Showing posts with label drawstring skirts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drawstring skirts. Show all posts
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A Few Bargins
all pre-washed and each ready for their turn to be turned into something spectacular!Ok just more skirts but they will still be spectacular!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
No Snow Yet!
We are supposed to be getting a total of up to 6 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow. So far a little rain but no snow.
Elena was hard at work this evening making birthday gifts for three of her friends.
The soaps she made for her friends turned out so pretty and the house now has the pleasant aroma of lavender. I like when Elena makes soap.
Between last night and this evening I made 17 drawstrings for my various skirts and pinned eyelet ruffle to the bottom of one of the pink Mother and Daughter toile skirts.Isn't it going to look so cute? My grandma sent me yards and yards and yards of this beautiful flat eyelet.
Elena was hard at work this evening making birthday gifts for three of her friends.
The soaps she made for her friends turned out so pretty and the house now has the pleasant aroma of lavender. I like when Elena makes soap.
Between last night and this evening I made 17 drawstrings for my various skirts and pinned eyelet ruffle to the bottom of one of the pink Mother and Daughter toile skirts.Isn't it going to look so cute? My grandma sent me yards and yards and yards of this beautiful flat eyelet.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Bouquet of Beauty
Well, maybe not to most but to one old fabric lover it is!
Here is a peak of my pile of half finished drawstring skirts. Sixteen of them! It doesn't look like much now but wait until they are finished! I have the easy parts done. Now I will be working on adding the eyelets,hems, and things like ruffle or rickrack as time permits over the next few weeks. I can get a lot accomplished sneaking in a few moments here and there when things are semi quiet around here. I just get very exited when I see the things I envisioned in my mind start to become reality.
This blue fabric below with the pink flowers I am making three of.One baby/toddler size,one young girl size, and one for Elena. She really liked this fabric.
I had to give a close up of this fabric. It is a part of a group named Mother and Daughter that I saw at Hancock Fabrics. Elena thought it looks more like two sisters and I agree but it still is so cute! As you see in my pile above I have the pink Mother and Daughter toile version as well. They might end up odd looking skirts but then again maybe they will look real neat!
There are a few kids that naturally gravitate towards the table when I have my projects laying out. Elena,She loves chatting with me while I sew. Grant and Alan (with his cup of tea) also will look for comfy spots to sit just to chat about life as the sewing machine is humming. Joshua always wants any extra scraps I have left over to make things for his stuffties. Ekie is a fabric lover like I am.I do not think there is a fabric I own that Ekie does not think is really pretty. Joel is always around as well wanting scraps. Just the other day Joel saw my 'ideas book' where I tape little fabric swatches and jot down the zillions of project and quilt ideas that swim constantly in my head. He was SO exited about the book and thought I taped all the fabric in the book just for him. Maybe I will help him make is own book like that sometime.
Here is a peak of my pile of half finished drawstring skirts. Sixteen of them! It doesn't look like much now but wait until they are finished! I have the easy parts done. Now I will be working on adding the eyelets,hems, and things like ruffle or rickrack as time permits over the next few weeks. I can get a lot accomplished sneaking in a few moments here and there when things are semi quiet around here. I just get very exited when I see the things I envisioned in my mind start to become reality.
This blue fabric below with the pink flowers I am making three of.One baby/toddler size,one young girl size, and one for Elena. She really liked this fabric.
I had to give a close up of this fabric. It is a part of a group named Mother and Daughter that I saw at Hancock Fabrics. Elena thought it looks more like two sisters and I agree but it still is so cute! As you see in my pile above I have the pink Mother and Daughter toile version as well. They might end up odd looking skirts but then again maybe they will look real neat!
There are a few kids that naturally gravitate towards the table when I have my projects laying out. Elena,She loves chatting with me while I sew. Grant and Alan (with his cup of tea) also will look for comfy spots to sit just to chat about life as the sewing machine is humming. Joshua always wants any extra scraps I have left over to make things for his stuffties. Ekie is a fabric lover like I am.I do not think there is a fabric I own that Ekie does not think is really pretty. Joel is always around as well wanting scraps. Just the other day Joel saw my 'ideas book' where I tape little fabric swatches and jot down the zillions of project and quilt ideas that swim constantly in my head. He was SO exited about the book and thought I taped all the fabric in the book just for him. Maybe I will help him make is own book like that sometime.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Drawstring Skirt Tutorial Part III
You are almost finished!!
