Sparky Tutu Skirt

My friend's little girl just turned 6 year.  I made her a sparkly tutu skirt with ribbon trim. 

The lining is purple cotton and overlay with sparkly pink tulle with elastic waistband. I sew some satin ribbon on the waistband for added interest.

I hope she'll like it.

Colour block skirt with Buttons

When I saw this skirt from the Japanese book that I borrowed from the library, I had in mind to make this skirt.

The skirt is knee length with color blocking. There is also a stripe of white in between the solid black and red.  What draws me was the row of buttons at the sides. The skirt don't have zip and the buttons are actually functional.

My color scheme was quite similar to the photograph. I use black and tangerine orange.  I added a strip of turquoise green piping in between them to give it some structure since my fabric was quite light. The piping really add some color pop and hold up the shape of the skirt well without the lining.

The construction of the button closure throws me off at first as I can't quite understand the diagram. Basically you interface the button facings and sew them to the back and front side of the skirt button placket. Then, you align the facing and sew them down at the front of the skirt. Hard to describe but you will understand when you see the diagram on the book.

The skirt has no waistband and you need to sew the waistband facing onto the button facing as well. There is a clear diagram on how to attach the waistband facing to the button facing.  Read carefully and just follow instruction. You will be surprise that everything just worked out when you turn them to the wrong side. It's kinda hard to explain but you will understand when you are doing it.

Got the golden buttons from Textile centre for the cropped jacket but didn't use them as my friends said  brown buttons suit the jacket better.  I'm glad the buttons didn't go to waste since they were quite expensive. The original design has more buttons but since my buttons are quite big, I used only 3.  Sewing buttonholes using my automated janome buttonhole options is really easy. I got 3 pretty buttonholes in no time.

My final skirt! I love the golden buttons closure and the piping and contrasting band. The skirt falls nicely at my knee and is so fitting like it's made for me. No funny gapping at waist or bunching at the hip. I think I'll use this pattern block for my future skirts, minus the button closure.

Easy Tiered Skirt from Simple Simon & Co

source

Seen this?

When I first saw this skirt at the Simple Simon & Co blog, I was immediately drawn to how pretty the fabric was together! I love the vibrant red gingham with the sweet baby pink print and the light aqua flora on the top tier.  The fabric are from The Simple Life by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs.

So, I decided that I want to copy that look for my girls. I found the fabric from one of our local store at Textile centre - Seng Mui Heng. They also have a bigger store at Chinatown but the store at Textile centre usually carry fabric on sale.  Recently I found out that they also has an online store.  But sadly, this line of fabric is not on sale.  Since I wanted it badly, I bought them at $16/m! But they only have the Main in Pink so I got the red gingham and the aqua floral from Fabric.com.


As I was making for my 2 girls - 8 year old and 3 year old, I got 2 yard of red gingham (which I still have left over after cutting both skirts), 1 yard for the Main in pink and 1 yard for aqua floral. Only the bottom tier needs more yardage and how much you use really depend on how long you want each layer to be. I make the skirt length to be half way between the knees and ankle.

I really follow the tutorial to the T! For my 8 year old, I followed her fabric cutting measurement. The 2nd layer is 2 time the fabric width while the 3rd layer is 3 times the width. I also adjusted the length for each layer so the final length was about 23".  For my 3 year old, I didn't want to have the skirt too full so I made the 2nd layer to be 1.5 times of the width and the 3rd layer to be 2 times.  It worked out just nice.  Still twirly but not too overwhelming for my 3 year old.

If you have not tried this tutorial yet, I highly recommend it.  I really looks great on them and look so professionally done. You would have thought it was store bought.

If your girl is 7-8 years old, it is really easy to cut the fabric since you are taking the entire width of the fabric and just adjusting the length of each layer. I think I spent the most time sewing the gathers for the 3 layers but I did the 2 skirts in one evening so you can see it was really not too difficult. If I've the courage, I would love to have one myself : P

Tea towel turned Apron Skirt

Who will ever thought that this used to be tea towels?!!

If you are a regular to Ikea, you will probably recognize this set of pink floral tea towel set from the kitchen section in Ikea.  I bought 2 sets to make this skirt. The front and back are made from 2 tea towels.  And the front apron is from another tea towel in the set.

Sorry, no tutorial here. Basically, you just remove the stitches from the side and sew 2 tea towels together along the side seams. No need to hem the skirt since it is already done on the tea towel!  I've cut out the front apron according to the length that I need and sew them below the elastic waist band. Just make sure that the apron length is slightly shorter than your skirt.  I then fold over the top of the skirt to make the waist band and insert the elastic band.  It's a bit thick so I think I should have just cut off some width from the tea towel to make the gathers not so tight and thick.

