Just in time for cool autumn schooldays, Ros from SewDelicious has made a tutorial for a kicky retro-inspired pleated skirt. Her skirt is sewn in navy denim and polka-dots, and adorned with bright red buttons, but it would be delightful in just about anything…perhaps a check or a plaid. This skirt is perfect for shuffling merrily through piles of dried leaves and sipping apple cider. Her directions makes a child’s size 3, however it would be très simple to size up or down!

Britex has a fantabulous selection of woolens and tartans that would be superb made up into this simple pleated a-line skirt. This free (open-source) skirt pattern is brought to us by the creative folks at BurdaStyle, and the stylish piped version pictured is sewn by the talented Aimee. I love the yoke, and since only the front is pleated it uses a minimal amount of fabric, allowing one to splurge and make it in a couple of colors. How about one in Campbell and one in Douglas Grey?
“Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone,
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on,
But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try,
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high,
To Sir, with Love”
(By R. Granier, M. London, D. Black)

We love free patterns! The ever-fashionable BurdaStyle has scads of open source patterns on their website. We were particularly taken with this 6-buttoned straight skirt. It only takes 1 3/8 yards of fabric, 1/2 yard of lining…and six snazzy buttons!