Let me start by saying this pattern is awesome. It’s well drafted, and a perfect beginner knit pattern. However, it just didn’t work for my body shape. I have a full tummy and no hips to speak of, so I had to slash and spread the stomach area to add more fabric, because it sucked in very tightly under my gut (but fit well everywhere else). I tried on my muslin, cut a slash up the tight areas (tummy), and measured how much more ease I would need to make the skirt fit better. I then added that amount onto the paper pattern. Unfortunately I just don’t think it’s the most flattering of shapes on me no matter how much I love it on others. You always hear how the pencil skirt is a good investment for plus sized women, but I have yet to find one that works really well with my apple shape.
Still it was the first time I’ve seriously worked with knits, and good practice! I’m really looking forward to attempting the Moneta, which is more in my shape comfort zone.
I changed the pattern by the slash and spreading method mentioned above and got rid of the kick pleat as it caused the ponte to not lay flat. I then added the extra ease onto the pattern. I’d probably like the pattern more if I made it more of an A-line shape. If you’ve got hips, or an hourglass figure this would look amazing on you. Fun fact, my grandmother never had any hips either, and she padded them out in the 1940’s to get a better silhouette for that time period.
It took maybe thirty minutes to sew, not counting cutting, and threading my serger; which may have taken the longest amount of time. Totally an instant gratification type of pattern.
Anyone else coming to terms with the fact that certain types of clothing don’t work with their figure? What pencil skirt patterns would you recommend for apple shapes?
I don’t like skirts that suck up under my gut, either. When I saw the model wearing it, I knew that I could not. Sadly, I just don’t have the self-confidence to pull it off.
Loved your review. Very thorough and honest. Thank you! Looking forward to your future posts.
I am somewhere between an apple & an hourglass, depending on the week. My TNT pattern for straights skirts in an OOP Vogue 8873- it’s a six panel skirt that allows for great adjustments all around the body. I like it’s flexibility and I’ve used it to make a number of variations. I have found the panels the trick as many straight/pencil skirt patterns without them give me the snake swallowing an egg silhouette…
I have found that pencil skirt patterns with darts at the front, if you turn the darts to tucks ending just before the tummy, can be very flattering. Two darts each side works best, one is a little two small for my tummy and three just looks like gathers.
It especially works if the skirt ends before the knee or , like I like, a retro style coming in at the knee and ending below for wiggle look. I found knit pencil skirts never work for me though even when I use this style.
I actually do have a pattern like that, and somehow completely forgot! I’ll have to resew it. The previous skirt was sacrificed a the great alter of the washing machine. I think knit and pencil skirts just might not be the best combo for me. Maybe a heavy wool instead.
If the tucks face out it will be more flattering compared to facing in. Facing the tucks out flattens the look of the tummy. Facing the tucks in thins the look of wide hips. Courtesy of Sandra Betzina and it works.
You look very nice but if you aren’t comfortable you’ll get the twitches every time you wear the outfit and what fun is that?
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Yep! I still thought I’d share. I love seeing how patterns work on all bodies, not just the “acceptable” ones.
I’ve had really good luck with Simplicity 5259 (http://www.amazon.ca/Simplicity-Sewing-Pattern-5259-8-10-12-14/dp/B000MU3HOE) you might give that one a try!
I think it looks good on you! I might be projecting, because I have the same shape and I like me in the Mabel 🙂 but I do think it suits you, esp. with that blouse. Totally get how it might not feel right, though… I feel uncomfortable in circle skirts even though they don’t necessarily look terrible on me.
I think you look cute.
It’s great to see an apple posting!
Have you thought about adding a slim belt in the middle of the waistband? It would accent your waist and make it look like it’s a high waisted skirt…? That could be super cute.
Apples unite! I have proportionally long legs , so I refer to my body shape as a toffee apple 🙂 First up, you looke great, but I know it doesn’t always feel that way, my tip for that is don’t look down! We tend to focus on the negative and not see the whole picture of our awesomeness when we glance down at our bodies. And second, I have no particular pattern suggestion, just make sure it highlights the part of you that you love – I go for skirts that highlight my legs (not my lack of hips or *ahem* thick waist), or tops that show but don’t amplify the bosom, or sleeves that highlight my wrists. Or failing that a fabulous necklace to keep everyone distracted!
