Gale Skirt with Godet
Designer Notes
Gale is the skirt block from W. Aldrich’s ‘Metric Pattern Cutting for Women’s Wear, 6th Edition’ with a godet added at the rear to allow movement instead of a vent. This is the second pattern I drafted for myself in different software as part of an attempt to continue learning CAD pattern drafting at my local maker space.
What You Need
To make Gale, you will need the following:
- Basic sewing supplies
- About 1 meter (1.1 yards) of a suitable main fabric (see Fabric Options)
- An invisible or regular closed end zipper
- Some sort of closure/hook for the waist
- (Optional) About 1 meter (1.1 yards) of suitable lining fabric (see Fabric Options)
Fabric Options
Main Fabric
A pencil skirt is a rather formal cut, and most commonly is made in a suiting material. In other words, a fine wool. More casual options among medium weight fabrics include cotton or denim.
Using a fabric with some stretch will make it easier to get a comfortable fit and give you some more room to move about as pencil skirts fit rather tight. Scuba is often seen in pencil skirts as it is firm, has body but also stretches.
A knit fabric may be used. Adjust the waistline down with a negative value for Extra Waist Ease so the finished garment stays up. A tighter fit along the length of the skirt may be achieved by a negative value for Extra Seat Ease.
Lining Fabric
The lining fabric needs to be light, and allow the body to slide over it easily. You also don’t want something too thick as this will be constricting. Silky fabrics are the go to choice as they are lightweight and slippery.
Stretchy main fabrics will most likely not require a lining.
Cutting Instructions
The number of front and back parts depend on if the zipper was moved to the zipper from the side seam. Pattern options account for this. This cut list does not.
Main Fabric
- Cut one front part on fold.
- Cut one back part on fold.
Lining Fabric (Optional)
- Cut one front part on fold.
- Cut one back part on fold.
See Gale Instructions to understand alterations to the front and back parts required for the lining.
Interfacing
When you cut out a piece on the fold, remember that the fold does not need to be in the middle of the fabric. Choosing the placement of your pieces wisely can greatly reduce the amount of fabric you need for your skirt.