Skirtcraft - New Photos and Survey

[Uncle Al]

OK - I have to throw my $.02 into the ring
Side pockets are OK but for security measures,
they need to have a flap OVER the pocket.
If it is easy for the wearer to get into the
pocket, it will be easier for a thief to get into
the pocket.

A flap over a zipper will let the wearer know
if SOMEONE ELSE is trying to "pick-your-pocket"
because you could feel the tugging on the zipper.

Safety and Security always comes to mind.

Uncle Al

[Milfmog]

I went with zippers over buttons or snaps due to better security, but I think velcro could be great here too. What do you think would work better: velcro just inside the opening of the pocket, or a flap that velcro'd down to the outside? I think the former might look a bit better and be easier to open (just stab your hand through it!). But I have noticed that velcro can wear out and lose effectiveness, too.

I have a Mock Cargo Sarong from Jdez. The pocket on that is a patch pocket with a flap over the pocket and a gap behind it effectively forming a second, open pocket. An arrangement like this (but with velcro on the flap) would provide both a secure pocket and an open one for easy access items; the best of all worlds.

I would not choose velcro inside the pocket as it is harder to replace if it wears and would scratch my hand every time I put my hand in my pocket. It's not a major detail and I have a couple of skirts (and trousers) with zipped cargo pockets though they all use lighter zips than pictured.

Have fun,


Ian.

[jimskirts]

I like your design
My only thing has to do with the way most skirts
seem to have a little bit of a bell shape (flare)
at the bottom. Would small half length pleats
on the sides get rid of that and give better stride?

Good job all around and good luck

[skirts4me]

Hello everyone. Yes, I'm still around.

I had problems getting any of the pics of the knee-length skirt for this article, but eventually they appeared.

Design looks good, but I like a number of others on here, would prefer a vertical zip. I have worn a long skirt, but prefer knee-length.

I'm preparing for a hot summer

[finrod]

Hi,

The development of this product is in progress, and there's a design change I'm wondering if people would be willing to give feedback on. I posted this on our Facebook page too, by the way.

On the left is the existing design shown from the side. There is an upper slash pocket and a lower patch pocket. A stitched line marks the bottom of the lower pocket.

On the right is an alternative. The upper and lower pockets are unchanged in position, shape, and size. But rather than being a patch, the lower pocket is integrated into a side panel that runs the full height of the garment. The lower pocket is the same height is before, but its bottom edge is concealed.

Please ignore if you can the fact that the two samples have different colors, fabric weights, and fabric types as these factors are independent of this particular design question we're looking to resolve. And please also ignore the missing belt loops in the images on the right; I was just in a rush to put this comparison out and haven't finished sewing the garment yet. The final product will have belt loops for certain!

I'll hold off for a few days on posting what I see as the pros and cons of the two, since I'd rather not influence people's reactions.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[crfriend]

Of the two, I think "Option B" looks more polished than "Option A" which is pretty much a brute-force effort. I prefer B, but that's because I'm not really a fan of the plain functional brute-force methodology and like elegance in things. (I even try to achieve it in programming.) I suspect most guys will be fine with "A", especially if there's a price-difference involved in achieving "B".

It also looks like "B" is slightly larger in the fore/aft alignment than "A" although this may be an optical illusion due to the missing lower bound of the pocket.

[barefoot_kevin]

I would be more likely to buy "B". It just looks better than " A".

[Kilted_John]

B.

There's no reason why it needs to look like a Utilikilt.

-J

[Jim]

B is missing the belt loops. Is that part of the design change also? (I like my belt loops.)

[crfriend]

B is missing the belt loops. Is that part of the design change also? (I like my belt loops.)

Finrod explicitly called this out:

And please also ignore the missing belt loops in the images on the right; I was just in a rush to put this comparison out and haven't finished sewing the garment yet. The final product will have belt loops for certain!

I rather suspect the belt-loops will remain in the finished product.

[janrok]

I prefer the A type pocket.
If the slash pockets are deep enough I don't see the need for side pockets.
My Sportkilts and jeans skirt have deep slant pockets and and that is good enough for me. I never carry bulky loads.

Jan.

[BBB]

That looks very good indeed.

[Milfmog]

I'd go with "B". It's far neater and suffers from no loss of utility. I reckon the slash pocket looks tidier in B too.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Big and Bashful]

I preferred A, but that maybe because I like the contrasting colour of the stitching, there really isn't much to choose between them.

[finrod]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm still trying to decide on this. Here are my thoughts (also posted on Facebook):

I personally much prefer how B integrates the lower pocket into the surrounding panels. It just looks more natural than the patch pocket.

However, a lot of how a skirt looks is in how it drapes, and a skirt of heavy fabric has some tendency to bend around vertical seams as it hangs. So B, with the two vertical seams here, has a little of that going on and it can create a sort of boxy effect. I'm not sure yet how much of an issue it would be in the long run though - after washings, and if it were stored so that it wasn't folded on these lives. With A, there is one vertical seam on the side, but the patch pocket can be attached in such a way that it redistributes the tension to the edges. It ends up balancing out and having an even drape.

The way the side panel of B interrupts the fabric going around the hips also somehow ends up making it look a little bit more masculine/kilt-y and less androgynous in my opinion, which could be a good or a bad thing.