I was gifted this lovely Irish tweed by a friend of mine. It came attached to its own personal hanger with the description “skirt length” printed on it. It measured about 40 inches (just over 1m) in length. I promptly shrunk it in the dryer using my TNT wool shrinking method. At the time I was contemplating the incredible embarrassment of riches that is called “Mezzo’s Personal Fabric Store”, while lamenting that, if I hold true to the virtue of self-discipline and ONLY shop at Mezzo’s Store, I’m pretty limited to colour palette, etc. That same day I was also gifted two lovely 80’s outfits in silk – one in ivory twill and the other in a crepe de chine blue print – which have yet to be dissected. I’m still musing on what is possible with them and what I’d really like to see made up from them.
Well, I’ll confess I had never heard of Foxford tweed before reading this label, and so, in the interest of what my kids’ teachers call “connections”, googled it. Alas, there is no online place to purchase more, but here are some quotes from wordnik.com about Foxford cloth:
“And our wool that was sold in Rome in the time of Juvenal and our flax and our damask from the looms of Antrim and our Limerick lace, our tanneries and our white flint glass down there by Ballybough and our Huguenot poplin that we have since Jacquard de Lyon and our woven silk and our Foxford tweeds and ivory raised point from the Carmelite convent in New Ross, nothing like it in the whole wide world.” Ulysses
“I did not like to tell her that Margaret McKeon lamented to me that Eileen was cutting out that beautiful Foxford tweed so badly.” Love of Brothers
I always find literary allusions interesting, so reading these quotes was quite fun.
This is an old skirt pattern from OOP Vogue 1721, made up a few times. You can see my other versions in this Flickr group. I underlined the tweed with silk organza and lined it with bemberg.
I added 1 inch to the length, and did my usual high hip adjustment. I like this pattern because of the back pleats. There are only two seams in this skirt: the side back seams that end in the hemline box pleats. Where each side seam should be is a very deep dart.
I put in a hand picked zipper (my favourite zipper insertion method, even for invisible ones). I have to say I really love working with wools. You can shrink and shape them to your heart’s content. And they have such a pleasant woolly sort of smell when you press them.
I realize this skirt is a little standard, but I like standard skirts in my wardrobe. I’m a skirt girl. Even in the winter it’s easier to wear skirts and tall boots to go schlepping through snow than worry about tucking trouser legs into said boots to ensure the hems don’t get filthy with slush and salt and what have you. 
Mezzo Couture 
Thanks Tia – Beautiful skirt! Quality and style never go out of fashion – you have proved this!!!
Good Luck for all in the Foxford Woollen Mills, Co Mayo
Lovely lovely skirt! How cool that the mill has such a pedigree.
Wow I really love how the skirts only seamd end in pleats! I have never seen that. It looks fantastic on you too.
What a beautiful skirt, in a simply amazing colour! This is a fabulous fit, it hugs you beautifully!
Nothing “standard” about this, that’s one gorgeous skirt!
*SKIRT PHOTOS*
Here are a few pictures of my 6 skirts.
They are all Burda patterns.
Pink, 9-2010-106
purple, 1-2011-114
navy, is the same as the purple only shorter.
grey, 10-2011-119
navy, 4-2009-101
tan, 12-2008-118
The unfinished skirt with the zipper hanging over the top is the same as the tan.
I have worn them all and really enjoy making wool skirts. (as if you couldn’t tell) I have to stop myself and move onto to other items. My 19 year old has 3 Burda dresses picked out for me to get working on.
Thanks for all your inspiration.
Thank you, thank you thank you for the link! I’m heading over there right now!
That fabric is so rich and the color so lovely, hardly standard. Feel amber waves of envy flow towards you!
You just can’t beat a classic wool skirt for a classy look, timeless and elegant. You will grow tired of it before it even begins to wear out. I wonder what it would look like with a boxy chanel jacket?
I don’t know what a chanel jacket would look like with this particular skirt, but I do have plans for the hopefully-near future for a chanel-inspired jacket or coat!
That’s beautiful! It’s a gorgeous color, but the fit and the shaping are particularly impressive.
Love the unique colour of the wool with your brilliant construction techniques – very modern and versatile…
What beautiful fabric! Great job on the skirt. It will be great for winter.
I live about twenty minutes from the foxford woolen mills in ireland! I presume its the same place,they dont sell a lot of fabric now i dont think but they have lovely shops,theres one in the town i’m from. It’s pretty cool to see their name on your blog
OK, this is so amazing that you live so close to the mills! And that you read this post about a piece of fabric that was purchased decades ago! How cool is the www!!!
That is a gorgeous colour, and a beautiful fabric – the classy yet simple lines of the skirt really does it justice 🙂 I liked your comment about skirts being easier in the snow, you’re absolutely correct – I’d never thought of that before, and it sure will make my resolution of wearing more skirts/dresses easier now – thanks! 🙂
Your skirt is beautiful. I have been on a wool skirt kick since you posted your “breezy skirt Burda 9-2010-106” back in November.
I have made 6 skirts since then and have one almost complete on my sewing table. Burda 12-200-118. I found fleece lined tights at a local shop and it has made wearing skirts this winter very enjoyable.
A few years back my mom was volunteeringing at her church thrift store. A women came in with a huge garbage bag filled with wool. She said her husband was a wool salesmen many years ago and in the bag was all his samples. They were mostly 60″x 1 yard pieces. Perfect for making skirts. It is some of the most beautiful wool.
Having fabric gifted to you is the best.
Kathi, I would so totally LOVE to see pictures! I’m on a bit of skirt kick myself, although I’ll probably be ending said kick after skirt #3 (still waiting to be cut). Oh, wait! There’s a #4 that I’d love to make, too! I’m very envious of your bag of wool!!