Tag Archives: Clothing
Boom
Fall Transition
A Must Try T-Shirt DIY
Here is the High End Version of this t-shirt…..which ranges from $130-$200.
Now check out the DIY VERSION C/O Merricks Art
Pretty Amazing…..for the tutorial on how to make this t-shirt click here.
Enjoy & Happy DIY(ING)
5 Tips To Buying Jeans To Fit You Perfectly Every Time
I just had to share…….great tips and I just love Mimi’s blog.
Designer Look For Less
Hello all,
Today’s post is all about my obsession with this skirt. This skirt originally retails for $830 and the sale price is $498. Both prices are out of my budget for a skirt. So I decided to make the look for less for an event that I will be attending in September.
First I had to decide what type of fabric I wanted to use. My first thought was to use silk organza like the original. Then it dawned on me that if I was going to make this skirt, I wanted to be able to wear it all year around. So I decided to go with Polyester Peachskin, which I loved working with. Now with the fabric chosen and purchased it was time to get to work.
This skirt is really very easy to make. It just a simple gathered skirt that is color blocked.
So here is what you will need:
5/8 of a yard of the Pink Polyester Peachskin (which is 60″ wide)
3/8 of a yard of the Mustard Gold Polyester Peachskin
Light to Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing
Pink and Mustard Gold Thread
Zipper (pink zipper regular or invisible) I used a regular zipper because I already had it on hand
Crochet Yarn (to make gathering easier)
2 hook and eyes (large ones)
Next take the necessary measurements
Decide how long you want the skirt to be. I wanted my skirt 25″ Long
The majority of the skirt is going to be pink so I cut my fabric 16″ long by the entire width. This includes 1/2″ seam allowance when attaching the waistband and 1/2″ seam allowance for attaching the mustard piece.
Next cut the mustard piece 9″ this includes 1/2″ seam allowance for attaching to the pink portion of the skirt and 1/2″ hem.
Now it’s time to cut the waistband and interfacing. Take your natural waist measurement. Then add 1″ of ease + 2.5″ for the waistband to overlap by 5″ wide. The 5″ width includes 1/2 seam allowance for attaching the waistband to the skirt. For a finished 2″ waistband. So my waistband was…..(34 (waist) + 1″ (of ease) + 2.5″ (for the waistband to overlap) for a total 37.5″ long x 5″ wide.
You will have 3 strips like this (note that my waistband is not cut to waist measurement in photo…. I forgot to take the pic…lol)
Set the waistband portions aside for now. Take your main pink skirt piece and the mustard piece and open them up and lay the gold on top of the pink with right sides touching each other pin or clip like so.
Sew along the pin/clipped area with a 1/2″ seam and finish the seam with a zig-zag stitch, pinking shears or a serger/overlock machine and press your seam down towards the mustard portion. ( I use Alligator hair clip instead of pins at times because they are quick. ) Be sure to designate them only for sewing. You can get 80 for $5. (cheaper alternative than Clover Wonder Clips.)
Here is the inside of my finished seam. I also serged the mustard bottom portion and the sides…..sorry forgot to photograph this step.
Now take this piece and fold it in half,(be sure the gold and pink match up, so it will be even when sewn.) lay your zipper on top of the pink portion and mark or pin/clip just above the zipper stop like so.
Now with the zipper marked you are going to sew from the bottom to the top with a 5/8″ seam allowance. Start at the mustard portion and work your way up. Once you get to where you made the mark for the zipper you need to back stitch and then do a basting stitch the rest of the way up. To baste simply change your tension to the highest setting, on my Janome that is 9. Basting is a loose temporary stitch. It should look like this.
Now press the seam open to prepare to install the zipper.
Here is a view of the right side of the tube you have just sewn.
Ok, let’s put the zipper in face down like so
Take everything back to your sewing machine. REMEMBER to set your tension back to it’s regular setting and then put on your zipper foot. Sew each side of the zipper tape as close to the teeth as possible.
