![Picture](/uploads/2/8/7/0/28705449/7047835_orig.jpg)
I made the pencil skirt from the book in a floral fabric that I had sourced from a trip to Abakhans in Hanley. I love this shop. It has fabrics galore, sewing accessories, patterns buttons, wools and cross stitch things and anything else for all your sewing needs.
The pattern is from the series one book and I had to download the pattern from Quadrille and print it, then stick it together with sticky tape before I can cut it out to size. I found this quite annoying, partly because I am a printer killer and don't have one any more and have to ask my lovely Mum to print it for me.
It took me a while to make the skirt but I followed the instructions and made it to a size 14. It looked a little small to me, especially on the waistband but I tried it on and fitted so nicely. I had to line the skirt because the fabric I chose would have ridden up my legs if I wear stockings or tights with it, so that took extra time to make the skirt in the lining fabric. I teamed the floral skirt with a raspberry blouse and my red wedges.
I was shopping in the supermarket last year and saw they had the Great British Sewing Bee book for series two (2014) for £12 and I just had to have it. In this book, there is a pack of all the patterns featured as challenges in the series that you can trace over and cut out. I chose to make the Draped Top and the pencil skirt in this book in a black and white floral fabric, again sourced from Abakhans.