Pink Cleo Skirt

When we updated Cleo into new sizes earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to change the pattern pieces a bit to make the front and back skirt pattern pieces the same width. This simplified the layout and conserves paper not only when we have the Cleo print pattern reprinted in the new sizes, but also when someone prints out their Cleo PDF at home or at a copyshop.

Originally Cleo was a made-to-measure workshop that I offered as a class, and you’d create the front and back rectangles based on your waist measurement and they were the same width — you’d just carve out the pockets on the front piece. But then when I turned it into a PDF pattern in 2016, we decided to remove some width from the back piece because some of our testers found that the back elastic looked a bit “too bunchy.” Since then, I’ve realized that’s just what elastic waistbands will do if you use a stiffer fabric like quilting cotton (try using a lighter or more flow-y fabric), but also: if you remove a bit of width from the front, it’s fine…you really don’t need that extra width in front.

So for the new size update this year, I made the front and back the same pattern piece and worked out a new set of pattern pieces for Cleo that stays true to the original design of the pattern, but with more sizes and a slightly different waist-to-ease ratio, especially in the upper sizes.

Before we tested it, I wanted to try it out and see what it looked like, and this pink version was that test. It’s made of a pink sateen-like fabric, but it has an almost lawn-like weight which I found at a local fabric shop years ago. I really like it, especially with my brioche shawl (it’s also shown here with my grey Jade tee)! I don’t think I would have worn such a bubble-gum-pink color five years ago but I’m really embracing the pink lately; it’s fun with my hair.

I realize it’s a bit wrinkly in these photos, but that’s life; I’m choosing to spend my time doing other things than iron out all the wrinkles, y’know?

You can find the Cleo pattern in the new size range in PDF in my shop, and all of the tutorials and a sewalong (“skirtalong”) for Cleo on the Cleo page.

And share your makes online with the hashtag #cleoskirt!