Anyway, my girl loves the skirt.  So vintage and "farm-ly" if there is such a word. I love the rose print on the checked apron.  Nice to twirl around too since it is so full.

So happy for this simple sew.  Refashion is so rewarding sometimes when you just need some inspiration.

Simplicity 2451 Skirt

I made view C using a cheap fabric that I got from Chinatown for $3 per yard! Not sure what's the fabric content but it has some stretch to it so I went down the sizing and it works fine.

I especially like the york infront which I interface so it has some body and structure. But not sure about the front pleats because it makes the skirt to be so puffy. It could be good news though since it hides my tummy : P

Close up on the pleats in front. I love the pockets though.

The back view.

I think the length of the skirt is just nice and for the attaching of facing to the zipper, I actually use Colette's tutorial on inserting zippers with facing to guide me cause I think it is much clearer, in my opinion.

Overall, I would say this is an easy project and I didn't have to adjust much. Will try view B in normal cotton fabric next since this was like a wearable muslin. Maybe one in black.

Yellow Gingham Skirt

I finally got her to wear this yellow gingham skirt that I made for her. She didn't want to wear them at first because it was not pink. But it was so cute on her, don't you think?

I made the skirt from one of the Japanese sewing book that I got.

It was really easy and I love the suspender straps that cross at the back.

The skirt has an elastic at the back and flatted front which I think is prettier.

I've cut up alot of fabric for sewing so if I can steal some sewing time this week, hopefully can share them. I've so many books now and I've trouble just finding which pattern to sew first.

By the way, just to get some feedback here. Do you want to a review of the sewing books that I've? I've alot of Japanese sewing book and couple of english ones. I love them and think it is really pretty since the shape are quite simple and easy sewing if you know how to read the picture/graphs.

Let me know so I can categories it and put it on the blog.

Modification to Lisette 2064

Sorry for the late post but I was kinda caught up at work but here's the tutorial on how to make the 2 tier skirts from Lisette 2064 skirts.

Before you cut the pieces out, you need to adjust the measurement for the outer skirt and work out the measurement for the inner skirt.  Here's how I did it.

My 7 year old is skinny so she took the size 6 but I adjusted the inner skirt to be 1" longer and the outer skirt to be the size 6 pattern piece.  For my 2 year old, the smallest size available is size 3 so I cut the skirt length to be 1" shorter for outer skirt and the inner skirt to keep to size 3 skirt length.  You will now have 2 more extra pieces for the Front and Back skirt.

Decide on how you want to use the 2 coordinating fabric and cut out all the pattern pieces. I've decided to use the pink polka dots for the waistband, bias tape on pocket and inner skirts. This will allow the pretty floral print to peek through from the pocket nicely.  It's up to you how you want to layer your colors.

Okay, once you have cut the pieces. Lay the outer skirt piece on top of the inner skirt piece, aligning the waist and pocket seams like so. Both pieces will have their Right Side face up. Do the same for the 2 back skirt pieces.

Then, pin the 2 pocket pieces on top of the front skirts, align pocket seams. The pocket pieces Right Side face up. Pin or baste all the 3 layers together.

Apply the bias tapes on the pocket seams, encase all the 3 layers.

Treat the waist and hem of both skirts either using serger or zig zag stitches.  Then, hem the Outer skirt like so.

Then, place the front and back skirts pieces together, Right Side facing, align the side seams.  Try to arrange the skirt pieces so that the front and back outer skirt seams are align. Pin and sew a basting stitch from hem and stop when you reach the outer skirt seams.

This will ensure that the outer skirt seams meet nicely at the sides. Then, you can continue to sew the skirt from the waist till you reach the hem at the basting stitches you have sewn earlier.

Press seams open and hem the inner skirt.

Make the waistband by sewing the 2 short ends close.  For one end, you need to leave about 1" gap for inserting of elastic band later.  You can refer to the instruction attached in your pattern package or follow my tutorial here. Then, fold the band into half lengthwise and press with iron. The 1" gap that you have made should be at the top edge of the waistband, facing in. Treat the seams with serger or zig zag so that it will not move when you attach to the skirt.

Then, just follow the rest of the instruction to gather the waist of the skirt to attach it to the waistband. Insert elastic band and you are all done.

Want to make an adult version?