I am also an apple shape. I can only wear pencil skirts if I don’t tuck in my shirts. I am also short waisted, so I normally don’t tuck tops in anyways. You can also wear a peplum top with pencil skirts, for a more retro vibe. Very flattering for apples, it gives the essence of hips and balances out our top half. 🙂
I love this dialogue! It is so interesting. I agree that small changes have a big impact. Like skirt lengths, fabric, etc. Even though I hate ready to wear it saves me some grief (I hope) by trying on different styles to check out how flattering they are before sewing. I also share photos with my sister so I have help figuring it out. I think the outfit is smashing. We can’t see you interacting with people, laughing, animated….this is what makes you beautiful. Enjoy the process. Thank you for this wonderful community. I will be reading everything…
Sorry to hear the Mabel did not work well for you. I am an extreme pear shape and the Mabel is quite possibly the best skirt ever! Pencil skirts seem to work best for me so I have made several Mabels since the pattern came out and have a few more planned for cooler weather.
On the other hand, A-Line skirts do not work well for me. With such large hips, the A-Line shape just makes my hips look bigger and take a TON of fabric to boot. What I have noticed is that apple shaped women look great in A-Lines because it provides a more balanced silhouette and accentuates the waistline.
Glad you at least got knit fabric sewing practice and for what it’s worth, I think you look great!
I thought you look very beautiful in this dress
Thank you!
Yay for another apple! I don’t see enough of us for my liking, so I’m thrilled to read this review. I’ve made about four Mabels, and like them all, BUT some are better than others. I graded mine so the waist is about two sizes larger than the hips, and that seems to work for me. But I have to say that I NEVER tuck anything in, as I’m also very shortwaisted with a pot belly and prefer tops worn out on me. So the slim skirt often balances out the rest and shows of my slimmer hips and thighs while the stretch fabric allows it to be comfortable around my waist. I wear mine a little lower on my waist too. Looking forward to more reviews from you.
Thanks for the advice! I have worn this out, but didn’t tuck in the top. It works much better for me that way as well.
I’m glad you posted this even if it didn’t work for you as is. It’s really hard to get a waist when your hips are slim from side to side. My daughter and I have the same issue, although mine is compounded by being a petite plus.
I’m wondering if you are petite too, since the upper half of the skirt seems proportionately large for you. The waistband is above the cleft of your waist instead of the top edge. The link below is a rework of the skirt that shows how different it could be if the waistband sat lower and was more yoke like ( pardon my crude photoshop skills). One of the tricks we’ve tried for giving my daughter some hip breadth on a skirt is have a yoke that curves at the crest of the widest point of her upper hip before it flattens out ( 4 in. below the waist is her optimum placement). Having details like scoop pockets also helps. I’d also make sure there was elastic in the waistband…most likely in the back because if your hips don’t flare enough it’s kinda scary to wear a skirt that might ‘grow’ during the day and slide down.
http://cdd4ever.com/Temp/MonetaAppleEdit.jpg
I’ll check back here so if you’d prefer I remove the photo edit, no problem.
Shel
no the edit is fine! I see what you mean about the waist band balancing it out. I have kind of unusual proportions. I have petite legs with a very short inseam, but my torso is very very long. I’m 5’8″.
I’ve given this pattern a miss for exactly the same reasons. I’ve made a pencil skirt from Gertie’s book and pegged the hem. I got a few compliments on that one. I would add that I don’t wear tops tucked in…I’m not that confident at all!
I normally wouldn’t wear them tucked in with this particular skirt! But for the sake of photographing it I figured it was worth a go. Thank you!
First I have to say that I think you look fantastic in this! Great job with your altering to make it fit you. I too have a tummy and no hips so I relate. I do best with straighter skirts that flare out at the knee to balance my upper half which is large, and skim in where I am smaller at the upper leg area so I’m not one big tent. I’ve been working on making my own pattern for my body with a flounce at the knee. Great post!
Oh but I should have said that I like to cover my tummy up with a sweater or longer top, but you look tiny in this with your top tucked in.
Yes, flared skirts are definitely my favorite shape for my body as well! Having more substantial hips would make fitting a lot of shapes easier wouldn’t it?
You look absolutely gorgeous in these outfit photos, but I completely sympathize with your feelings on the Mabel. I had a very similar experience with Colette’s Ginger skirt, which was supposed to be universally flattering, but was all wrong for my figure. High-waisted A-line skirts make my hips look much larger, it turns out. These revelations are helpful in the long run, but so demoralizing after spending time on a failed pattern! I’ve had really great luck with the Bluegingerdoll Betsy skirt, as other people have mentioned, though I’m not an apple, so I’m not sure how helpful my experience is.
“Universally flattering” is one of my least favorite words. It’s right up there with “one size fits all”. I’ll have to check out the bluegingerdoll betsy skirt. I’ve heard good things about that too! Apple is definitely one of the trickier shapes to fit, and I feel one of the least talked about ones. Thank you for the help!
Hey Paige – I’m somewhere between an hourglass an apple, and I found that the straight skirt Simplicity 2343 works *really* well on me, especially if I don’t sew down the front pleats. It skims over my tummy and somehow makes everything look… smooth
oh cool! Thanks!