Now you can try the skirt on your little one and make the drawstring shorter if you desire. Double check the skirt length as well.I usually make sure the drawstring length is equal on each side and then sew the drawstring to the back seam so it does not shift around as much.
If you would like to shorten your skirt make sure you include an extra 5/8 to an inch for the finished hem. The width of the lace you use could add extra length as well.
For the hem press under about 1/4 inch all the way around but do not sew.
On the outside starting at the back skirt seam lay the lace edge up against the pressed skirt edge right sides together as shown in the picture. Overlap the lace raw edges about an inch at the point where they meet up at the back seam.
Sew close to the edge.
Press the lace down and away from the skirt and on the skirt inside press the seam toward the skirt.
On the outside of the skirt top stich close to the edge making sure you are catching the seam on the inside as well. There should not be any raw edges exposed.
You are finished!!!!
See how easy it was! If it seemed hard it was probably just my lack of good directions.
With a little tweaking and imagination this same basic skirt design can be used so may different ways!
Lily would not stay still long enough for me to get many good pictures of her modeling the skirt but it did turn out very cute!
Now you can try the skirt on your little one and make the drawstring shorter if you desire. Double check the skirt length as well.I usually make sure the drawstring length is equal on each side and then sew the drawstring to the back seam so it does not shift around as much.
If you would like to shorten your skirt make sure you include an extra 5/8 to an inch for the finished hem. The width of the lace you use could add extra length as well.
For the hem press under about 1/4 inch all the way around but do not sew.
On the outside starting at the back skirt seam lay the lace edge up against the pressed skirt edge right sides together as shown in the picture. Overlap the lace raw edges about an inch at the point where they meet up at the back seam.
Sew close to the edge.
Press the lace down and away from the skirt and on the skirt inside press the seam toward the skirt.
On the outside of the skirt top stich close to the edge making sure you are catching the seam on the inside as well. There should not be any raw edges exposed.
You are finished!!!!
See how easy it was! If it seemed hard it was probably just my lack of good directions.
With a little tweaking and imagination this same basic skirt design can be used so may different ways!
Lily would not stay still long enough for me to get many good pictures of her modeling the skirt but it did turn out very cute!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Drawstring Skirt Tutorial Part II
Today we are going to work on the drawstring casing and eyelets.
Measure 1 1/2 inches from the skirt top all the way around. For me the easiest way is to baste 1 1/2 inches with my sewing machine using the biggest stitch. If you machine bed does not have a 1 1/2 inch mark to follow measure 1 1/2 inches from the needle and mark the spot with a piece of masking tape.
Press under a 1/4 inch seam towards the inside of the skirt all the way around the skirt top. I usually just eyeball it.
Then fold the skirt top on the 1 1/2 inch basting mark to the inside of the skirt. Press the drawstring casting but do not sew.
Find the center front of the skirt make a crease with the iron for reference.I usually place a pin right underneath where the drawstring casting is to help in placement of my eyelets.
Unfold the drawstring casting and trim your piece of fusible interfacing to fit between your reference pin and the 1 1/2 inch basting. Make sure the interfacing extends about 1 1/2 inches on both sides on your center skirt front. Press the interfacing on to the skirt. In this picture I am using fusible web and a scrap of the skirt fabric instead of interfacing. I found through experience that the eyelets fare better with some sort of reinforcement.
Following the directions that come with the eyelets use the eyelet tools and hammer to place an eyelet on each side of the skirt front.
Re-fold and press the drawstring casting to the skirt inside. Sew closed. Pull out the basting stitches.
To make the drawstring take the 1 1/2 inch by 44 inch piece of fabric you cut and press each edge in about 1/4 inch. I usually eyeball my 1/4 inch.
fold the edges together with wrong sides facing each other.
Sew close to the edge.
With your safety pin push the draw string through one of the eyelets through the casting and back out though the other eyelet. Tie both ends of the drawstring so the drawstring will not get lost in the casting.
