Fabric for a pencil skirt. Which one to choose?
If you have decided to sew clothes, start with the simplest items. For me, sewing began with a pencil skirt. I chose it because of its versatility. I didn't want to sit and read about which fabric to take or how to sew it best; I just wanted to sit down and do it. So I just took what I had at home and started sewing. When it all worked out and the skirt fit just right, I realized there were no particular difficulties, which meant I could choose the fabric I would actually wear.
## Why a pencil skirt? Thanks to its straight cut, you can use absolutely any fabric. The final look will vary depending on what you choose:
- For a strict office look, use suiting fabric, gabardine, or crepe.
- For a sportier style, denim or corduroy will work well.
- For an evening style, georgette (and its varieties) or lace fabrics are suitable.
- For comfortable everyday wear, it is better to take jersey, cotton, or linen.
What should you avoid for your first pencil skirt?
Most importantly, for starters, do not buy complex fabrics such as velvet, velour, silk, or satin. Suede, leather, and fur are the most difficult of all, and working with them, especially for sewing clothes, requires a lot of practice. Under no circumstances should you buy fabric with a pattern (especially if it repeats). Your first project will be guaranteed to fail because sewing it so that the pattern matches is very difficult.
## How to choose? For your first projects, give preference to fabrics that:
- Are easy to handle;
- Do not stretch and do not fray;
- Are not expensive.
The following options perfectly meet these criteria:
- Crepe;
- Suiting fabric;
- Gabardine;
- Light or medium-weight denim.
I started with suiting fabric; it is the easiest to work with. But other solid-colored fabrics will work too.
