When I bought this great camping print several weeks ago, I had no idea of what I was going to do with it. A little bit of a novelty print goes a long way on anyone over the age of eight, so I decided to cut the cuteness factor by mixing it with a Black Watch plaid. The result is what I’m calling the picnic skirt, because even though it’s a camping themed fabric, the skirt is just perfect for picnics off the Blue Ridge Parkway, sitting at a scenic overlook with lunch spread across a cheery tablecloth.
Can you tell I’m ready for summer?
The pattern (which I forgot to photograph and will add later) is a Simplicity from the 1970s. It was super easy and super fast – my kind of sewing project.
I’ve had these leather buttons for a very long time, and I love the way they look with the print. Adds to the rugged factor, don’t you know! Anyway, because the buttons are leather and really not washable, I did not sew them on. I used safety pins to fasten them to the skirt.
And because it is always such a treat to find an article of clothing with a printed selvage full of information, I left this one on the front opening.
ADDITION:
As promised, here is the shot of the pattern envelope. I bought this pattern several years ago because I wanted the raglan sleeve tee shirt. I had no thoughts of ever making the scooter skirt.
As I was fitting the pattern it occurred to me that the early to mid 1970s waistlines were as varies as the hemlines were. I can remember wearing everything from low-slung hip-huggers to high rise waistlines. This pattern hits exactly at the natural waist. I’ve read that women under the age of 30 or so complain about higher waisted skirts and pants, saying that they feel constraining. I always dismissed that, as I grew up wearing hip-huggers and I never had that problem. But the difference is that we were not locked into one waistline the way fashion has been for the past 10 years or so. Yes, I know designers have shown higher waists, but go shopping in any mall and you will see what I mean.
The Vintage Traveler 
Came over from Sew Retro… This is a picnic skirt if I ever saw one. Down to the plaid fabric, which reminds me of picnic blankets! When I saw the camping fabric, I immediately thought that I’d have to make my dad some cushions for his VW camper from it. And I found a source in the UK. Yay! Thanks for sharing!
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Annika, you are most welcome. I love those old VW campers, and this really is the perfect print for one.
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