Finished Project: straight skirt

Straight skirts- you can find them everywhere! Here is a little number I saw at Walmart this morning. $21? When straight skirts are so easy to make! No need to buy- I found some cute fabric on sale for $1.50 a yard! Perfect for someone learning to sew.

I modified my skirt from the tutorial that I shared on Friday.  Instead of two side seams, I just made a tube- having only one back seam.
I started by measuring my widest part. (I don't want my skirt to be too tight around my thighs.)

 

 

The fabric is folded in half- so I cut my measurement in half but added back an inch for my seam.

I also measured how long I wanted this skirt plus an inch for the hem.

I stitched up the back seam (so it would lay flat and not bubble over my butt), and then folded over the top- to make a casing for the elastic.

I measured my waist and that was the length of the elastic to this measurement.

Super simple skirt!

Fast and straight stitches- right in my comfort zone!

Cute-  but maybe too much in my comfort zone?
I mean... I want to learn to sew.. using patterns.
So my next project is going to be with a pattern! (gulp)
There! I've committed myself!

 

Here I am at work.  I am trying to be better about taking pictures out and about-

and not sneaking around in bathrooms snapping pictures.

(But no promises- you might see more pictures in bathrooms.

You've been warned.)



Inspiration: Simple Pencil skirt

I've made two of these types of simple skirts. Merrick is so adorable and her restyles- seem simple enough.

Here she shares a tutorial on how to make a simple skirt.

These are so cute! And really a great simple project for the beginner seamstress.

This might be a project I tackle with my "daughter-for-a-week".

We'll see if she is interested in learning how to sew.

 

It just seems silly to buy this type of skirt. Pay $20? or more? what for?

Thanks Merrick for your cute re-styles and great tutorials!

Inspired by Shoes: Project Sewn

Real Quick! Plan to play-along in July

Click HERE to learn more!

Okay! The real reason you all stopped by!

Here are my shoes and the fabric for this project.

They remind me of a "Victorian style" shoes. I love Victorian style! Streamline skirts with hemline ruffles. Just all the feminine details of that era.

So that was my vision.
Streamline skirt- I own none. (Okay- one, I made it two weeks ago for Project Sewn.) I normally wear A-line skirts. But for winter- I feel like I wear so much bulk- everywhere- on TOP on Bottom.. I feel like my shape is very non-descript.

So I want to experiment with straight skirts and pencil skirts... and see if they don't flatter my pear figure- when I am wearing bulky sweaters on top.

I bought this pattern- it was on sale (Yay!) and had the details I wanted.

Here you can (kinda) see the cute ruffle in the back.

Here is a closer look at the back of the skirt. (My ruffle didn't look like the one in the pattern package- if it bugs me too much, I am going to rip it out and remake the ruffle. But for now- I am happy with it.)

I lucked out - with matching the lines as I fitted the skirt to me.
Then with the hem ruffle detail- I opted to cut the fabric with the lines horizontal- to make it stand out a tad more.
I wore it to church- and was relieved..... no one asked, "Did you make that?"
YES! Something I MADE looked normal! NOT home-spun!

Great progress for me!
Can't wait to see all the amazing projects over at Project Sewn!

And as far as straight skirts go... I think I am warming up to the idea. I probably could taper this skirt even more and make it a pencil skirt and not feel silly. (Since there is extra fabric in the back ruffle- I would still be able to walk normal.)

(big sigh of relief)
FINALLY  a sewing project that was pretty straight forward- with no major hiccups!

These are pictures of other times I've worn this skirt.. I took these pictures FIRST and then last minute... realized... I am NOT WEARING my inspiration shoes! lol.. what was I thinking!!!

Project Sewn: Week One- Attempt 2

I just couldn't leave the first challenge that way- with a DIY Fail. It just left such a bad taste in my soul.... my little, budding, sewing soul...

And especially- when the challenge was to be inspired by a fashion icon- my favorite!
Princess Kate!

So back to Pinterest to find a picture of something I could sew!

I won't make you wait for it. This is the cute skirt I made- inspired by this image of Kate.





I couldn't find the red tartan fabric.
I could find this flannel fabric.

Yes this is a flannel skirt- reminds me of my flannel pajamas growing up! I can see this quickly becoming my favorite skirt.


The reason I labeled my project: Braveheart Inspired on Project Sewn is...
as I was sewing this skirt, my husband walked into the room and asked,
 "Are you going to unite the clan?" Braveheart is his favorite movie- all time, so I knew exactly what he was referring to. lol.

It helped me giggle my way through the project until the skirt was finished. All the picking out and pinning etc. I mean, for an experienced seamstress.. this is probably an hour-project not two days.

After looking at some other people's projects on Project Sewn, especially Kristi (click here), I thought I needed to add lining to this skirt.. lining really makes a sewing project seem more professional and less home-spun. Also, I thought lining will help this skirt hold it's shape better (since it is made out of flannel) and not bunch up when being worn with tights.

I have never, NEVER ever lined anything!  Since this skirt is just a tube...I thought I would be able to handle it.

 

(Spoiler Alert: This is extra fabric from a future Project Sewn assignment. )

Look at the hem! no.. really LOOK AT IT! I did a dang good job!
My son helped me with the pictures, he said "Why are you standing like that?"

