Sunday, June 26, 2011

Basic (fairly full) A –Line Skirt Tutorial

This skirt is super simple to make, and needs just four measurements:

1: Waist (or, where you like your skirt waist bands to sit) +ease (I like about 2cm ease). Divide this number by 4.
2: Hips (remember, this is the widest part of your hips) + ease (I like about 2cm ease). Divide this number by 4.
3: Distance between your waist and hips
4: Distance from your waist to the hem

You will end up with a simple A-Line Skirt (which I will post pictures of once I find my camera cable), with a zip in the left hand seam.

Take a large piece of paper. I used a full page of a broadsheet newspaper.


Draw a straight line along the side of the paper. This will be your centre seam.





Mark three points on this line:

A: Waist
B: Waist to hip distance
C: Waist to hem distance





Draw a slightly curved line from the waist measurement. This will be the top of the skirt. Mark your waist measurement along this line.

Draw a slightly curved line from the hip point, parallel to the waist line. Mark your hip measurement along this line.





Draw a straight line from the points you just marked. Mark the waist length on this line






To mark the lower hem, measure multiple points from the waist band the hem length.





Join these marks





Mark the centre front ‘cut on fold’ and the skirt pattern ‘No Seam Allowances’





And, you’re done.



P.S. If you like a facing for the waistband, or a yoke, you can simply cut along your hip line, and remember to add seam allowances.

P.P.S. If you prefer your zips at the centre back, when you cut the fabric, cut one piece on the fold, and two pieces not on the fold, adding seam allowances at the centre back.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Taking Stock - Week 8 and 9

Finished Projects 2011

* Autumn leaf table runner Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Purple tea-with-the-debutantes dress Work Clothing
* Ruffle dress Work Clothing
* Olive dress Work Clothing
* Maroon Skirt Work Clothing
* White damask skirt Work Clothing
* White Damask blazer Work Clothing
* Magenta stretch dress Work Clothing
* Green stretch dress Work Clothing
* Apron for Nerilee Gifts
* Apron for Robyn Gifts
* Oopsie the Octopus Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Circles Table Runner Gifts (Tarof Family)
* A5 art book bag Gifts (Tarof Family)
* 1950s Apron Gifts (Tarof Family)
* 4 x Baby bibs Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Kyles’ art book messenger bag Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Adam’s art book messenger bag Christmas 2010
* Wild West dress for stomp Home Clothing
* Embroidery practice Gifts
* Pleated skirt with teal and black design Work Clothing
* 2 x blue cushion covers House Stuff
* little hearts pjs using Tara top patterns and collette mini bloomers pattern Home clothing

What I accomplished this week (Friday to Thursday)

* 1 olive cushion House Stuff
* Drafted A-Line Skirt Pattern
* Drafted red ruffle skirt pattern

8 in 28 ideas

* Red Crepe Ruffle Skirt
* Green and black damask skirt (COMPLETED)
* Pink and black piped dress (buy piping fabric!)
* Tara Dress (pink fabric)
* Tara top (quilting fabric)
* Duro Dress
* 1950s Wrap Dress
* Button Skirt and Cream underskirts
* Black and red wool Skirt
* Blue Cushion Covers (COMPLETED)
* Baby cord leaf skirt


Projects on the go

* Blazer with teal and black design Work Clothing
* Red Ruffle Skirt
* Lace underskirt
* Beige button skirt

Future Projects with fabric already purchased

* 52 weeks of quilt blocks quilt Christmas 2011
* 2 x Blue cushions House Stuff
* Black damask dress Work Clothing
* Pink and black damask dress Work Clothing
* Hearts dress (fabric) Home Clothing
* Hearts dress (quilt cover) Home Clothing
* Teal dress Work Clothing
* Tara top – floral quilting fabric Home Clothing
* Tara dress – pink quilting fabric, Home Clothing
* Ying Yang gathered top Home / Work Clothing
* Red ruffle skirt Home / Work Clothing
* Blue corset with quilting fabric Home Clothing
* Refashion of pink tops from Big W Home Clothing
* Refashion of black patterned dress from Big W Home Clothing
* Refashion of purple patterned dresses from Big W Home Clothing
* Underskirts / petticoats for summer dresses Home / Work Clothing
* Hot pink drill dress Home Clothing
* Hot pink check dress with pleats to create pink waist Home Clothing
* Red and Black Wool Skirt Home / Work clothing
* Over skirt with buttons (inspired by pinterest skirt) leaf baby cord Home Clothing


