Our factory completed their first prototype of the Aqueous Skirt in late December.

FABRIC

After wear and wash testing, we’re switching the outer layer’s fabric. A fluid drape (flowiness) is an essential goal of this product, and it’s the source of its name. The 6.5 oz cotton twill wasn’t quite doing the trick.

We’re loving the 6 oz, 55% linen / 45% rayon plainweave we’ve replaced it with, though. The linen gives it a textured, natural “hand” (feel). The rayon counteracts the linen’s inherent wrinkliness and brings excellent drape.

The inner layer of the skirt is unchanged: a 12 oz rayon/nylon/spandex knit which is extraordinarily flowy, smooth, and heavy.

SEAMS

In making the prototype, the factory identified that the yield could be quite poor – meaning that a lot of fabric would be wasted. The skirt’s main body consists of just two pieces of fabric that wind around one another. Those two pieces, when cut out flat from a bolt of fabric, are elongated, curving shapes that can’t be arranged very efficiently for cutting.

So we’ve added one short, curved seam in both the front and the back (which are nearly identical). It follows the natural curving style of the design, and it divides each large piece into two smaller ones for less fabric waste.

PHOTO

This photo illustrates the new seam line and the new fabric.

** The pictured item is not really a skirt, though – it’s just a quick, crude, partial sew-up of the new pattern that I did to test the changes. So please pay no attention to the thread color, sloppy hem stitching, lack of pockets/waistband/belt loops, etc. :-)

NEXT STEPS

The factory has received the new fabric and will be updating the pattern file and making a second-round sample skirt. We expect no further changes.

Next they’ll grade the pattern into sizes. We’re planning on waist sizes 28-29 through 44-45 inches (Unaligned Skirt is 30-31 through 44-45).

Then they’ll make a size set which we can test and use for the Kickstarter photo shoot!

FEEDBACK

Your feedback is welcome, either here in the comments or via email: joe@skirtcraft.com