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Block Paper Scissors

Create a color-blocked Sabrina Skirt, by Devon Iott.

Posted in: Tutorials & Techniques • March 31, 2016



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Block Paper Scissors is a monthly column featuring patternmaking hacks that will help you give your Seamwork patterns a custom spin — all you need is paper, a ruler, and a pencil!

This hack adds some fun color blocking to the Sabrina skirt. Use slightly variegated tones for an ombre effect, or go bold with some contrast!

Note: Be sure to make any fit adjustments before doing the pattern hack.

You'll Need:


  • Tracing paper or pattern paper

  • Pencil

  • Yard stick

  • Jersey Fabric in three different colors/prints (yardage will depend on size – measure hacked pattern pieces and get enough to cut two of each piece, plus other pattern pieces)

  • All other materials as required by pattern

How to:









Step | 01


Trace off the skirt pattern piece. Then flip the pattern piece over and align centers. Trace off second half so that you have one big skirt piece.









Step | 02


Remove the 3/8” seam allowances from the waist and the side seam edges. Also remove the 1” hem allowance from the bottom edge.










Step | 03


Consider this the front skirt. On the left side seam, measure down from the top 1/3 of the total side seam edge. On the right side seam, measure down from the top 1/2 of total side seam edge.









Step | 04


Draw a line connecting the marks.










Step | 05


On the left side seam, measure down from the top 1/2 of the total side seam edge. On the skirt hem, measure 6” out from the right side seam edge.









Step | 06


Draw a line connecting the marks.










Step | 07


Mark the grainline on all three panels. This should be parallel to what was previously the center front fold edge.









Step | 08


Cut the three pieces apart along the lines.










Step | 09


Add seam allowances to the edges – add 3/8” to side seam and newly cut edges, and 1” to hem edges.


Construction notes:











Step | 01


Cut one of each color block for the skirt front with the pattern pieces right side up. Cut one of each color block for the skirt back with the pattern pieces right side down.






Step | 02


Fuse a 3/8” strip of tricot interfacing to the diagonal edges of each color block to reinforce edges.













Step | 03


Sew the skirt front blocks and the skirt back blocks together along diagonal lines using a serger or narrow zig zag stitch.






Step | 04


Follow the pattern instructions as indicated, omitting the slit insert. Instead, sew the side seams up to large circles. Snip seam allowance to large circle, and finish edges below the snip, creating a finished slit. Press edges 3/8” to the wrong side and topstitch down.



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