What better way to wear a roller skate skirt than to take it for a spin on your own set!
I started roller derby this year and love it. I’d wear my skates to bed if my Japanese apartment didn’t require I remove all footwear at the door. I’ve caught myself hip-checking strangers on the subway and my gear bag now contributes most of the bad smells in our house.
So when I saw Melody Miller’s Ruby Star Sparkle Roller Skates Ring A Ling, I wanted it immediately. Sewing + roller skates = mind blown.
The fabric is a mid-weight cotton-linen blend, perfect for a summer play skirt. And I’ve hardly worn anything else all summer. If you’ve met me for lunch or a play date in the past 2 months, odds are I was wearing this skirt. After my roller skates, it’s my new best friend.
Maybe my photographer is jealous, because I was scolded for moving around too much during this photo shoot. But it couldn’t be helped. I was wearing my two besties and they got along splendidly.
The pattern for this skirt is Tilly’s Miette wrap skirt. Two friends and I decided to make this together as a mini sewalong, because we all wanted a project to do together and I couldn’t be bothered to read something for a book group. We all live in different parts of the world, so we posted our sewing updates and questions on a secret Facebook group. I think our sewalong experiment worked pretty well, and I’m not sure about them but I’d do it again. Especially if it means I can avoid another book group.
I did have one big issue with this project. I was so mesmerized by the metallic details and roller skates with pom poms that I didn’t notice the print had diagonal stripes. Which meant that I should have cut my skirt on the bias, but didn’t. Oops.
Because the print is quite busy, I decided to just make it busier by adding the pockets.
I actually like the way it turned out. Pockets in skirts are a wonderful thing anyways, so it was sort of a win-win. A demonstration shot:
I’m ignoring the fact that on a recent episode of Project Runway Michael Kors called these “pleasure pockets.” Eew, gross, you orange old man!
A final action show. Peek!
That wraps up my trio of summer play skirts! It felt great to make a whole season’s worth of wearable, durable clothing, so now I’m looking to autumn. What are you making, friends?
Saké Puppets 
That skirt is super rad. I like your idea of a mini sew along with faraway friends too. I want to try that!
It was super fun! I’m looking forward to when we can all get together wearing our skirts. ::)
That is a fabulous skirt! And you made me laugh out loud with the (accurate but hilarious) description of Michael Kors.
Haha! When he said pleasure pockets, I almost died. 🙂
Wow, I just spent quite a bit of time looking at that etsy shop. Fab. But not as fab as your skater girl skirt! x
That is my friend’s shop, isn’t it great?! It’s a little dangerous, because it means I get next day shipping on any fabric that I want. ♥
What a great idea – to go roller skating wearing skates on your feet and around your hips! *^v^*~~~ I love the idea of wearing a skirt during sport activities, it’s a girly attitude!
I’ve been working on a wool mix fabric dress this week since it’s getting really cold and wet over here (but I also bought some cotton for dresses, so I didn’t give up on warm weather yet! ^^*~~).
Skirts and roller skating are fun until you fall! 🙂
ohhh….that fabric…..
This. Is. So. Dang. Epic.
I think all ladies on wheels need to rocking something so fierce!
Haha! Thanks Amanda!
What a BAMF! I would not have guessed from our meeting the other day that you’ve done Roller Derby. I love to roller skate, have you found anywhere good to go in NYC? And the skirt is all sorts of awesome, by the way.
Thanks Lisette! Derby is part of the secret double life I lead. 😉 I sometimes go to a great pop-up style roller disco in Bed-Stuy on Wednesday nights called Crazy Legs. If you are ever interested, let’s go! There are more outdoor events happening now that the weather is nice, so I’ll keep you posted.