I don't know what I am doing?... awkward model syndrome.

 

Besides the awkward photos- the skirt turned out cute! (and comfy!)

I love /live for comments - they really help me stay positive as I try to learn how to sew.
So thanks for taking the time!
Laura

Past Project: Christmas skirt

Here is a project I did before Christmas. (See? I've been doing this, or have been thinking about refashioning clothes- long before I set my goal this year. It has been on my mind!)

 I took these before I actually thought I would be blogging about my sewing projects.

I wanted to show you some of my past projects- so you can see some good examples of my starting point.

I found this really cute skirt at DI- right before Christmas.
Unfortunately it was a size 18 and I am normally an 6-8-10 (depending on the brand of clothing.)

Cute - Right? (I warned you before- I have a closet full of clothes that don't fit me.)

Another bonus was- this skirt was right in my price point.
I loved that this skirt didn't not have an elastic waistband. Instead it has a side hidden zipper.

I played with different ways to take it in.

Here I just folded it to one side.
I thought I could add some buttons on the waist for decoration.. and leave the excess fabric... like a mock wrap skirt.

I thought about this type of fold... with the skirt folded to the center... but that seemed a bit too retro to me. It brought too much attention to my bottom half. I don't know- I just didn't like it.

I've seen (and liked) maxi skirts with stripes like this- but this is not that type of skirt.

I ended up folding it- like the first idea.
I wanted to add buttons- but my button holes were a HOT mess. Then I remembered- I don't need functioning button holes- the skirt has a side zipper. (duh)
So I just placed buttons over my hot mess mistake.

I love it and have worn it a dozen times this season.
I've worn it with black tops, brown tops and grey. Red might be an obvious choice- but ironically I don't have any red tops.

Project: Fishtail skirt

Okay- refashion designers are amazing!
It's like going to Costco with my sister. She'll say "Do you need ketchup?" When I look- I burst out  laughing at the enormous size container of ketchup. It's a joke that never gets old. And it surprises me every time!

I get the same sense of wonder- every time I see a master (refashion) designer blog! I've seen a million amazing transformations-- yet I still gawk at what they create from what they started with!

Let me show you!

 

This designer literally started with a kilt!

(visit her post by clicking here)

 

 She calls the back of the skirt detail- a "fish tale".

 I love it! I want to make this style of pencil skirt- perhaps in just a boring grey (to replace my favorite grey skirt of 14 years) or maybe I would go as crazy as a muted grey/blue.

Turning Pants into a skirt!??!

Oh my- this sistah has got the knack!

To see a tutorial on how to make--

matronly pants become

an adorable ruffle skirt

go HERE

I am a bit sad-

I found her site- over the holidays...

and we could have been such blogging buddies!-

but she has retired from blogging.

Thankfully she left her site up!

She has so many great ideas!

SEW simple ideas!

Plan on me sharing them.... this month!

Sew Simple skirt pattern!

So I stumbled upon a really adorable person in the blog-sphere.

Her name is Stephanie and she lives in Arizona- I think.

Here she is modeling how to use ribbon as a belt.

Pretty adorable- no? That is an easy accessory!




Here is a picture of a sew simple skirt for she and her daughter made together.
you can find a free- pattern {here}


there is a better picture at Stephanie's site: it's a cute elastic waist skirt.


I've asked Stephanie to guest post some of her ideas.





She is amazing- I've crusied her blog and she knows how to sew!
plus she is a delight and enjoys her life



- I love reading blogs written by genuine people.


Here is her tutorial on how to hem jeans- very clever!



Let's cross our fingers and hope she wants to be friends.

Skirt Challenge

Here is a simple- so-so-sew simple way to turn a dress jumper into a cute skirt.

I bought this dress at a second hand store this past summer. I loved the bright-cheerful color and the playful pattern of the dress. (They are butterflies)

I also liked the A-line style of the dress... and the hidden zipper in the back. (This wont be just another elastic waist band skirt)



MAJOR problems with the dress:
1. I don't like the bust flaps. (and just between us-- I never can fill those kind of things out.)
2. I am not fond of this style dress. (Especially at my age)

So - to make my jumper/dress into a cute/ modest length skirt...
I simply cut those bust flaps off.

YUP
I didn't even take the dress off my body while I did it.

BUT- I recommend you take it off- while altering.

Then the raw cut edge- I turned down.
(I DID take it off at this point-- and I was super careful NOT to loose the zipper while taking it off.)

So I turned the raw edges over and used my sewing machine to sew a straight line. Starting at the zipper area.. sewing all around the waist area and back to the zipper area.
ONE SIMPLE SEWING LINE!



Then PRESTO!
You are done.
One cute skirt- ready to wear.


It is kinda hard to take pictures of myself..
But here I am at my sons soccer practice...





I love that the skirt is just casual and fun- I can just wear a T-shirt and slippers
and stay cool.


If you make a skirt from a dress- be sure to send a link to your blog so we can see how you did!

or- you can email pictures to
Laurabethblum(at)yahoo(dot)com and we'll all be inspired by your creation!