Anthro Inspired Maxi Skirt Tutorial

   

     Back in the day, before we bought this old ramshackled house of our's, that's taken over every spare minute of my time, I used to spend every extra second I could find sewing something. All this painting and whatnot has caused my wardrobe to suffer severely! (Ok, actually not really. I have way more clothes than I need.) Anyway, I did a bit of online shopping looking for some things I might like to freshen up my clothing selection for spring. My idea of "shopping" is to find something I like, and then figure out how to make it myself for a fraction of the cost. I came across this skirt, and I quite liked its casual scrappy look.

Anthropologie $118

     I used it as my inspiration to make this version. I used a denim-like jersey knit, and made a  basic maxi skirt (tutorial here) with some scrappy goodness added to it.

      If you'd like to give it a try, see my maxi skirt tutorial for what you should cut out. In addition to the waist band and the actual skirt, you'll need to cut out several long strips about a half inch wide. 

      Spread the skirt open and start laying out the strips in the design you like pinning as you go. I flipped my strips wrong side out so that the fabric would contrast, but you don't have to do that.

     I pinned the strips all in place, and did not trim the ends just in-case I wanted to rearrange while sewing.

      I sewed them on, starting front and center, and sewing down the center of the strips. I used a long, narrow zigzag stitch so that the skirt would retain all of it's original stretchyness.

      If you aren't using a walking foot on your machine, you might find that  the fabric wants to bubble and bunch a bit as you sew the strips down. You can fix that by putting your needle down, and lifting your foot to ease out the fabric.

       Once your strips are all sewn on, sew up the back seam. I matched my strips at the seam, but I don't think the Anthro version does, so anyway you like works.

     Finish up with the waist, hem, and press.

       Mine cost me around $10 and it couldn't have been more simple to do.

     Among other things, I am bound and determined to make a decent button down shirt for myself that actually is long enough in the arms and torso! Except, I've never done one before...so we'll see how that goes. Have you done any spring shopping lately? What will you be adding to your wardrobe?

1 Peter 1:24,25   For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

Sweater Knits and why you should love them!

     I've discovered something just grand! As I have mentioned before, I'm a big fan of shopping local for fabric...I like to see it and feel it, before I buy it. That is a handicap in it's own way, because fabric stores don't always pick fabrics to sell that I happen to like! (or that are very current colors and prints!) But, this year, fabric stores are carrying a much larger selection of sweater knits than I've ever seen out before in previous years. So why is this so earth shattering??? Well my dear, sweater knits mean that you can sew anything you can buy in a store, all year long! From scarves to cardigans to sweater dresses...the sky is the limit! Fabulous, no?! To illustrate, here I have a sweater knit skirt, and a sweater knit top that I made myself. Super easy, super fun!

      Excuse the bad picture and apparent broken ankle...I didn't have time to fuss with pictures, and my ankle is in fact, not broken. So here's the deal with sweater knits...they are just like any other knit. If you've ever made anything from any stretchy knit, the same rules apply to sweater knit. Use a serger or a zigzag stitch, a walking foot is really helpful, and pat with a steamy iron when you are done. For a skirt or a dress, I would highly recommend lining it. A lining will help stabilize the sweater knit from stretching out too much as you wear it, and it will also alleviate the need for a slip.
     You know what I am dying to make with sweater knit? Leggings! How cute would that print that's on my skirt be on leggings with a grey tunic dress?? I see a new project in my future! Have you made anything with sweater knits? Did you like it?
P.S. I used the same method as this skirt to make the above...if you want to make one too!

Hebrews 13:15   By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

Simple Sewing - Knit Maxi Skirt Tutorial

      I was going through my posts in order to update my tutorials page, and I discovered something pretty funny. I've never ever made a tutorial for the one piece of clothing I make the most! I call them my "pj skirts" and I wear them. ALL. THE. TIME. because they are just that comfy. I probably have at least 15 of these skirts. Ya I know, rediculous.  This skirt is not fancy, it is just your basic, knit maxi skirt with a fold over yoga waist. If just know how to turn your machine on, and sew a straight line, you CAN MAKE THIS!
      There are probably a million tutorials out there for this type of maxi already, but here's my take on in it. First off, shop for some knit. You'll need a yard and a half. My opinions on knit are: jersey is great for summer, ponte roma knit is perfect for winter, don't use rib knit, any knit with 3-5% Spandex in it is fabulous! At any rate, pick a knit that holds its shape well...saggy skirts are not cute.
       Now, we cut out our skirt. Lay it out folded, just as it is when it comes off the bolt. You'll need to know how long you want it (NOT including the waist band...waist band will add 8-4 inches to length) and how wide your hips are. Cut out your skirt using the following guide.

       Cut out your waist band like this. (You'll need two!)

       Are you tracking so far? I hope so, because you have just four seams and a hem to do before you are done! First, sew up the long side of your skirt. If you don't have a serger, just set your machine to a narrow zig-zag stitch and set the stitch length a tad longer than normal.

        Now sew the two waist band pieces together along the curved sides.

       Fold it over so that the seam is inside.

      Center the seam of the skirt to the back of the skirt. Mark the centers of both the skirt and the waistband.

      With the skirt facing WRONG side out, put the waist band INSIDE the skirt and pin at the centers and side seams.

       Sew the waist band to the skirt, stretching it slightly as you sew. Make sure the side seams of the waist band are rounded out as you sew, you don't want pointy corners at your hips!

      When you get it sewn, it might look a bit rumpled like this. Eeeww!