I forgot to take a picture of this but here is what it looks like on another skirt I made.
You are almost finished!
Come back for part III
Measure 1 1/2 inches from the skirt top all the way around. For me the easiest way is to baste 1 1/2 inches with my sewing machine using the biggest stitch. If you machine bed does not have a 1 1/2 inch mark to follow measure 1 1/2 inches from the needle and mark the spot with a piece of masking tape.
Press under a 1/4 inch seam towards the inside of the skirt all the way around the skirt top. I usually just eyeball it.
Then fold the skirt top on the 1 1/2 inch basting mark to the inside of the skirt. Press the drawstring casting but do not sew.
Find the center front of the skirt make a crease with the iron for reference.I usually place a pin right underneath where the drawstring casting is to help in placement of my eyelets.
Unfold the drawstring casting and trim your piece of fusible interfacing to fit between your reference pin and the 1 1/2 inch basting. Make sure the interfacing extends about 1 1/2 inches on both sides on your center skirt front. Press the interfacing on to the skirt. In this picture I am using fusible web and a scrap of the skirt fabric instead of interfacing. I found through experience that the eyelets fare better with some sort of reinforcement.
Following the directions that come with the eyelets use the eyelet tools and hammer to place an eyelet on each side of the skirt front.
Re-fold and press the drawstring casting to the skirt inside. Sew closed. Pull out the basting stitches.
To make the drawstring take the 1 1/2 inch by 44 inch piece of fabric you cut and press each edge in about 1/4 inch. I usually eyeball my 1/4 inch.
fold the edges together with wrong sides facing each other.
Sew close to the edge.
With your safety pin push the draw string through one of the eyelets through the casting and back out though the other eyelet. Tie both ends of the drawstring so the drawstring will not get lost in the casting.
I forgot to take a picture of this but here is what it looks like on another skirt I made.
You are almost finished!
Come back for part III
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Drawstring Skirt Tutorial Part I
Here is my first try at writing a sewing tutorial!
Drawstring skirts are very easy and inexpensive to make.
Here I am making a baby/toddler skirt. The finished length is about 12 inches.
Supplies:
1/2 yard of 44/45" wide pre-washed and ironed cotton fabric.
1 yard of lace for the bottom hem
A 3 x 2 inch piece of fusible interfacing or fusible web
Two large eyelet sets and eyelet tools (the tools come in most of the packages)
A hammer
A safety pin small enough to fit in the eyelet hole
Before you measure and cut your fabric make sure your edges are straight on the grain. What I do is make a little cut on the selvage close to the edge and rip the fabric across to the other selvage end. From there I measure the desired length I need. The selvage is the two sides of the fabric that do not unravel.
For a baby/toddler size measure off a 13 inch length. I usually just make a cut at the 13 inch length on the selvage and rip the fabric across to the other selvage. Now you should have a nice 13 x 44 inch piece of fabric for your skirt.Trim off the selvages.
Here in the picture I was measuring off 18 inches for my young girl's size drawstring skirt. You can see where I am starting to rip it.
Now with the extra fabric measure and cut a 1 1/2 inch (x 44) strip for the drawstring and set aside.
For my baby/toddler size I trim my 13 x 44 piece of fabric down to 13 x 33 inches.
Fold the 13 x 33 inch piece of fabric in half right sides together so the two 13 inch edges meet. Sew together with a 5/8th inch seam.
Press your seam open.
You can leave your seam like it is or finish it with a zig zag or other stitch to prevent the seam from fraying with many washings.
Here I am finishing my seam with a mock french seam.
With the seams pressed open flat fold and press each seam edge back toward the main seam.
Now pin the folded seam allowances together, press and sew close to the edge. Press finished seam to one side.
Check back for part II !
Drawstring skirts are very easy and inexpensive to make.
Here I am making a baby/toddler skirt. The finished length is about 12 inches.
Supplies:
1/2 yard of 44/45" wide pre-washed and ironed cotton fabric.
