Today, the skirt series continues here on the blog, with the Cascade Skirt by Megan Nielsen.

I have admired this skirt for years. I think it was released in 2013. So, let’s face it, in indie pattern terms, that makes this a definite ‘oldie but a goodie’.

The printed pattern (thanks Patternsy) has sat in my ‘to sew’ pile for about a year, waiting for the perfect fabric to come along.

Then, this rust-coloured lovely medium tencel twill from Meter Meter came into my life. It’s part of their exclusive sustainable collection ‘meet MILK’ and comes in 12 gorgeous colours! The collection also includes a range of other weights and prints. I have to say that I only recently discovered Meter Meter after a recommendation from the lovely @sewingjessica on instagram and I’m fearful it will end up a major rabbit hole for me…

Their fabrics are amazing!

When the fabric talks…

This skirt actually came about a bit by accident.

Thanks to the fabric.

Although the Cascade Skirt had long been at the back of my sewing mind, it wasn’t officially ‘in the queue’. I actually bought this fabric with an Ulysses Trench by Victory Patterns in mind. It’s very similar to the fabric that the Ulysses uses for its cover shot.

But, when this tencel twill arrived, while undeniably lovely, I had some doubts about it as the Ulysses trench. Then I found another fabric for the trench which stole my heart.

Leaving me with 4 metres of this beautiful tencel twill staring at me with big rust-coloured eyes saying ‘sew me next please’.

So, since the Cascade Skirt is a rather fabric hungry pattern, I decided that this would be a perfect combination.

And, if I may say so myself, I wasn’t wrong on this one!

My Cascade Skirt

My Cascade Skirt is a size large. In the end, the size came up slightly too big on me. I addressed this by having a bit of extra overlap at the waist when it wraps around. Which is PLUS ONE for the security of wearing a wrap skirt. But MINUS ONE because it means that the centre front isn’t exactly where it should be. But I think it’s not noticeable enough that I’ll worry about it.

That’s the joy of cascades. They’re all about the ebb and flow.

After having read a number of reviews, some people suggested that the Cascade Skirt was quite short in the front. Out of concern for this, I lengthened it at the front centre point by about an inch, before grading back to the original skirt line.

I also read online that many people ended up shortening the back of their skirt. Word of warning, the back of the skirt is loooooong. On my body at least, the back is basically a maxi skirt. But I absolutely adore this super dramatic high-low contrast and I solemnly resolve to fully embrace the drama it entails!

So there was no shortening at the back for me…

Double Trouble

One of Megan Nielsen’s suggestions in the instruction book for the Cascade Skirt is to make a second shorter layer and wear, basically, two layers of Cascade Skirt. I loved the way this looked in the line drawing.

Turns out, I had just enough fabric to squeeze out a second layer for the front piece only, so I decided to try out a dual layer front only.

I’m also hoping that two layers at the front might prevent the risk of ‘fly-open’ inherent to any wrap skirt.

In case you are interested in the double layer, I simply cut a second pair of the skirt front 2-3 inches shorter than the first one.  I then started the whole project by hemming that second piece. Then, when it came time to attach skirt at the side seams, I simply  treated my two front pieces as though they were a single piece for the rest of the project.

Easy Peasey.

For a clean finish, I sewed my version of the Cascade Skirt without the waist ties. I also did the same thing I have done on my Megan Nielsen  Flint Pants and placed the buttonholes on the inside part of the waistband, so as to have an entirely invisible clean finish from the outside.

High Impact Beginner Skirt Sewing

This pattern is extremely easy to sew. It would make a great pattern for a beginner sewist.

Let’s face it, wrap skirts are a great first pattern for any aspiring sewist. My first sewing project was a wrap skirt: the Miette by Tilly and the Buttons. Anything that avoids buttons and zippers can be great as a first project. The wrap tie version of the Cascade Skirt, definitely fits the ‘great beginner sewing pattern’ bill.

If you think about it, it’s kind of perfect. The Cascade Skirt gives you the high impact WOW factor that new sewists desire, but it is entirely achievable. The only step which is time consuming is sewing the hem. But, while patience requiring, it’s not difficult ! Also, the insides of the skirt are finished with French seams, since they can be  visible, this is also a great technique to learn as a beginner.

I would have been so ridiculously thrilled if the Cascade Skirt had been one of my first ever sewing projects – can you just imagine!!

Plus, even if you’re not a beginner, I highly recommend the Cascade Skirt for anyone who just wants to swirl about feeling like a whirling dervish…

Thoughts on Tencel Twill

I’ve now sewn a few different projects in tencel twill: like my Orsola Dress and my Vogue 9253. It is undoubtedly a lovely fabric and the way it feels and looks when it is freshly ironed is unparalleled. Luscious. Weighty, yet soft, And oh so silky smooth…

And I fully appreciate the fact that it is far more sustainable than other drapey fabric options. So I am fully on board the tencel-as-a-substitute-for-rayon train, as a way of avoiding the detrimental environmental impact of the latter.

But…

It wrinkles and creases sooooo much! In a way that the rayons and viscose that I tend to substitute it for simply do not.

This is why I ultimately decided not to make my Ulysses Trench with this fabric. I really didn’t want a coat I would have to iron.

Because, no. Just No.

And I find that wrinkling is something that bothers me in tencel in a way it doesn’t in other fabrics. Linen, for example, I will happily embrace, wrinkles and all. I guess linen just looks to be like it is supposed to be wrinkly. But I guess the nature of tencel fabric is that I want to make light, flowing dress-type garments. And on these kind of garments, I do feel bothered by wrinkles.

What are your thoughts on tencel twill?

But, having said all that, I will definitely be using it again, but there is a need to be selective about the right project for it…

So, to round things off, this high impact Cascade Skirt is definitely a winner in my books. I also had just enough fabric leftover to squeeze out a Kabuki Tee out of the scraps. I gotta say, I do love the combination of the two of them together….

Sorry I haven’t had time to photograph this combo properly, you get a crappy bedroom mirror pic instead!

If you’ve missed my other posts all about skirts, one of my favourite Autumn sewing projects, you can find parts 1, 2 and 3 by clicking on the links!

Oh and, finally, a little P.S! If you like to get your blog hits through Bloglovin’, feel free to follow me over there: you can find me here. And you can find me on Instagram here.