So I was sucked into some more of the Rome Collection from Closet Case Patterns – this time in the form of view C of the Fiore Skirt. Ahhh, the Rome Collection. When it was first released, I swore to myself that I did not need to sew any of it. Now, I’ve made two out of three of its garments (my Pietra Pants are here)!!!

No self control whatsoever.

So, back to the Fiore Skirt.

Ahhh, view C, you had me with those patch pockets.

It’s so nice to see patch pockets that look as though they are actually designed with grown-ups in mind. And that don’t look like they were an after thought.

I’ve actually been searching for the “perfect” skirt pattern for a while now. For a simple, everyday, stylish, button front skirt. I’d actually been waiting for the release of the Estuary Skirt by Sew Liberated, but then the Fiore Skirt was released and those curved patch pockets were irresistible.

Last year, I did a bit of a Skirt Series, rounding up some skirt patterns out there (check out, here, here, here and here for those posts). One of the skirts I sewed at that time, the Deer and Doe Azara Skirt is quite similar in shape to this idea of a high-waisted button-front skirt, but I find that the Azara skirt has insufficient body for what I am really looking for at the moment. So, the search for the perfect skirt continues.

It’s funny that it’s the skirt – the simplest of all garments to sew – is the one that I find most difficult to find something that truly satisfies me!

The Fiore Skirt is an A-line skirt designed to have just the right amount of flare and comes with three variations, from a simple zippered skirt to a unique asymmetrical wrap skirt.

But me, I only had eyes for view C. And can you blame me?

Quick paper saving tip here! The three views of the pattern come with completely different sets of instructions. There is no jumping from everyone do this to view A do this and view C do this. This makes them very easy to follow but it means that you need to print only some of the pages of the instructions!

My First Fiore Skirt

This Fiore Skirt is halfway between size 14-16 at the waist and size 14 at the hips. It’s made in the Essex Linen Mix Chambray from Ray Stitch.

This pattern gave me a good reminder of why you should always take a look at both the body measurement and finished measurement charts when selecting your size.

My waist measurement (while standing) was only 1cm above the waist body measurement for size 14, so, ordinarily, I would just go with that size, since it’s so close.

But when I checked against the finished garments measurement, I noticed that the skirt has only 2cm of ease. Which makes sense, no-one wants a skirt that’s too big. But the small amount of ease made me wonder whether I would really have enough ease to handle the “sitting down spread” if I made a straight size 14. So I decided to cut my “size 15”, just to be on the safe side.

P.S. On the topic of the sitting down spread, have you seen Cashmerette’s rather compelling argument as to why we should all actually be taking out measurements sitting down?

In the end, I’m very happy size wise. It does gape a tiny bit at the back, but that is almost inevitable with a straight waistband on my body. If I’m feeling adventurous at some point, I may try to curve out the waistband a bit and see where that gets me. Or you can read more about my even simpler solution to getting the perfect fitting skirt below!!!

The Fiore Skirt is designed to be a beginner sewing pattern, so it is a nice quick and easy sew.

I sewed it pretty much as set out. I preferred to top stitch the waistband down, rather than stitch in the ditch, as I thought it complimented the top-stitching on the patch pockets and the button band nicely.

Not that you can see that in these photos!

Adding lining to the Fiore Skirt

I chose to add a lining to my Fiore Skirt.

I try to make as many garments as possible wearable in multiple seasons. Adding a high-quality lining (I used this satin-feel viscose lining from The Fabric Store), means that I will be able to wear it with tights without the cotton/linen sticking, thus giving this Fiore Skirt is a bigger wardrobe life than just a “summer skirt”.

It’s very easy to add lining to view C of the Fiore Skirt.

In terms of additional pieces, you only need to cut out the skirt pieces in lining. For the back lining piece, I cut it on the fold (removing the seam allowance), so there was one less seam to sew.

Hey, can anyone enlighten me as to why the back skirt piece for the Fiore Skirt isn’t drafted to be cut on the fold but is two pieces. Is it just to ensure that the skirt can fit on narrower fabric lengths? Or is there a fit reason that this might be done?

