The thing about job-hunting is that it goes painfully slow and then suddenly very fast. After the Crafter’s Ceilidh last weekend I had a second interview on Monday then an offer through on Monday evening, and by Wednesday morning I was in the office for my first day.
During the job search I wasn’t sure what kind of environment I was going to end up in – office, retail, hospitality etc. so it was sort of hard to start planning the appropriate clothes. Now I know it’s in a smart-casual office (the women often wear dark skinny jeans and smart tops) I can make garments appropriately, starting with this skirt I made for the interview process.
With such a tried & true pattern like Burdastyle’s Jenny this was a very fast make. The fabric is 100% pure wool bought in this stash from Walthamstow Market for £5/m and the lining from the same place for £1.50/m. The lining is my favourite part, like a hidden ray of sunshine.
This version varies from the standard pattern by removing the front darts and instead easing the front into the waistband which is cut on the straight grain rather than the bias. I also eliminated the split at the center back as I find there’s enough room to walk fine. The lining is about 2in wider than the fashion fabric for ease of wear and is gathered into the waistband front and back.
It feels pretty good to be working again and the company is an exciting and expanding one, although it’s pretty nerve-wracking being the new person and trying to read all the personal dynamics. I hope you’ll all bear with me while I adjust to the new schedule, it’s Monday to Friday for the most part and with a whole hour for lunch (in NZ 30 minutes is pretty standard) I’m going to trial posting at lunchtime.
Also progressing nicely, is the new blog design and move to the lazystitching.com domain. Watch this space and hopefully next Monday I can announce the launch!
Lazy Stitching 
That is absolutely GORGEOUS! I love the lining, too. Interesting about the split – I always found it horrifically high on the Jenny skirt, so if it can be omitted that’s great. I really must make another Jenny skirt… Congratulations on the job. Well deserved and they will soon be totally in love with their new colleague.
Gorgeous skirt Alana, especially the lining! Your whole outfit is fab, I’m sure it will make just the right impression in the office. And big congratulations on getting the job my friend, great to hear you’re enjoying it so far. x
YAY!!!! CONGRATS on your new job!!! Must have been the luck o’ the Scottish (hmmm…that doesn’t sound quite right) hehehehe. And wow, what a turnaround from interview to being in the office! I LOVE the pencil skirt and the lining is so much fun! xoxoxo
Loving the colour combo so much. And a pencil skirt is a must have for any wardrobe to dress up or down. You look fabulous! And well done on getting that job
Congratulations on the job!
Looks great. I also LOVE the Jenny pattern and am currently working on a version. It is such a tried and true for me as well. Good luck on your new job!
You colour coordination is just great, the chartreuse really lifts the black and says – fun but serious too. Perfect skirt.
Wow, this is adorable! Congrats on the new job and good luck!
So perfect! I’m actually making a work skirt this week as well!
Congratulations on the front job, that’s excellent news! Your skirt is absolutely gorgeous, it looks so luxurious…oh, and I can’t wait to see the new blog design ;o)
Congratulations on the job! And I love the skirt – fab lining!
Congrats on the job and the fabulous outfit to wear to it!
What a wonderful turn of events! And you look gorgeous!
Yay! Congrats on the job! You totally look the office-gal part with that hot number! The skirt is fab, and I love it with that blouse.
Congrats on the new job AND the new skirt! That lining is an amazing colour.
Hey, congratulations on your job! I love your skirt, the lining is so glamour and I’m also fond of your top 🙂
Congrats on the job! If you have some time, I’d love to hear more details about how you made the lining bigger than the shell–I haven’t heard of this method before. Do you cut the next size up for the lining or just treat it like you added an extra inch on each side of seam allowance or something? How does it quite work to put something bigger on the inside than the outside? I can sort of see why it would make the skirt more comfortable to wear too, but not quite…so any more information you have would be awesome 🙂
Hiya,
The lining in slim fit skirts often tears for me at the side seams from the pressure usually when sitting. All I did was add an inch at the center front and aback of the lining and gather the excess in at the waistband. It’s not enough to be noticeable when wearing but it takes some of the stress off those seams.
Hope that helps 🙂
You look fabulous! I love that you matched your top to the lining.
Congratulations on your new job! I love this skirt and I bet it will serve you very well at the office.
Hooray!! Congratulations on the new job! That’s an amazingly quick span of time from interview to starting. What luck! Also, the skirt is completely fabulous. You look amazing – both gorgeous and professional – while that lining is such a fun pop. Nice work, chica.