Future Project Ideas

* Shorts for pole Home Clothing
* Olive jacket/ coat Home / Work Clothing
* Slips to keep me warm under summer dresses Home / Work Clothing
* Duro Dress / top Home / Work Clothing
* Over-The-Head 1950s reproduction pattern dress Home / Work Clothing
* Bag thing to cover and carry my baby sewing machine Sewing Gadgets
* bias tape skirt Home Clothing

UFO Projects - or, the sewing basket challenge

This is things that I know I have to do, but just haven't quite gotten to yet

* Hem red and orange long skirt
* Waistband on red satin circle skirt
* Waistband on can can underskirt
* Move debutantes dress zipper to side and lower neckline
* loose lace on stomp wedding dress
* redo waistband on wild west dress
* make red crepe wrap around skirt wearable
* pockets for mums red jacket
* polka dot ruffle skirt

Fabrics in my stash

As I slowly go through my stash, I will keep updating this list. Because honestly, I have no idea what is in my stash at the moment. These are just the things in the box I can get to.

* Purple/red/blue knitted fabric
* Fan fabric
* Striped (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide
* Fish (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – scraps
* White/Cream stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 150cm wide
* Hearts in straight line (white base) stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide
* Green leaves fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 115 wide
* Green and white Michael miller dandy damask – 100% cotton – 3 yards, 150cm wide
* Red with blue and white whales fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide
* Navy blue acrylic felt – .6m, 80cm wide
* Rose pink stretch drill - Cotton lycra - 4.9m, 150cm wide
* Rose bed sheets
* Black satin bed sheets
* green micheal miller fabric
* Japanese leaf fabric
* More black sating than I know what to do with
* black shot with navy blue pleated/crinkled satin. - 100% manmade, 1m, 150cm wide
* lilac tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide
* hot pink tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide
* pink tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide
* purple tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide
* hot pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide
* light pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide
* grey knit with red design, 10m, 150cm wide
* red organza, 3m, 150cm wide (has flaws)
* white fabric with flowers, tshirt weight stretch, 1m, 150cm wide
* small pieces: purple striped t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)
* small pieces: hearts on blue t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)
* white with yellow polka dots t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm
* small pieces: black t shirt weight knit
* baby blue t shirt weight knit, 1 m, 150cm wide
* green paisley satin, 2m, 150cm wide
* yellow with butterflies, quilting weight cotton, 1m, 150cm wide
* small pieces: red with pink stars polar fleece
* small pieces: purple with sparkle quilting weight cotton
* with with stripes (d of e skirt and pants) t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm wide
* purple slinky lycra, 2m, 150cm wide
* baby yellow with small white spots t shirt wight knit, small piece
* small piece: plain lavender cotton
* small piece: green with flowers quilting weight cotton
* burnt orange flowers corduroy
* burnt orange cheese cloth




Stash Busting Ideas

* Top with purple/red/blue knitted fabric Home / Work Clothing
* 1950s inspired swim suit from purple lyra Home Clothing

Monday, June 13, 2011

8 in 28 Item 5


Another two cushions, this time for the family room. I think we need to have a third for balance, but that's just me. I have enough fabric left over from making these two that I could sew another, I would just need to get something to use on the back. Again, these cushions have a zip in the centre back and a flap covering the zip.

The colour, by complete chance, is perfect with the carpet in our house, and picks up the blues in some of the art work (isn't the large painting just lovely? My cousin painted it. And my dad made the display case for my mother's glass animals - a large version of the type trays we have. And the painting in the far left was painted by dad's god mother)


8 in 28 Item 4



I cut this cushion out probably 18 months ago, and sewed the other two, but never got around to sewing this one. As I sewed it, I realised it was either laziness on my part, or the fact that nothing was cut straight (so I had to use creative seam allowances in some areas).

The cushion has a zip in the centre back, which is covered with a flap.

8 in 28 Item 2 and Item 3



Items 2 and 3 of my 8 in 28 challenge: a BurdaStyle Tara top and a pair of Collette Patterns Madeleine mini bloomers. These cost me $2.50 (the cost of the Tara top) as I had everything I needed in my stash already. I used shirring rather than the elastic cords.

This is the second time that I have made the mini bloomers. The pattern is easy to make, and I find it really comfortable to wear as pj shorts (I sleep in shorts and a sleeveless top all year round). Using the shirring rather than elastic means that nothing cuts in as I sleep, so I don't end up with marks from my clothing when I wake up.



