Stella Jean Inspired Skirt

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Thread It Thursday!!

Photo c/o Pinterest

Several months ago I saw a picture on Instagram of Beyonce’ wearing a spectacular pencil skirt that tied in the front. So I did a little research and found out that it was a Stella Jean Design. I have an obsession with this designer. She uses a lot of waxed African prints in her designs….which I love because they are soooooo vibrant and colorful. It excites the senses. My kid’s come in to chat a bit and see what I am looking at. My youngest said it’s not my style and my oldest say’s ooohhhh I love that skirt. It would look great on me….lol……gotta love her self-confidence. I told her I would add it to the list, she said great and oh can you make sure you add a split in the back…I’ve never had a skirt with a split before. I agree and let her know a modest split and her reply but of course……I’m a lady…lol. This kid cracks me up.

With a few other sewing projects out of the way, I was ready to get prepared to make the Stella Jean skirt or as my daughter calls it…..her Beyonce’ skirt. We head to a specialty fabric shop that’s about 30 minutes away. In the area, we live in the shop carries a large variety of African prints along with some really other beautiful fabric’s. The store has been around for about 20 years or so. If you are ever in the Washington, D.C./ Maryland / Northern Virginia area check out Paradise Fabric’s if you want specialty type fabric’s.

Ok onto the making of the skirt.

Essentially it’s just a pencil skirt with ties. So I figured it would be pretty easy to make. I’ve made a pencil skirt before and a skirt with ties…..now all I had to do was put the two together. You can check out those previous post here and here.

I used New Look Pattern 6843 View C to make the pencil skirt with a few modifications.

Added a facing to the waist instead of a waistband. I did this by copying the skirt front and back pieces including the darts and measuring down a few inches. I sewed the darts in just as I did on the skirt pieces and then interfaced those facing pieces. Next I used my serger/overlock machine to finish the bottom edges. Attached to each section of the skirt and did some understitching to keep the facing held in place.
Installed the zip into the back pieces, then finished sewing the back together stopping where I wanted my split to begin.
The ties are 45″ long by 11″ wide. I cut an angle at the end of each tie. Sewed them using and 5/8″ sew allowance, leaving the top unsewn. Finished off all the sewn edges using a serger/overlock machine. Turned right side out and gave them a good pressing. I then layed the back of the skirt right side up, place the ties 1/2″ below the waistline, place front skirt section on top and sew using a 5/8″ seam allowance and finish your seams accordingly.
The only thing left to finish the split and hem.

Here are some behind the scenes pic’s of the construction of the skirt.

The finished look……

I really enjoyed working on this project. Best of all I loved the stunned look on my daughter’s face. We were both really happy with the end result.

I really enjoy the challenge of recreating designer-inspired looks. Sometimes thing’s are simpler than one may think and my sewing knowledge grows with each project.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I greatly appreciate it.

Don’t forget to follow me on social media…..I follow back!

Twitter/ Instagram/ Pinterest

Until Next Time,
Sewloveable ☺

25Jun2015

Easy Gathering Technique

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello everyone,

Welcome To Thread It Thursday!!!

Today I just wanted to share the sewing technique I used to make this skirt I recently made for my mother.

I find that this technique is much easier than using a basting stitch. There is no need to worry or deal with threads breaking as you gather…..especial if you’re using a fabric heavier in weight.

You can check out a previous post called the Designer Look For Less, where I used the same technique here.

My goal with this post is to share a tidbit that I have found useful and makes sewing a bit easier!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by, I greatly appreciate it.

Happy Sewing & Until Next Time,

Sewloveable

19Aug2014

Crepe De Chine

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello everyone,

So last week I was in a sewing mood. For me when I feel inspired I have to roll with it and when I am not….just embrace the fact that I’m not. It’s ok for the inspiration to come and go. Ok, so back to feeling inspired…..I thought fall will be here before I know it…..so why not start sewing for the fall. My only dilemma, when sewing is finding fabric that meets my inspirational needs. My local fabric stores just don’t have what I have in mind. I love to touch and feel the fabric, it helps the process of creating.

So, then it hits me…..a blog that I love called Merrick’s Art mentioned a great site. Now I just have to find the post with the name of the website. After 20 minutes I find it. It’s called Girl Charlee. It was love at first sight. Bold and Colorful Prints!!!!!! Just what I have been looking for with great prices!!!

I saw this colorful Crepe De Chine and immediately I knew what I wanted to do with it. Can I just say I had the biggest smile. Finally no settling…..I can find prints that sing to me….lol. This was my 1st time working with Crepe De Chine. I really like this fabric and it was pretty easy to work with. It worked great for my quick and easy project.

Simple Infinity Scarf in a nice bright Crepe De Chine. I can wear this with so many things. It will get great use. To make this scarf click here and to get this fabric click here.

What online fabric stores meet your inspirational needs????

Until Next Time,

Sewloveable ☺

22Nov2013

African Fabric Giveaway Winner Announced

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello Reader’s

I am happy to Announce that The Fashion Huntress is the WINNER of the African Fabric Giveaway. Please contact me so that I can get the fabric out to you. Thank you for entering!!

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

18Nov2013

African Fabric Haul + Giveaway

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Hello all

I was out doing…..what I love shopping. This time it was for African Fabric’s from a local specialty shop in my area. Since I was picking something up for the kids and myself…….I just had to get something for my fellow sewers, since I haven’t done a giveaway in a while.

Onto the GIVEAWAY

The giveaway is for 1 yard of 44/45″ 100% cotton fabric, pictured above
All you need to do is leave a comment, to win.

The giveaway runs November 18th-21st. With the winner being announced on November 22nd. With the GIVEAWAY open to all. Even those outside of the United States.

Feel free to share the giveaway across social media and the blog’s.

Thank you in advance to all who enter.

Until Next Time,
Sewloveable

30Oct2013

DIY Straight Knot Necklace Tutorial

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

So I saw these fantastic necklaces online for $150. Then one day I found a tutorial on how to make them. So now I am going to share.

The necklaces can be made using a mix of color. You can use jersey knit fabric or ribbon.

Onto the tutorial

When you’re done you will end up wirh something like this

Enjoy & Until Next Time,

Sewloveable

Target Comforter & DIY Curtains

So my family an I recently moved and I was in need of curtains. I hadn’t planned on making any but I was left with no other option. I couldn’t find what I had in mind anywhere. So I headed to the fabric store and finally after going through every aisle I found just what I was looking for.(All I can say is like a kid in a candy store.) A orange and burnt orange Ikat.

It’s a great feeling to actually bring to life the things one invisions.

Happy Sewing & Until Next Time

Sewloveable

20Sep2013

Colorful Fabric Giveaway

Posted in DIY, Sewing & Refashioning Tutorials by sewloveable

Recently I was at a local fabric shop. I love this shop because they have quality, color and prints that I don’t see at my local Hancock or Joann Fabrics.

These are just a few of the vibrant prints the shop sells. Since the shop doesn’t sell online I thought I would do a giveaway of 1 yard of the shops fabulous fabrics.

So onto the giveaway. The giveaway is for Patty Young’s Persian Wall in jewel tones for her Grand Bazaar Collection

To win this beautiful fabric simply leave a comment. I ship worldwide so everyone is eligible to enter. The giveaway will run from September 20th-29th. With the winner being announced on September 30th.
Feel free to share the giveaway on your blog or across social media if you like.

Thank you for entering. 🙂