DIY Spring Time African Print Gathered Skirt

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello everyone,

Welcome To Thread It Thursday!!!!

When I saw this fabric…..I just had to bring it home. It screams “Spring” and I knew it would make a cute skirt for my daughter. Plus it has her favorite color in it purple.

Elastic waist gathered skirts are sooooo easy to make. You can make one in an hour or less.

To make this skirt check out a previous post here and you can also check out this skirt in another African Print here and here.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, it’s truly appreciated.

Happy Sewing & Until Next Time,

Sewloveable ☺

2Apr2015

Midi Waxed African Print Gathered Skirt

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Thread It Thursday!!!

I love fabric shopping. My creativity just comes to life in the fabric store. Now, if I could sew as fast as I can mentally create. While shopping, this African Print Fabric totally caught my attention. I love the vibrant colors and print. I instantly had an idea of what I would make. Since there was only a 1 1/2 yards left 😦 I had to scrap my original idea. So, I decided to whip up this to this gathered midi skirt. I have an obsession with midi length skirts. They just scream classic.

If you would like to make this skirt click here. I have a previous tutorial you can check out.

I would love to know……what sparks your creativity?????

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, it is greatly appreciated.

Until Next Time,

Sewloveable ☺

25Dec2014

Easy 1 Seam DIY Pencil Skirt

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials, Fashion by sewloveable

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Thread It Thursday….

This skirt is truly easy sewing!!!

One by one I am going through my fabric stash and completing projects that I have been meaning to get to, since I started sewing a few years back. So next up was a Navy Blue Faux Snake Skin. I always envisioned it being a pencil skirt. So, I stuck with that and within 30 minutes I had the pencil skirt that had once been just folded fabric in my stash.

This is a super simple and quick project. Which is great for me “the impatient sewer”. I am starting to think I will always be that way when it comes to sewing. There are so many thing’s I want to make…so my projects have to be quick and well sewn. I’m getting impatient now so let’s get to this pencil skirt….lol.

Materials:

1 yard of a stretch faux snake skin fabric.

1 yard of 2″ Wide Elastic

Coordinating Thread

How to:

Take your waist measurement and decide on the length.

Now let’s add the seam allowances. For a fitted skirt cut at your waist measurement. For a not as fitted skirt it will be your waist measurement +1″. For the length…it will be length measurement+ 1″ (hem) + 2.5″ (waistband). For me my waist is 34″. For the length 23″+ 1″ (hem) + 2.5″ = 34″(wide) by 26.5″(length)

With our measurements taken it’s time to cut our fabric. Fold your fabric in half with right sides touching. The wrong side will be facing you. Since we are cutting on the fold. You will cutting as follows…..waist measurement ÷ 2 ( for me that is 34″÷2= 17″) Cutting measurements will be as follows 17″ by 26.5″

Now cut according to your measurements.

Now it’s time to sew using a small zig-zag or stretch stitch with a 5/8″ seam allowance. Finish your seam as desired (i.e. serger, regular zig-zag stitch or pinking shear’s).

Let’s work on the waistband. Fold over the waistband 1/4″ and fold over again 2 1/4″ and pin to hold in place. Starting at the seam sew around the edge of the waist with a stretch or small zig-zag stitch, making sure to leave a 3″opening for your elastic to go through later.

Next it’s time to fit your elastic. Pull the elastic comfortable around your waist, overlapping the ends and cut. Be sure it comfy and not to tight.

Now using a safety pin and straight pin, feed your elastic through the opening .

Pull the elastic through the opening and sew the elastic together. Then sew the 3″ opening closed.

It’s time for the last step. The hem. Fold the hem 1/2″ and then again 1/2″ pin to hold into place. Sew around close to the edge with a stretch or small zig-zag stitch.

Tada……. All done and ready to wear. In 30 minutes or less.

Thank you for stopping by and feel free to check out another pencil skirt tutorial here.

Happy Sewing & Until Next Time,

Sewloveable ☺

22Nov2013

DIY Lined Gathered Skirt with Side Seam Pockets

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello Readers

I was online looking for a simple tutorial to explain how to make a skirt that is lined and has side seam pockets. I couldn’t find what I was looking for, so……..I decided to wing it and see how it would turn out. It was actually very simple and here is how it turned out…….

So let’s jump right in.

Supplies:

1 yard of your main fabric
1 yard of lining fabric
1″ wide elastic
Coordinating thread

For this project/ tutorial I worked with 45″ wide cotton for the main fabric as well as the lining. This works perfect if you wear anywhere from X SMALL- LARGE. For larger sizes you will need a 1 1/2 yards of fabric.

To make this skirt you will essentially make two of the same skirts and connect them at the waist.

Step 1:

Decide how long you want your skirt to be. (mine 18″) to this we are going to add 2″ for the waistband and 2″ for the hem. For a total length of 22″. Your lining fabric will be cut 1″shorter for me that would be 21″

Step 2:

Time to cut….with your fabric folded in half (pretty side of fabric touching) (wrong side facing you)…measure down to your desired length and cut.

Put your left over fabric a side…we will use this to make the pockets in a few.

Now take the fabric we just cut and cut in down the center of the fold…..you will now have 2 pieces a front and a back.

Now repeat those steps to your lining fabric.

