March 26, 2009

Sew easy...peasy. Cheesy?


Hello. You like-y? Well, if you do, then you should make one. Seriously! It's soooo easy. Yes, there is a zipper, but don't let that scare you. I say "bah - zippers shmippers." The directions for drafting the skirt are found in my most favorite pattern book Sew What! Skirts. I love this book! I really don't think I will buy another skirt pattern, because this book empowers me to design my own. The above skirt took me about 2 hours to make. If I didn't add the pleated bottom, it would have only taken me an hour tops! The directions for sewing on a zipper are so well written that I have yet to botch one (i kinda wish i didn't write that, because we all know what will happen next). The top is from Anthro and I wear it with practically every skirt I model on this blog. I'm due for another Anthro shopping trip =)

This summer it's all about skirts for me. Bunk the shorts. They don't flatter me and I do believe Oprah agrees with me. Didn't she do some show on what not to wear and mention something about how unflattering shorts are? Anyways, I'm loving my A-line skirt pattern with my Echino fabric. I already have plans for another skirt with this fabric.

~ How I made the skirt ~

First, I drafted the pattern by following the instructions on how to draft an A line skirt pattern (Sew What! Skirts). I used about 2.5 yards of fabric and one 7" zipper. For the pleats, I cut four 7" strips of fabric (7" x width of fabric) and sewed them together making one very wide 7" strip of fabric. I then hemmed the bottom edge of the strip, but I left 3" unhemmed on each side of the fabric (for making adjustments). On the wrong side of the strip and along the upper edge, I made a mark every 1.25". I folded the fabric wrong side to wrong side every other mark. The folds should have 2 marks touching and a middle mark on the fold. With a basting stitch and inside the seam allowance, I sewed the folds down. Ironed the pleats. Pinned the pleated fabric to the skirt. Made adjustments to the pleats, so that I could sew the pleated strip together. I then hemmed the unhemmed portion of the pleats. Pinned the rest of the pleats to the skirt. Sewed the pleats to the skirt and Voila! A spring skirt.
Oh please, don't rain this weekend =)

Cheers,
Jamie

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the color and the skirt looks fabulous on you.
I agree - no shorts, skirts kick butt!

Leah said...

Love the material and the pleats make the skirt. nice job.

Anonymous said...

It's adorable... and I agree that skirts, when having chosen the right style for you, are much more feminine than shorts. Very sweet pleats!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
(and love your fabric choice too)

Mary said...

Jamie that skirt is so beautiful! I love it.

Anonymous said...

Oh Jamie, i love this skirt!! It's soo beautiful! Have a lovely day and a merry weekend! Love to you and yours!

Laura said...

LOVE the skirt - I think the pleats make the skirt. Very cute! I can't sew zippers to save my life! Have a great weekend!

Paulette said...

Absolutely adorable!!! And you are so damn skinny!!!

Pretty Ditty said...

Thanks everyone =)

Paulette - I love you!
Seriously, it's all about twisting the body so the hips are not square to the camera. All a bunch of smoke and mirrors =)

GoyaDesigns said...

Way to make that book work for you. If I wasn't so nervous about wrecking great fabric, I would buy the book and try making a skirt myself.

Colleen said...

Great skirt! You are such a talented person! I have the book but haven't done anything with it yet. After seeing your wonderful creation I am inspired.

Giabella Designs said...

Hey Jamie, I'm with you. I don't even own a pair of shorts! I have 2 skirts that a co-worker recycled to me from American Eagle Outfitters and I really love them. I am usually not a skirt wearer either but I might just make one like yours! I need to get that book first....great job!

viagra said...

I like skirts because you look sexy and they are easy to made and very confortable, I don't really care what people say about me usually I wear jeans, tennis and shirts, simple and confortable.
Thanks

generic viagra said...

It's a beautiful skirt. I've got a similar one but with different fabrics but it has the same design, and I just love it because it's a good pattern. 23jj

www.muebles-en-granada.com said...

It won't work in actual fact, that is what I suppose.

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