Lekala skirt and what do you do with that extra little bit of fabric?

This skirt was made with a lovely animal print (sold out) from Roz (smfabric.com). The pattern was a free pencil skirt from Lekala, which is a Russian pattern company.  You give them your measurements and very quickly a pdf with your pattern arrives in your email.  Follow the instructions to print, tape together and away you go.  This skirt needed minimal adjustment other than lengthening it significantly and then adding an additional 3 inches as noted with the black piping at the bottom, which to me is a nice design element to the skirt.  

To give the skirt a little more body it is interlined with cotton batiste and lined with silk haboti.  Just love the feel of silk on my legs. There is a center back invisible zipper with a hook and eye fastening for the waistband.  

Roz always has a nice animal print in stock so go check out what she has available, grab a free Lekala pattern and give them a whirl. Hope you have as good a fit as I did.

So what do you do with that extra little bit of fabric?  
You make your great niece, Soraya, a pair of shorts.  

I modified Simplicity 2668 to make a pair of paper bag shorts using the size L in 18 months.  The legs were not gathered but were lengthened to make them culottes.  Wide bias tape was used for the waist elastic and black bias tape was used to hem the shorts and add a design interest. They are also large enough to fit nicely over her diaper.

Gotta love an animal print pencil skirt-its always a classic!  I really like the piping detail.  And how adorable is Miss Soraya!!!! She's a fashionista is the making. Thank you for sharing your experience with Lekala patterns and for reminding us how we can use our "little bit of fabric"!