One By One

Skirt from a dress, the finish

Using 2" elastic, I wrapped it around my waist where I wanted the skirt top to sit, stretching the elastic a wee-bit tight. I need to make sure my skirts aren't going anywhere - I have a toddler that likes to pull at them! Then I added 1" for a seam allowance.

After sewing the two ends of the elastic together, I marked the elastic into four equal sections, using pins.

I also marked the skirt into four equal sections (the side seams are the first two!).

 

Putting the elastic and skirt right sides together, matching the pins on the elastic to the pins on the skirt, I serged along the top, stretching the elastic to fit the skirt.

Then pressed this serged seam down, towards the skirt.

FINISHED!!

 

Such a simple refashion! And so easy to do!!

Skirt from a dress

Around our house, 2010 has become the year of losing the baby-weight. For both Andy and myself.

We've had great success thus far - Andy's lost 30 pounds, and I'm at 20 pounds. Quite an accomplishment!

The bad news is that we are quickly out-shrinking our clothes.

I have a handful of knit jersey dresses that I just love. Most of them were used as maternity dresses while pregnant/nursing... I bought them in pretty large sizes. I literally swim in them now, but love the prints. What else to do, but refashion them!

The easiest thing I could think of was to make an elastic-waist skirt. Here's the first part of what I did!

 

There it is - the uber-big dress that no longer fits!

 

I cut the bodice away from the skirt portion. 

I think the most difficult part of this project was making the top even. I decided to fold the skirt in half (side seam to side seam), and cut along the top making it curve up just a bit at the side seam edges.

All even!

Coming up next - attaching the elastic.

Simplicity 2614, Finished!

It's done, and I love it!

Here it is on the dress form.

I loved the curve along the bottom hem. Instead of fussing with a double-folded hem, I decided to use bias tape. I can't remember where I saw how to do this, but the results are fantastic... and so easy! The view from the inside:

Pattern Description -

Misses Pull Over Tops with Separate Patterns for A,B,C,D Cup Sizes

Pattern Sizing - 6-22. I cut a 14 with the C cup option.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Very easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I love that this is a woven top needing no closures. I love that it was so easy to sew and that it has the optional cup sizes. The only thing I did not like about this pattern was cutting the bodice front in two pieces, but that was easy enough to change.

Fabric Used: Cotton. A vintage inspired print purchased from Joann's a few years ago.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

As described on this blog post, I used my sloper to help in making a couple of changes to the pattern:

- Cut the bodice front on the fold.

- Added 1" to the bodice front side seams, and therefore adding 1" to the front portion of the sleeves at the underarm seam.

- Added princess darts on the back.

- Used a 3/8" seam allowance on the side seams.

I also finished off the bottom hem with bias tape, instead of folding under. I also top-stitched along the neckline.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes. This top has the potential to become a wardrobe staple.

Conclusion:

This came together quite quickly and painlessly.

Simplicity 2614, the start

In thinking about how to use the bodice sloper, I decided that making changes to a simple top would be a good start.

After looking at some reviews on Pattern Review, Simplicity/Threads 2614 seemed like a good choice, view A - the cap sleeved version without the tie.

I traced off the front sloper on pattern-ease in order to manipulate the sloper darts and compare it to the pattern piece. Since the 14C was closest to my bust measurement, that is the pattern size I started with.

I also compared the back sloper to the back pattern piece.

Here are the changes I made to the pattern:

- Cut the bodice front on the fold.

- Added 1" to the bodice front side seams, and therefore adding 1" to the front portion of the sleeves at the underarm seam.

- Added princess darts on the back.

- Used a 3/8" seam allowance on the side seams.

Bodice Sloper Finished

It doesn't look like much, but I hope to get A LOT of use out of it!

The class is continuing onto making slopers for pants. I'm a bit bummed that we are not making a blouse using the sloper we just finished, and probably won't get to it for two months.

I am impatient. I can't possibly wait two months to use this baby!!

So, I'll be winging it until then. I have a book, and my experience as a home sewer. May stumble along the way, but it will be a great learning experience and lots of fun!

Then I can learn the proper way of using my sloper in a couple of months. Until then, it's onto making a pants sloper!!

Eight!

Eight years today I married the love of my life...

Looking forward to spending a wonderful evening with Andy, lil' man free :)

DIYC Basic A-line, Finishing

Here it is, all finished!

I decided to not add pockets to this skirt as originally planned. The bottom ruffle added just the perfect little touch, the addition of the pockets seemed to make it "a little too much."

There are times when I am just as happy with what the inside looks like as what the outside looks like. This is one of those times!

I am lacking a modeling shot, hoping to get one soon. I love the fit of the skirt! And the best part? I drafted the skirt pattern myself!

Next up the the DIYC Journey, I plan on making another A-line skirt. I think I may have to re-draft the pattern again - adding more sweep and adjusting for the recent weight loss (seven pounds!).

Giveaway!

Really quick one today. Kris, over at Kris Primps!, is having a giveaway featuring a few of my earring creations!

Sunday is the entering deadline, go. Go now and check it out!!

Easter

In comparison to his first Easter, Jake was a huge participant in hunting for eggs this year!

What a difference a year makes!!

 

In the beginning he kept wanting to put the first egg that he found back where he found it.

 

 

But after a little explaining, and seeing his two cousins rushing around, he got the idea!

 

It didn't take him long to become a pro.

 

 

Jake collected four eggs in all, pretty good for a 21 month old!

Here, when it was all over, Jake kept signing "more" "eggs". He wanted to hunt again! Too cute!

DIYC Basic A-line, Petersham Ribbon Facing

I discovered Petersham Ribbon a couple of years ago. It is often compared to grosgrain ribbon except that Petersham has a woven edge. This gives it some flexibility properties and helps waistbands conform and fit more comfortably.

Having had success with using Petersham Ribbon, I am a complete convert! I use it whenever I can.

So, back to the basic A-line skirt from DIYC. Last we saw the skirt, the lining was basted (and ease/fitted) to the top of the skirt front, and the lining raw edges were finished off onto the zipper tape.

Now comes the fun part - preparing and attaching the facing!

To pre-shrink the Petersham, I dunk it in hot water and steam shape it with an iron. I almost always use 1.5" wide Petersham, I just like the way it fits my body. While at the iron, I steam and stretch one long edge of the Petersham into a wide curve. It's hard to tell in the picture, but the Petersham essentially becomes and upside-down smile, the stretched curved edge is notated by the pin.

 

The Petersham is attached to the outside of the skirt, with the unstretched edge stitched along the top of the skirt. Once folded to the lining side, the stretched edge of the Petersham allows for a comfortable fit along the tummy and abdomen area (well, for those of us with tummies and abdomens!).

I try my best to sew the unstretched edge of the Petersham right along the ease stitching lines, with the stretched edge extending beyond the top of the skirt. 

Here it is stitched:

 

And here is what it looks like on the lining side.

Next I turn the Petersham to the lining side of the skirt, press-steam-press-steam-press, tuck under the two short edges along the zipper, and either top-stitch along the entire skirt top or stitch-in-the-ditch along the side seams and darts. 

Next up, the finishing touches.