I completely agree with the Ginger skirt fail! You and are shaped similarly and the Ginger looked absolutely horrid on me. I tried it three separate times and never got something that I could wear. Initially I thought it was because I had to grade it up too much and made errors in my calculations but finally concluded, the design was just not good with my shape.
It was super annoying because at the time I was a sewing beginner and read that A-Lines should work on everyone. NOT 🙂
oh yes definitely certain silhouettes do not work on me. I hear ya. That would not work on me at all. Good for you for not only trying it but blogging about it. Sewing is full of failures and we have to learn from them.
I think I have twice as many failures as I do good garments. But that’s how we learn.
I think that your outfit is cute! You might consider untucking the shirt, and (this is what I did),…cutting off the waistband, and then serging 2 inch elastic around the top….fold over and then sew down the fold over vertically at the seams..It improved the look of Mabel on me.
I’ll def have to try the elastic trick. A few other people have mentioned it!
I think if you lowered the waist on this by an inch or so it would be more flattering. I have a really high natural waist and if I cut stuff to sit at that waist it’s really super hideous. Sitting just below it seems to work better. I just won a Betsy skirt, so will let you know how that works! I still think this outfit is pretty great!
Please do let me know how the Betsy turns out! I have a high waist as well. Whenever I try wear stuff below it though, I have problems with riding right back up, ha!
I think you look pretty adorable in this outfit but I do understand hesitancy about the pattern. I’ve loved it on many people but just can’t imagine putting something that tight over my belly.
As for clothing styles that don’t work…one word…peplum. I know they are supposed to be on trend and flattering but they make me look 15 months pregnant.
I have actually yet to try on or sew a peplum! It’s on my to do list, maybe I should try on in a store before I dedicate the time to it! ha
I just posted a picture in the CSC Flickr group of a Mabel skirt and a peplum top. I love my Mable skirts, but I only tuck my shirt in when layering with a cardigan for extra length. But it’s the Mabel/peplum combo that works best for me!
No matter my weight I’ve always been plagued with a tummy. I also have no hips. Top it off with a large bust and it is hard to find many flattering styles. When I was younger I would wear a short (above the knees by several inches) pencil type skirt with a matching color suit jacket and a simple shell type top. It was my favorite type of outfit! I think you look so cute. Maybe you would be more comfy with a jacket? With that top, it would look great!
On another note, I am so happy to read of others with the same shape on this site! I would truly love to see more from all of the apple shaped ladies and what they make, helpful hints, etc.
Hurrah for Apple shapes! Yes, when I weighed 120 my tummy was the same proportionally to when I weighed 240. Oh genetics! It is way more flattering with a jacket, but still not as good as something even more a-line for me at least. Maybe it would be good to even tag posts by body shape. So apple ladies could just click a tag and read reviews from other apple shapes?
Tagging posts is a FANTASTIC idea!
I LOVE the idea of tagging posts with body shape and/or fit issues.
Love the body type tag idea! I’m an apple too.
I recently tried on a skirt much like the Mable but it didn’t really have a waistband more like the elastic foldover mentioned previously. I really liked how it looked. If you do retry the Mable with that treatment please post!
Try pegging your straight skirts in at the side seams a little. Maybe about 3/4″ on each side. That might make a big difference on the overall effect. Also, a style with darts or princess seams might be better for fitting a belly or abdomen.
I’ll have to try princess seams! I’ve pegged other stuff in the past and still felt a little meh
I think you look gorgeous too! But i’m so pleased you have raised this issue because not every pattern looks good on every body. I am really curvy through the waist but have a tummy too, so I would cover up the waist with a top to hide my protruding tum. I have a feeling that I will want to show off my curves, tummy and all, with inspiration from The Collective! I spent hours on a pussy bow blouse only to find my vast expanse of bosom made me feel extremely frumpy. Maybe if I make a slinky skirt to go with it my tummy might balance my bust. Oh – and heels plus red lippy.
I love the thought of hip padding to enhance a silhouette! Isn’t it awesome that we curvy ladies are so diverse in shape and size?
I love how many shapes have grown to be accepted!
Personally I think this is the best mabel I’ve seen. I’m not crazy about it in the first place. I don’t think it flatters anyone. I am going to try blue ginger doll’s betsy skirt this weekend. I think you look pretty darn cute.
wow, thank you! A lot of my discomfort with this pattern is admittedly just inside of me, not necessarily with the pattern.
I agree. I think this particular version is very classy.
Like others, I think it looks great on you- but totally understand if you do not feel comfortable.
Have you thought of lengthing it, and bringing the bottom inward like a mermaid maybe.
Also, untucking the shirt may help your feeling comfortable.
But again, I thought it really looked good.