When you’re done it will look like this
It’s time to remove the basting stitches like so
When you’re done removing the basting stitches it will look like this
Tada…….your zipper is installed and done.
Next onto gathering the skirt. To do so, your going to take your crochet yarn and clip/pin 1/4″ from the top edge all the way around the skirt like so.
Take it to your sewing machine and zig-zag stitch over the string. Starting a 1/2″ away from the zipper and stopping 1/2″ before the other side of the zipper.
Now pull on the crochet yarn to gather to your natural waist measurement
Now we are going to set the skirt aside and work on the waistband. You are going to take the waistband fabric and apply the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. The technique I use to apply interfacing is this. I lay the fabric with the wrong side facing up. Lay the fusible interfacing face down on the wrong side of the fabric. Mist the interfacing with water, take a piece of muslin and lay it on top and lay your iron on top. Work on each section like this until the entire waistband has been fused with the interfacing. Do not move the iron back and forth. Sit it on each section and rest it for 15-20 seconds and move on. One all done let the waistband completely cool. Once cool turn it over on the right side and give it a good press. This technique gives you a nice and smooth look.
To add the waistband. With the zipper open, pin the waistband piece to the very top of your skirt. It should overhang by about half an inch on one end and 1.5 inches on the other. Sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance
Press the waistband down, making sure that the seam allowance (on the inside) is facing upwards, towards the top of the skirt.
Now, press the top, raw edge of the waistband 1/2 inch.
Then fold then entire waistband toward the inside of the skirt and pin so that the previously folded edge is sitting right on top of the seam that you used to connect the band to the skirt.
Sew Close to the edge like so
Now attach the hook an eye according the package directions
The last thing left to do is to hem the skirt with a 1/2″ seam
Just give the skirt a good press and your all done.
I am really excited at just how great this skirt turned out. I am more excited to share this with everyone!!!!!
The original version is $498. My DIY version cost me $20.00. I will take spending $20 over $498 any day.
Enjoy, Happy Sewing and feel free to ask questions.
Until Next Time,
Sewloveable
Oh So Blue
Endless Possibilities
Mixing the Old with the New
A few weeks ago I had an event to attend for 3 days. So prior to attending I did a little shopping for it. My store of choice was Belk, which just happens to be the sponsor of one of my favorite shows Project Runway Season 12. When I walk in the store they are having an amazing sell. The entire store is marked down with additional discounts on the mark down prices. I was one “Happy Shopper” to say the least. So here is what I ended up buying and ways that I did and will pair it.
This is how I wore it for the event.
The red necklace (old from Jcpenny) The Navy Lace Top (Target) Mustard Skirt (Belk)
What I love about the skirt and the top is that they will work with many other pairings from my existing wardrobe. Also the pieces can be worn all year round with simple tweaks in my pairing choices.
Here is a way I will pair it in the fall. I love to play around and mix colors
Burgundy lace 3/4 sleeve top old (New York & Co.) Necklace old (Target) Mustard Skirt (Belk)
The dress (Belk) The Necklace Old and I can’t remember if it came from (Burlington Coat Factory or JCPenny)
I was drawn to this dress because of the colorful print and the fact with simple changes like adding a cardigan, jacket, different accessories or changing the shoes would make it look new with every wear of the dress.
Magenta Pink Dress (Belk) Black Jacket Elie Tahari Old (Consignment Shop) Neon Yellow/Green Cardigan Old (Target) Pearl and Crystal Necklace (JCPenny) Multi Color Necklace Old (Burlington Coat Factory)
I loved the bold color of this dress and the fact that it is lace. This dress can be paired in many, many ways with simple changes, like belting it etc. If your looking for ideas on different ways to wear your clothing check out the blog Wendyslookbook. I love her blog and youtube videos. She has a sensational sense of style and really gets you to think outside the box with the way you wear your clothes.
Enjoy and Happy Fashionable Pairings ☺
Mixing It Up A Little
Sewloveable 