Lovely outfit!I I wish you well at work, may you have many happy paydays!
Yey!! Congratulations on the new job! And your skirt is fab: sweet child of mine, I LOVE that lining!!! 🙂
Congrats on the job! Must be a massive relief and really exciting! Fab skiry, the lining is ace.
Congratulations on your new job Alana!
Your black skirt looks lovely, I like how you’ve given it a pop of colour – that will make it more fun to put it on in the mornings when you go to work! It looks so nice with that blouse too.
Those colours together are really fun. Congratulations on the new job.
That is a gorgeous skirt on you! I love the gathered waist rather than darts, makes for a really nice fit and look. I love the pop of the lining too! I find it so hard to figure out what to wear in a smart-casual office, particularly when people make comments if it looks like you have made ‘too much effort’. I may have to give this a go though, it looks perfect!
Congratulations on your new job! I do love this skirt – it looks so classy & the lining is totally fabulous. Thanks for mentioning the extra couple of inches for the lining – I’d been hesitating cutting a lining for my next skirt for this very reason.
Congrats on the new job! The skirt is beautiful!
Congratulations on your new job! It’s brilliant news, I’m so pleased for you. Please let me know how the move to your domain goes as I’m thinking of taking the plunge but would be very out of my depth in making the switch!
Great news about the job! It’s amazing how fast change can happen after all the hurry up and wait.
Love the skirt, it’s such a classic basic, you can’t go wrong.
Congratulations! And your skirt is divine – love the lining
i love the skirt – particularly the lining. It makes me smile. Congratulations on the job.
Gorgeous skirt! I have seen a few people make this pattern lately and it always turns out lovely. The bright lining is so fun!!! What a cool little detail. When your having a hard day in the office you can look at the bright lining and it will make you smile 🙂
I’m happy to hear that you got a job, congratulations! Fantastic skirt too, love the lining. That blouse is a great color on you, seriously!
I have this black skirt with a little bit of baby pink silk tape at the waist, make me smile (especially when I got to the bathroom, hihihi)
I keep reading blogs and reviews set in temperate climes and it’s got the worst influence on me: I want cowl sweaters, wool pants and boots, LOL!
Hooray! So glad you are back at work! That outfit looks SO stylish and smart. I would never have thought of swopping gathers for darts, but it looks so good – more modern, I think.
Congrats on your new job! That skirt is lovely, the gathering instead of darts is such a nice effect!
Congrats on the new job, and on your fab new skirt. I love the bright lining, and it is great colour for you.
Congrats on your new job, it’s pretty tough out there at the moment, I know, I was hunting about 4 months ago as well so go you! Love the chartreuse against the dark wool, it look amazing.
Congratulations! And your skirt is great. I still haven’t made the Jenny pattern but I really must give it a go.
Congratulations Alana, I’m delighted for you!!!!
I bet it was that skirt that sealed the deal for you at the interview – it’s fantastic!!! The lining is just so fun, and the wool will keep you nice and toasty in this miserable UK winter!!!
Again, so pleased for you 🙂
Great skirt! And congratulations on the new job, that must be a weight off your mind. Lunch-hour posting is the way to go.
The omitting of the back split is a very interesting piece of information, I might say, and will be used when the time comes for my third Jenny skirt. It looks great on you, and the lining is fabulous.
However, above all, I want to congratulate you on your new job, and wish you all the best!
Congratulations on the new gig! I love the skirt also, especially the lining.
fab inspiration for office wear ! I love it.
Congratulations on your new job. The skirt is great , I really must get around to making one . I love the colour pairing and the clashing lining .
I just found you and I’m so glad I did! Loving (and following!) your blog. One question though – I get your concern about the splitting-side linings, but I was always under the impression that the lining protects the fashion fabric from tearing. So if the lining is bigger than the skirt, would the tears appear on the fashion fabric, then?
I hear what you’re saying. I think the tearing of the lining just comes from the un-stretchiness (technical term) of most lining fabrics. So by cutting the lining a bit bigger you’re accounting for this…. I think. 🙂
Congratulations on the job! The Jenny skirt has been catching my eye all over the place recently, and your version makes me want it even more. Great lining – sometimes the details no-one ever sees are the most fun parts.
Congratulations on the job Alana! The skirt is fab. Love the lining too. The whole outfit just looks stunning! I think you’ll find hour-long lunch breaks can be quite nice for a bit of shopping…
Congrats! With clothes like that you are sure to feel confident and successful!