"I Dare You!"
Sewing Support Group
Friday, August 12, 2011
Continuous Binding
Friday, July 15, 2011
Reversible Apron Tutorial
As you can see, it is 2 different fabrics, exactly opposite patterns on each side. You will need 2 coordinating fabrics - I can get 1 adult size apron out of 1 yard of each material. Here are the pieces you will need to cut.
I actually make my waist straps 32" long instead of 22", because I like to wrap it around myself and tie it in the front.
For a child size apron - 4 1/2" along top (instead of 5), 11" along bottom (instead of 15), 23" full length (instead o f 26") and 15 1/2" length from waist down (instead of 16 1/2"), waist straps are 20" long and neck strap is 21" long, pocket is 12" by 7" (I think - see if it looks good;) ). This size fits my 10 year old very well, but would not fit a toddler or young child.
Now you can start cutting. If you make yourself a template of the main apron piece, out of newspaper or tissue paper or whatever, then it'll make it a lot easier if you want to make multiple aprons (like for Christmas presents or something). Make sure you're cutting your main apron piece on the fold of fabric! Cut one main apron piece out of each fabric. Also, at our sewing group we used Kimberly's cutting machine to make the 1 1/2" strips - that was nice:) Cut 2 waist straps from each fabric (4 total), and 1 neck strap from each fabric (2 total). Cut 1 pocket from each fabric, unless you're doing 2 small pockets - then you'll need 2 from each fabric (4 total). As you can see on my first apron, you can do applique on the chest of the apron, so if you want to do that, cut those out too. Now you have all your pieces.
Friday, May 27, 2011
At Last...
Here is the Skirt! (I feel as if there should be some momentous music cue....or perhaps an ominous one!)
I just made a simple tailored skirt. I originally intended to put some welt pockets on the front but chickened out as I did not have enough fabric to match the print on the welts. (When looking for an excuse, you will always find one. It may not be a very good one, but it will be an excuse nonetheless. heh) I was also worried that they would gap as I am not as experienced with that style pocket as I ought to be Of course, how one is supposed to get better if there is always a convenient excuse.....
As you can see, rather than a traditional kick pleat in the back I set in in the side. I wanted it closed so nothing would show. When I set the fabric in to the seam I was pleased with the proportions, forgetting that I was going to put a big hem in it. So now every time I look at the pleat it seems....um, stumpy. I am very pleased with the funky jewelry finding I added for art's sake though. :)
In a funny side note, I carefully remembered to add the little bits in the side seams where my sloper said I need a bit more room, only to find that it was COMPLETELY wrong. Sigh! You see, since Ruth still had my sloper pattern I just used the "fashion" version of the pattern and it had the ease already added. sigh again. So Now I need to go through and trace off the seam line that I actually used on the skirt and draw it on the pattern so I can remember the adjustment.
I also put into practice the "lapped zipper" I learned how to do from our zipper month. Be proud of me, it is PERFECT.
Now on to bigger and better things? perhaps. heh k.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Pleated Skirt
I went to my fabric stash and pulled out these coordinating fabrics from Riley Blake's collection. I had a purchased four yards of each at the Happy Quilt warehouse but didn't have anything planned for them. I thought the sunburst fabric would make a fun and colorful skirt. I started out by cutting two rectangles (from selvage to selvage) the length that I wanted for my skirt. I sewed the two pieces together and then sewed a hem. (I did it in black thread, but I wish I'd done it in white. I also should have done a blind hem.) At first, I tried to make a gathered skirt but I didn't like the way it looked. Kimberly suggested I try pleats instead. Never having worked with pleats, did a little internet research and played around with pleating on different scraps of fabric until I found the type of pleats I wanted (there are several types of pleats, who knew?). I then spent a bit of time playing around with my skirt, pinning and tucking until I found a pleat width I liked. I initially make my pleats much wider but I decided to space them about 3 inches apart, which I liked better. I ironed all my pleats in and then topstitched down the front of pleat about 8 inches to keep my pleats in place and to create shape to my skirt. I can't find the tutorial I used as my model, but this tutorial shows how I basically created my skirt.
After sewing my pleats in place, I sewed the two sides together and put in the zipper. I attempted to put in a lapped zipper, but when that failed, I went with the old center-seam standby. Not as refined, but it gets the job done. Next up was the waistband. I wanted to do a black piping to set the waistband off from the rest of the skirt. I love the effect it gives but I should have cut the black fabric on the bias so it would have moved and shaped itself better. Ruth also recommended using linen fabric as it was easy to work with and shape. Don't look too closely on my piping (especially around the curves). It's a mess. But from far away, the effect is quite nice.
The other thing I didn't know about wide waistbands is that they should be cut on the curve so that they will be narrower at the top. That way, they conform to the waist better and offer a snugger fit. My skirt and waistband created a bit of a gap, so I sewed in three makeshift darts in my skirt to lessen the problem.
As you can see, there's still a lot of space in my waistband, but it's much better than it was before. I like my skirts to sit on my hip and not fit too tight. It's not quite as snug as I would have liked, but at least I don't think it's going to fall off me. The final touch was sewing buttonholes and buttons on the waistband tab. Again, here I learned that I should have sewed my buttons closer to the end of the tab. Now, there's a bit of waistband that sticks up.
After making my skirt, I had to make something for Zara as well. I used the coordinating fabric to make this quick onesie dress. It seriously only took me twenty minutes and I think it looks great.
I may have to make some more.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Mad Men Sew-Along
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Skirts on the Internet
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Skir-Ta Da!
And I had some left-over material from skirts that my daughter Cora made last year for herself and her little sister.
And I ended up with this.