1 yard of lace for the bottom hem
A 3 x 2 inch piece of fusible interfacing or fusible web
Two large eyelet sets and eyelet tools (the tools come in most of the packages)
A hammer
A safety pin small enough to fit in the eyelet hole
Before you measure and cut your fabric make sure your edges are straight on the grain. What I do is make a little cut on the selvage close to the edge and rip the fabric across to the other selvage end. From there I measure the desired length I need. The selvage is the two sides of the fabric that do not unravel.
For a baby/toddler size measure off a 13 inch length. I usually just make a cut at the 13 inch length on the selvage and rip the fabric across to the other selvage. Now you should have a nice 13 x 44 inch piece of fabric for your skirt.Trim off the selvages.
Here in the picture I was measuring off 18 inches for my young girl's size drawstring skirt. You can see where I am starting to rip it.
Now with the extra fabric measure and cut a 1 1/2 inch (x 44) strip for the drawstring and set aside.
For my baby/toddler size I trim my 13 x 44 piece of fabric down to 13 x 33 inches.
Fold the 13 x 33 inch piece of fabric in half right sides together so the two 13 inch edges meet. Sew together with a 5/8th inch seam.
Press your seam open.
You can leave your seam like it is or finish it with a zig zag or other stitch to prevent the seam from fraying with many washings.
Here I am finishing my seam with a mock french seam.
With the seams pressed open flat fold and press each seam edge back toward the main seam.
Now pin the folded seam allowances together, press and sew close to the edge. Press finished seam to one side.
Check back for part II !
Monday, March 9, 2009
Just What a Young Girl Loves
Something purple and sparkly!
Anya, my sweet little model. The baby/toddler skirt up next on my sewing list.
Anya, my sweet little model. The baby/toddler skirt up next on my sewing list.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sunday Sewing Rap Up
I finished my Baby/Toddler Funky Flowers drawstring skirt today. Lily did not really want to sit and have her picture taken today but I think I got a few good pictures anyway.
I just wanted to show the inside of the skirt. After a few days of thinking and few tries I figured out how to cover the inside exposed edges of the bottom ruffles.I have not used my serger for years and have gone back to just the good old fashion sewing machine to make clothes because it is easier for me. It is fun for to try different ways to make the inside look as pretty as it can. I still do not know how to make the inside raw edges on a sleeve look pretty. Someday, I will investigate that.
I just wanted to show the inside of the skirt. After a few days of thinking and few tries I figured out how to cover the inside exposed edges of the bottom ruffles.I have not used my serger for years and have gone back to just the good old fashion sewing machine to make clothes because it is easier for me. It is fun for to try different ways to make the inside look as pretty as it can. I still do not know how to make the inside raw edges on a sleeve look pretty. Someday, I will investigate that.
An Afternoon Delight
This afternoon found us traveling to Joanne Fabrics in Mankato to get my monthly fix of fabric!
I am going to try a very daring thing with my new love for making drawstring skirts...I found this beautiful off-white satin type fabric and lengths of two different beautiful overlay lace. What if I was able to use this to make two very unique drawstring skirts for young girls? Can you envision it? Now, I might come across an unforeseen snag in my design plan. If you see it now don't spoil it by telling me. Part of the fun of creating are those "oops, I should have thought of that before" moments. But until then I am dreaming...
Debbie Mumm fabric was on sale. She really is one of my favorites. These will be four different receiving baby blankets. I decided to use white Soft and Comfy for the backing on all four. When I start on these in a few weeks I will be sure to share how I make them. They are SO easy and pretty inexpensive to make if you get all the fabric on sale.
I am going to try a very daring thing with my new love for making drawstring skirts...I found this beautiful off-white satin type fabric and lengths of two different beautiful overlay lace. What if I was able to use this to make two very unique drawstring skirts for young girls? Can you envision it? Now, I might come across an unforeseen snag in my design plan. If you see it now don't spoil it by telling me. Part of the fun of creating are those "oops, I should have thought of that before" moments. But until then I am dreaming...
Debbie Mumm fabric was on sale. She really is one of my favorites. These will be four different receiving baby blankets. I decided to use white Soft and Comfy for the backing on all four. When I start on these in a few weeks I will be sure to share how I make them. They are SO easy and pretty inexpensive to make if you get all the fabric on sale.
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