Thank you! 😉
When I was straight with the tiniest bit of waist, I could get away with a pencil skirt, but now that I’m more apple shaped, I’ve given up the pencil skirt, I’m afraid. I’m heavy on top, so I think a wider skirt hem balances that out better. That being said, this outfit looks cute on you!
I have a similar body shape and have found that if I narrow the width of the hem (into a tulip shape) it gives an illusion of having hips. When my waist is hidden this looks pretty good!
I’ve had good luck with tulip skirts before! I have yet to find a good pattern for one though, any recommendations?
I think it looks fine, however I completely understand about just not bring comfortable with somnething , I’m very self conscious about my lower belly pooch, such that I don’t like to wear tops tucked in and hate anything which might cling, there. Have you looked at cake pattern’s hummingbird, I wonder if the curved pockets might add design detail enough for you to feel more comfortable?
I haven’t. I actually also haven’t sewn anything by cake. Thanks for the heads up!
I think it actually looks pretty good! Perhaps because you used black fabric, which helps to slim (yeah, I know, it’s a cliche, but true). The pattern is in my stash, too. And I’m going to look like you with a longer waist. But in the fall/winder, with a jacket or cardigan, I think it will be a good basic wardrobe item.
Your skirt looks great in your photos, but I can understand not feeling comfortable in it. I was never a pencil skirt girl before, although I do like my Mabel. (However, I wear my tops tucked out with my Mabel–I’m too large busted and short-waisted to tuck.)
Most of all, though, a big thanks to posting a review for a pattern that you’re not entirely thrilled with on your body shape. We have so many different curvy “shapes” that even if a pattern is generally “curve friendly”, it might not work on all shapes.
You’re welcome! I think reviews that are less than gushing are really important to post as well.
With the alterations, the skirt is a really flattering shape for your hip area and legs,but I can see where you might have issues with the waist/tummy area if you are self-conscious. Perhaps it would work if you wore it with a jacket or a top that hangs over the waist.
Your photos look really cute! I understand that you may not feel comfortable in it. I am struggling with the Collette Moneta. I love mine, and it is SO comfy, but I am just not sure that the seam around the waist is working for me, because I don’t really have much of a waist. But, I am sure thrilled that pattern companies are trying to give us some plus sized options, even if they all don’t look fab on me!
I love your photos! I understand your Mabel woes – even though mine is OK I feel a bit selfconcious in it so it hasn’t had much wear. However, I’ve heard really good things about the new Betsy pencil skirt design from BlueGingerDoll – several of the CSC tried it out and loved it, and I’m going to try my own soon. Made in a more solid stretch cotton it looks very good!
I’m an apple-ish straight figure and have found that a structured pencil skirt flatters best. Knits, even ponte, don’t flatter my shape in a pencil shilouette as much as a good wool or suiting does. I use a basic Butterick pattern (can’t remember which at the moment) and grade between sizes to get a good fit. Sadly, I don’t think the Moneta is kind to many people’s figures, but yours actually looks like it fits. The slash and spread you did at the tummy makes it work. As a tailor, there’s nothing I hate more than an ill fitting garment. Skirts should never hug the foopah/ pelvic bone or hug the bottom curve of the butt cheek. I think a load of confidence makes any style work for any body shape 🙂
I have never found a pencil skirt that allows me to have a tummy and a small waist, it may be the holy grail of patterns. I have one to try at the moment, and I also have a Lekala pattern on my wishlist.
I love the gypsy style tops, but I made one the other day and I might as well have made a sack, just totally wrong for my figure
http://www.calascrafts.blogspot.com
That outfit is pretty darn cute on you. But I totally understand about not liking certain things because of body type. I’ve always been far too busty for just about any style. Frustrating. I end up wearing tops too big and love men’s button ups for knock around.
I would have a similar problem, but I think the black straight skirt is actually slimming for you! Give yourself a little more fabric just below your waistband and then you may need a small dart on each side
This is on my list to try, but I was waiting until the fall to delve into it as likely wouldn’t want to wear it with anything but leggings and boots!
Yep, I am also an apple and, while I haven’t tried the Mabel, I have tried a knit pencil skirt from StyleArc and the shape was terrible on me. A-line or gathered skirt both work better. I do like the way you styled the skirt with the that top.
It looks like you have the same thing happening on the back of your skirt which happens to many of my skirts (A-line and gathered). It appears slightly shorter in the back because the pattern doesn’t provide enough length for the curve of your backside. Would love a Curvy tutorial on how the heck to alter a pattern to fix this.
I can’t help with the patterns as I’m an uber pear shape, but I’ve definitely had to come to terms with certain patterns not suiting me. I perservered with the Colette Ceylon for weeks before I realised it would look terrible on me no matter what!