I’m having trouble finding clothing I like. Why can’t anyone seem to manage to sell a good, old-fashioned skirt these days? I’ve tried shopping for skirts on many occasions and have always come home empty handed.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands, like a pioneer woman. When Ma Ingalls wanted a new bonnet or apron, she had to sew it. She had to sit in her rocking chair by the fire after dinner and sew. Those church-going clothes weren’t going to make themselves.

I’ve accumulated some vintage patterns and I’ve decided to take them out for a test drive. The first challenge: make a decent skirt that isn’t too long (I don’t want to look like a pioneer woman) or too short (let’s face it, over 30 and you have to start watching it, unless you have a super kick-ass body. I do not have such a body. If I wore a very short skirt, it would look like Ladies Night at some bar in Fridley called Toppers.) That’s where this pattern comes in.

I’ve stared at these drawings for a long time, trying to decide which version to make. It’s deceiving because the legs in these are so skinny and long… where do their calves begin? Some versions are longer though. Versions one and two seem like better bets, although I don’t have my knee-high white boots anymore. What a look for spring that would be!

Also, sizing on patterns, especially old ones, is whack. I’ve just decided to buy things I like that seem as if they might work. The key is to buy bigger, not smaller. This skirt only consists of three pieces – I’m fairly certain I can trim it down in the hips to make it less like a balloon.

But like anything I try to make, it’s always harder than I think it will be.

But my master plan is this – if this skirt works out and I like it, I’m just going to churn out about four in different patterns and colors. Voila! My summer wardrobe.

By the way, the only way you could possibly get away with wearing knee high white socks with a short skirt like in the top row is 1) you’re ten and you go to Catholic school or 2) you have legs exactly like the ones in the drawings – no muscles at all. But then you wouldn’t be able to walk.