For this I only make it one layer so it's a matter of getting the measurement right. I make the pocket 1" deeper but uses the same pocket pieces.  You can follow the measurement rules below that I used.

Waistband = Length (waist X 1.3) and Width (3.5") 

The skirt piece is not a rectangle but more tapered at waistline and getting slightly wider at hem. To get the measurement of the top of the skirt 

Front skirt piece waist width = (Waist X 1.6) divide by 2 - 0.5"

Back skirt piece waist width = (Waist X 1.6) divide by 2 + 0.5"

Front and Back skirt piece hem width = Waist X 2 [so you cut 2 pieces, each piece is waist length]     

Length of skirt  = your length + seam allowance for waistband and hem.

That's it. Enjoy making these skirts : )

Two tier skirts with pockets from Lisette 2064

Yup, I've got another pattern review here today.  I have recently turned to pattern shopping as opposite to fabric shopping since I've self impose a ban on buying more fabric till I've used them up! I'm not sure if it's working though cause I was tempted, yet again, by the recent Spotlight sale.  I was surprise to find Lisette sewing patterns and fabric on 50% sale! Can't passed them by and I grabbed 2 sewing patterns and fabric since it's 50% off!  

I've sew up 2 skirts for my girls using Lisette 2064. The instruction was really clear and I love it. Made the 2 skirts in a jiffy.  I think I took the most time trying to construct the color combination in my mind and matching the print using my existing stash.

You recall this color combination from my sister in law diaper bag? I really love the pastel color and I thought it would really look pretty as a skirt.  The pretty waistband and bias tape covered pocket edge were so sweet, don't you think? I had tried to arrange the flower print so that they will be by the side of the front panel.

I've followed the instruction pretty closely except that I made the skirt 2 tiers! Hence, a little time was spent trying to figure out how to sew the pocket on the 2 layers.  But once I got the hang of it, I was able to sew up another skirt quickly using cupcakes print and polka dots. This one is for little sister.

My girls love their new skirts. 

Me too.

So, I decided to, 

hmmm...hmmmm...., 

sew one for myself too : P

Took a little time to figure out my measurements and sew them up real quick. This time, I sew only 1 layer. The fabric is a vintage print cotton that I bought from Spotlight.  Really happy that I was able to use my existing stash : )  

I will share on how I amend the pattern to be a 2 tier skirts in my next post. So, come back soon!

Simple Ballet Skirt- A tutorial

My oldest has been taking ballet lessons for the past 2 years and recently, one of her chiffon skirt came apart.

I decided to make her one since I've some left over chiffon from her last skirt project. The whole concept plus cutting and sewing takes me less than 1 hour!  Want to try? For affordable chiffon, pick them up at Jalan Sultan at $4 per yard.

Material
Less than 1 yard of light pink chiffon of width 44"
Braided elastic band

Instruction
1. Fold the chiffon so that the 44" side is folded up twice for ease of cutting.

I've used roller cutter and cutting board for better control.  The length to cut depends on how long you want the skirt to be. I went along with 13" including 2" for the waistband later on.

2. Open up the chiffon and align 2 short edges (13") together and cut a curve using the curve ruler as a guide. I cut mine to be 8" from the edge but you can adjust that to your liking.

3. I use the narrow hem option on my serge to serge the hem starting from the curve line.  As I don't really have a lot of thread in the same shade, I only replace the upper and lower thread as they will be more visible. See below on my setting.  Remember to remove the extension hook.  Read your manuals for details.

Here's how the narrow hem looks like. So neat.

If you have no serger, you can try using the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine with the smaller stitch width. Try on scrap first before you sew the chiffon!


4. Overlap the front curve edges by about 6" and pin.

Sew a baste stitch to secure.

5.  Cut your elastic band to the desired size and overlap the edge by 1" and sew together.

6. Sew a gathering stitch along the waistband using the longest stitch and widest tension on your sewing machine. Adjust the gathers so that the size will fit your waistband.

7. Pin the chiffon to the elastic band, align raw edge of chiffon to the elastic band. Adjust the gathers.

8. Bring your needle down to middle of the elastic band, pull your chiffon taut and start sewing slowly.  Adjust the gathers as you go and pulling the elastic to fit the chiffon.  Your elastic band should be laid nicely flat below the chiffon. Take out the pins as you sew and remember to keep the needle down before you adjust the elastic band.

9. Then, fold the elastic band over to the wrong side and pin. Adjust the gathers.  Your raw edge should now be hidden inside the skirt.

 Sew along the bottom edge of the elastic band using a zig zag stitch.

Done~!