a FBA (full bust adjustment) in the muslin I had made for the previous jacket. I’m glad I saved that, which made making this latest Minerva project sewing faux leather much easier.

Clips are great for holding the fabric pieces together. Not putting too many pin holes in the garment is important.

I made the lining from two remnant pieces I had on hand. Having something fun inside a coat or jacket can really brighten your day.

Overall

Sewing faux leather is easy. You just have to keep a few things in mind. The only downside is that you won’t get a nice, crisp pressed garment. But you certainly get get an awesome garment!

Silver Rib Knit For The Win!

For this particular Minerva project, I chose a gorgeous silver rib knit for the win! It is beautiful to look at, easy to sew, and can be the basis of some show stopping outfits. So, let’s get into the details.

*This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a small commission if you shop through those links and there’s no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

The Fabric

The fabric is called Lurex Rib Textured Stretch Knit. As a Minerva brand ambassador, I was gifted this fabric by them. I requested 3 meters (they are in the UK, so I order in meters, even though I think in yards). FYI: 3 meters is roughly a little more than 3.25 yards.

As you can see in the photo above, this material is like a rib knit, but with the silver threads. It does not have a high amount of stretch so it’s more of a stable knit fabric. The under side is smooth, so you don’t get the scratchiness on the wrong side.

Sewing this was easy. For the top I used a 4-thread overlock stitch. The skirt was sewn on a regular sewing machine using a stretch needle.

The Project

My first make with this was the top. As soon as I received it, I knew a cowl neck-type top would be in order. So I used my go-to pattern (TNT) and made the Ruched T. It’s an Angela Wolf pattern that has different collar and sleeve options. This is the “high” collar. Quick and easy to make on the serger it took no time at all for me to complete this project.

The only change I made to this from previous times is that I made the top 1″ shorter (it has a 1″ hem). I think this one turned out to be the perfect length!

Bonus Project

After finishing the top, I had a little more than a yard left. So I decided I wanted to make an additional garment. I chose the Kate skirt. It’s another pattern I’m familiar with and also designed by Angela Wolf.

While the pattern is designed for woven fabrics, I have used a ponte knit before for this. There is a zipper in the side seam which I kept in this one as well. I used a 5/8″ seam allowance for installing the invisible zipper. On the opposite side seam, I did increase that to 1-1/2″. That was what I needed to get a snug but comfortable fit with this particular fabric.

I lined the skirt with tricot knit that I’ve had for years.