Step 3:

Now it’s time to cut out your pocket pieces. You can simply draft a pocket pattern similar to the one below….. Or to make things easier for anyone making this skirt…….I found a free pocket pattern thanks to handmadebymrsh.blogspot.com Click Here to download the pocket pattern piece.
With your fabric folded (right sides touching) wrong side facing you. Lay the pattern on the fabric and cut out the pockets and then repeat. You will have a total of 4 pocket pieces. Now repeatedly those steps to your lining fabric. You will end up with a total of 8 pocket pieces 4 for your main fabric and 4 for your lining fabric.

Step 4:

Take your front and back pieces, measure down 6″ from the top and pin the pocket pieces on like so.

Repeat to lining like so

With 1/2″ seam allowance sew the pockets on.

Repeat to lining fabric

Next press pockets open on front and back pieces and repeat to the lining

Now pin you front and back pieces together with the right sides touching and wrong sides facing you.

Sew together with a 5/8″ inseam like so

Repeat to lining fabric

Now finish your seams as desired. Pinking shears, serger or zigzag stitch.

Press pockets and side seams of print fabric and lining

Turn fabric right side out and place lining fabric inside the main fabric. Aligning side seams.

Push designed fabric pocket into lining fabric. It will end up like this.

Let’s work on the waistband. Fold down 1/2 and press

Now fold over 1 1/2″ press

Now it’s time to sew around the waistband, leaving a 2″ opening to feed your elastic into.

Cut your elastic which is your waist measurement minus 3.5″. Put a safety pin through one end of the elastic and feed in through the opening an all yhe way around the waistband casing. Pull both end of the elastic, so that they over lap and zigzag back and forth to secure.

Tug on skirt waist so that the elastic is all tucked inside and sew the 2″ opening closed.

Final steps hem the lining. Fold over 1″ and press. Fold it over again 1″ press and sew. Now repeat those steps to your main fabric. Tada you’re all done.

Happy Sewing & Until Next Time,

Sewloveable

29Aug2013

Cynthia Rowley Pattern Giveaway Winner Announced & My latest easy to make creation

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Its time to announce the winner

of the Cynthia Rowley

Pattern…..and the winner is…….

“Chuichoy”

Congratulations and Thank You

For Entering

To claim your prize please visit my contact page. So that I can get the pattern to you as soon as possible. Please claim your gift within 4 days or another winner will be chosen. Thank you again to all for entering.

Onto my latest project:

A super easy to make elastic waist skirt with a sash. For my youngest daughter. This skirt is very similar to a tutorial I have on the paper bag waist skirt. The only difference is the waist line. The skirt requires 1 yard of 60″ width fabric or 1 1/2 yards of 44-45″ width fabric. Fabric used is polyester peachskin but you can use almost any fabric cotton, knit, shantung, silk etc.

To learn how to make this skirt click here

The only adjustment that I made was at the skirt waist. It is folded over 1/4″ and then 1″. Sew close the edge and insert elastic like the following tutorial.

Enjoy & Happy Sewing!!! 😀

Happy Sewing!!!!!

10Jul2013

Easy DIY Elastic Waist Shorts using your own clothes as a pattern

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

I love taking things that I already own and use them as my pattern. Doing this let’s me invest more money into my fabric choice, since I am not buying a pattern. Working with clothes in your closet also gives you the opportunity to understand garment construction.

Ok so let’s get started.

Supplies:

A pair of Shorts that fit you well (preferably not made from a knit fabric.)

1-2 yards of fabric depending on your size.

1″ Elastic

Coordinating Thread

So first fold your fabric in half with right sides touching and the wrong side facing you.

Lay your shorts on top like so cut out. I usually cut my fabric about 1″ bigger than my pattern(shorts). Except for the top of the shorts add an extra 2″ (this will be your waist portion) Feel free to add or reduce the seam allowance at the bottom (leg area) to make the shorts the desired length.

You will end up with 4 pieces like this.

Next lay two pieces with right sides of the fabric touching like so

Now let’s head to the sewing machine. Pin the following area as shown below.

And sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance like so

It is very important to STOP at the crotch……DO NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM. (Sidenote: I use single prong hair clips that I purchased just for sewing from the beauty supply. I like them better than pins and it’s a lot cheaper than the clover clips. You can purchase 80 hair clips for $5.00. I use pins mostly when draping fabric on my mannequin.)

Repeat those steps with the other 2 pieces. Then finish off your seam edge by serging, zig-zag or using pinking sheers. To prevent your edges from fraying. I used my serger but any of the above methods will work when finishing your seam edges.

Next open the shorts up and press the seam nice and flat and smooth.

Ok so now with your shorts opened up, your going to lay them with right sides of the fabric touching and sew the side seams with a 1/2″ seam allowance like so

Finish off the seam edges like you did previously and press.

Next sew the crotch area like so

And finish and press the seam edges.

Ok so let’s hem the top and bottom of the shorts by folding by folding over 1/4″ and 1″ and press. It will look something like this

I add a ribbon at the back as a tag which is totally optional.

It’s time to sew the bottom hem of each leg staying close to THE edge. When sewing the waist remember to leave a 2″ opening to feed your elastic through.

Next up measure the elastic around your waist and cut. Put a large safety pin in one end of the elastic an a large straight pin on the other end like so (sidenote: The safety pin helps you feed the elastic through while the straight pin keeps the other end of elastic from getting lost in the casing.)