DIY Faux Dress | Asymmetrical Circle Skirt and Halter Top

Juneteenth is a little under three weeks away (June 19th) and this year I’m choosing to celebrate with a Sankofa spirit. Sankofa means “to go back and get it”. In order to understand where we are going, we must take the time to study and analyze the past so that we can progress forward. For Today’s look, I chose to use a print with green. In the Pan-African flag, green is a symbol of growth and the natural fertility of Africa.

Sew the Look

Fabric: From JOANN, Speed Bird (100% cotton), I used 5 yards for the skirt and 1 yard for the top

History: This print is 100% authentic and made in Ghana all the way down to the cotton grown to produce the base goods. The print was designed by Ghanaian artists and named by the Ghana market community, with stories according to Ghanaian folklore. The story behind this specific print is below. 

SIKA WO ATABAN (Speed Bird)  ‘Sika wo ataban’ literally means money has wings. In Ghana the pattern refers to the transience of riches: rich today, poor tomorrow, for money has wings and can fly away. With the bird being such an important symbol in many cultures, this fabric has gained a variety of meanings, often referring to change, prosperity, freedom and transition.

Pattern: For the top I used Burda 6968, with a few modifications (see modification section below). The skirt is a self drafted design, I used my sloper from my Teva Skirt course to create a pattern. I am thinking about filming a YouTube tutorial on how I used my sloper to create the pattern. Drop a comment if this is a tutorial you’d be interested in seeing.

Sizing: I cut the size 16 for the top. My bust measurement is 37, I looked at the finished garment measurements to make my decision. The finished garment bust measurement for the size 16 is 39.5 inches, giving me 2.5 inches of ease. The skirt was self drafted using my waist measurement.

Modifications:

• Neckband: Reduced the length according to my neck measurement, omitted the neckband button and created ties for the closure. I demonstrate these modifications in my Mock Neck Top Tutorial on my YouTube channel.
• Shortened- I measured down three inches from the waist marking and eliminated the remainder of the pattern.