      No worries! A nice generous pat (Don't rub, just pat!) with a hot steamy iron will smooth most of it out, and what's left won't show when you wear it.

      After you hem the bottom, do the same thing with the iron to tidy it up a bit. Now, wasn't that just the easiest thing you've ever made in your life?!

       Don't blame me if you get hooked on them, and end up with a closet full of them!...like a certain someone I know! Oh yes, and did I mention these make the. best. maternity skirts EVER??!!
      Here are some other maxi skirt variations you might have missed that I've done in the past.

1. Shirred waist maxi skirt tutorial
2. Hi Low Maxi
3. Chiffon Maxi Skirt
4. Flat Elastic Waist Maxi 

      Have a happy week!

Nahum 1:7   The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 

Linking to:
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Homemaker on a Dime
The Girl Creative
The Southern Institute
My Girlish Whims

Pencil Skirt Variations - Sweater and Ruffles

       A little bit ago, I showed you how to make these lace pencil skirts. (see tutorial here for sale here.)

     I loved mine so much, I decided a few more were in order just for my own personal use. This time I tried it with some sparkly (mmmm...sparkles make me happy) striped sweater type fabric...

    ...and some ruffled fabric. (I see I need to trim off that top little bit of ruffle...didn't notice it until after snapping pictures.)

      I wanted to show you these two, because if lace isn't your thing, there is still plenty of options for this skirt! These two fabrics were much stretchier than the lace was, so they are more "straight" than "pencil". It's ok, but if I did it again I would cut them a bit more narrow below the hip.

      These will be fun to wear through the winter with boots. I made a top out of the sweater fabric, so I can do a sweater dress look if I want. The more options the better, right?!

      Hope you have a tremendously fabulous Labor Day!

Romans 8:28   And we know that all things work together for good to them thatlove God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

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Circle Skirts Reinvented - Hi/Low and Asymmetrical Hemlines

       Circle skirts are fun to wear and fun to sew. I thought would play around with changing up the hemlines on the basic circle skirt with some soft, drapey fabric I recently purchased. I did a hi/low hemline and an asymmetrical hemline, and I rather liked them both!

      I used black elastic for the waist, and lined them with a short underskirt. The fabric is thin, with a lovely drape, which is exactly what you want for a circle skirt. You don't want to add any unnecessary bulk to the hips with thick fabric.

(White top can be purchased here or made following this tutorial.)

      For the hi/low hemline, cut out a basic circle skirt as long as you want the longest length to be. (Made has a great tutorial, so go there if you need help with that.)

     Unfold the skirt.

      Start cutting one side as short as you want the short part to be and slope it down to meet the long part of the skirt. You want the slope to end about halfway around the skirt.

        For the asymmetrical hemline, leave the skirt folded and do the same thing.

      Check out this tutorial if you need help putting on an elastic waist with an underskirt. This is such a simple way to take a classic cut, and make it a bit more modern.

      I had to be content with short ones, because of the width of my fabric. I'd love to try long ones if I can get my hands on some 60" apparel fabric. So, what do you think? Are circle skirts allowed to be tampered with?
These skirts are available in either color in my Etsy shop.

2 Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

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singing three little birds
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Lace Pencil Skirt Tutorial

      So how do you feel about lace? I'm pretty much a big fan of it in pretty much any form. Its classic. I like classic. This skirt is easy and I'm going to show you to make it, because you're going to need one. And once you make one, you'll probably need to make another color.

       So, here's how its done. You need a yard of lace, preferably lace that has a nice edge. We like to skip hemming whenever possible. You also need a yard of lining. I stuck to neutral colors, but I think white lace over a bright color would be fabulous too. And lastly, you need enough 2 inch elastic to fit around your waist.
     Measure your hip and your waist ( or wherever you like the waist of your skirts to sit). Lay your fabric out folded in half. Cut it as long as you want your skirt to be. I cut my lining an inch shorter than my lace. I did the lining 20 inches.

      Now, mark with chalk your waist measurement at the top and bottom of the fabric. Half way in between mark the hip measurement.

      Now, curve out a line following those points, and cut it out. I use my french curve ruler for this, so that I make sure the line is all neat and tidy like.

       Do the same thing for your lace. If your lace already has a finished edge, make sure to measure up from the bottom rather than from the top.

        Once you have both skirts cut out, sew up the sides of each one.

      Put the lining inside the lace. Normally, when you do a lining, you would want the lining seam to face the lace seam on the inside of the garment. Lace is see through so in this case, you want both seams facing inward. That sounded confusing...basically, you want the right sides of both the lace and the lining to face out. Grab your elastic and cut it long enough to fit around you comfortably.

      Sew the ends of the elastic together.

      The way that is shown above is really not the best way to sew it together. Its neater if you sew it like a regular seam, and then fold the seam flat and sew it down again. Anyway, now you have a waistband of elastic. Next you need to pin it to the top of your skirt and lining. I like to mark the sides of the elastic with chalk so that I can pin it to the side seams accurately.

     I pin it at the side seams, and then the centers of both front and back.

      Sew the elastic to the skirt. You'll need to pull the elastic as you sew, and you'll probably need to help it through the machine with your other hand. I use my serger to sew the elastic. If you lower the cutting knife first, it sews on just nicely.

      That's all there is to it!

      See? Didn't I tell you that was easy?!

     Both versions are available in my Etsy shop, and the cream one will be available at AJ's Boutique. Happy Sewing!

Psalms 19:7   The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 

Linking to:
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