In order to attach my lining, I very slightly changed the construction order used in the Fiore Skirt instructions. In particular, I assembled my back and front pieces of my skirt before making the button band.

I then assembled the back and front of the lining.

I then basted my lining and shell together at the waist. This was just to make it easier to manage. Cuz, man this viscose was slippery!

I then cut the lining down to size a little by cutting a line halfway down the button band and cutting of a scant 6mm of the lining along the hem.

I then sewed the button bands, tucking the lining into the button band nice and securely.

The lining and shell can then be treated as one piece as you attach the waistband.

I then tucked the lining in a the hem too, making it a totally clean finish in the inside.

Hmmm, nothing makes me happier than a clean finish that doesn’t require anything complicated!

Arrow Mountain Buttons

Can well all pause for a brief moment to honour these lovely arrow head buttons from Arrow Mountain Button.

I feel that these really make this Fiore Skirt.

I was a bit uncertain as to what size buttonhole to make for such an irregularly shaped button. I tried just popping the button into my buttonhole foot and making a buttonhole as though it is just a regular round button. On my tests runs, the buttons fitted through fine, so I just went with that.

In the end, though, it is actually a real squeeze to get my diamond-shaped buttons through these holes. Perhaps because my actual button band has more layers than my practice one, making it less flexible? I fully interfaced my practice scraps too, so I’m not sure what’s going on with this. Maybe it’s the use of anti-fray on the final version but not the test runs??

While I’m sure it will loosen up eventually, getting these odd-shaped buttons through this size of button hole is causing some sore fingers. I’ve resorted to the fact that with some wriggling and removing the skirt over my head I can get in and out while undoing only the waistband button, so that’s the plan of attack for now!

Moral of the story, if you are using an oddly shaped button, perhaps consider adding an extra millimetre or two of wriggle room!

Fiore Skirt: The Verdict

I’m happy with this skirt, I think it is very wearable. But I’m still a little uncertain as to whether the Fiore Skirt fits all the boxes in my head for my perfect skirt.

I guess, overall, while I really like the front view of this version of the Fiore Skirt, I worry that the back view is perhaps a little prim and proper. I would like something that has more of a stylishly casual vibe and this back just isn’t quite doing it for me.

And so… Fiore Skirt No. 2

And so, here’s my attempt at making the Fiore Skirt just a little more ‘me’!

This lovely fabric is a Sevenberry Japanese Cotton from Ray Stitch. Armed with the lessons of my first Fiore Skirt, I made a few simple modifications.

I lengthened the skirt by 15 cm and widened the waist band by about half an inch. I also went for ultimate skirt comfort by adding in an Pietra Pants-inspired elastic back!!

You see, I often have this thing with skirts, which, in theory, are pretty easy to fit, but I have a habit of chickening out at the last minute and leaving a little too much ease – the result being that I have very few skirts that actually sit on my body at the position I want them.

An elastic back seemed like the perfect solution not to only to this problem, but also to the fact that I really wanted the back of the skirt to have a slightly more casual vibe. To achieve the elastic back look without it looking too gathered, I added a couple of inches of extra width across the back of skirt which I then gathered in using the elastic. I think that you barely even see that it’s gathered in the end, so I could easily have added quite a bit more if I wanted to “casual it down” even more at the back.

But I do prefer the back view of this one, compared to my first Fiore Skirt.

In terms of technique, I used this tutorial from Helen’s Closet as a guide to help me to add in the elastic back, although I then top-stitched down as is recommended in Closet Case’s Pietra Pants.

Oh and just in case you’re wondering, this Fiore Skirt is also fully lined, in the same way as set out above.

Fiore Skirt for winter

I definitely don’t think that the Fiore Skirt is an “only for summer” pattern. I made a few deliberate choices with this on to make it more wearable with layers into winter.

In addition to adding the lining, it’s quite a heavy weight cotton and the colour is designed to go with, well, pretty much every sweater in my closet.

So summer may be over, but the Fiore Skirt is sticking around…

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.