The directions for the Tara top are fairly confusing, so I mostly followed the awesome directions from Kathleen from Grosgrain, available here. I wear this top backwards to sleep in (just more practical that way, and because I used a stretch, works both ways). If I made this top again, I would probably add  a very narrow elastic into the flutter sleeve shoulder seam, and make a size smaller.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Taking Stock - Week 7

Finished Projects 2011

* Autumn leaf table runner Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Purple tea-with-the-debutantes dress Work Clothing
* Ruffle dress Work Clothing
* Olive dress Work Clothing
* Maroon Skirt Work Clothing
* White damask skirt Work Clothing
* White Damask blazer Work Clothing
* Magenta stretch dress Work Clothing
* Green stretch dress Work Clothing
* Apron for Nerilee Gifts
* Apron for Robyn Gifts
* Oopsie the Octopus Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Circles Table Runner Gifts (Tarof Family)
* A5 art book bag Gifts (Tarof Family)
* 1950s Apron Gifts (Tarof Family)
* 4 x Baby bibs Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Kyles’ art book messenger bag Gifts (Tarof Family)
* Adam’s art book messenger bag Christmas 2010
* Wild West dress for stomp Home Clothing
* Embroidery practice Gifts
* Pleated skirt with teal and black design Work Clothing

What I accomplished this week (Friday to Thursday)

* 2 x blue cushion covers House Stuff
* little hearts pjs using Tara top patterns and collette mini bloomers pattern Home clothing

8 in 28 ideas

* Red Crepe Ruffle Skirt
* Green and black damask skirt (COMPLETED)
* Pink and black piped dress (buy piping fabric!)
* Tara Dress (pink fabric)
* Tara top (quilting fabric)
* Duro Dress
* 1950s Wrap Dress
* Button Skirt and Cream underskirts
* Black and red wool Skirt
* Blue Cushion Covers (COMPLETED)
* Baby cord leaf skirt


Projects on the go

* Blazer with teal and black design Work Clothing
* 1 olive cushion House Stuff

Future Projects with fabric already purchased

* 52 weeks of quilt blocks quilt Christmas 2011
* 2 x Blue cushions House Stuff
* Black damask dress Work Clothing
* Pink and black damask dress Work Clothing
* Hearts dress (fabric) Home Clothing
* Hearts dress (quilt cover) Home Clothing
* Teal dress Work Clothing
* Tara top – floral quilting fabric Home Clothing
* Tara dress – pink quilting fabric, Home Clothing
* Ying Yang gathered top Home / Work Clothing
* Red ruffle skirt Home / Work Clothing
* Blue corset with quilting fabric Home Clothing
* Refashion of pink tops from Big W Home Clothing
* Refashion of black patterned dress from Big W Home Clothing
* Refashion of purple patterned dresses from Big W Home Clothing
* Underskirts / petticoats for summer dresses Home / Work Clothing
* Hot pink drill dress Home Clothing
* Hot pink check dress with pleats to create pink waist Home Clothing
* Red and Black Wool Skirt Home / Work clothing
* Over skirt with buttons (inspired by pinterest skirt) leaf baby cord Home Clothing


Future Project Ideas

* Shorts for pole Home Clothing
* Olive jacket/ coat Home / Work Clothing
* Slips to keep me warm under summer dresses Home / Work Clothing
* Duro Dress / top Home / Work Clothing
* Over-The-Head 1950s reproduction pattern dress Home / Work Clothing
* Bag thing to cover and carry my baby sewing machine Sewing Gadgets
* bias tape skirt Home Clothing

UFO Projects - or, the sewing basket challenge

This is things that I know I have to do, but just haven't quite gotten to yet

* Hem red and orange long skirt
* Waistband on red satin circle skirt
* Waistband on can can underskirt
* Move debutantes dress zipper to side and lower neckline
* loose lace on stomp wedding dress
* redo waistband on wild west dress
* make red crepe wrap around skirt wearable
* pockets for mums red jacket

Fabrics in my stash

As I slowly go through my stash, I will keep updating this list. Because honestly, I have no idea what is in my stash at the moment. These are just the things in the box I can get to.

* Purple/red/blue knitted fabric
* Fan fabric
* Striped (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide
* Fish (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – scraps
* White/Cream stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 150cm wide
* Hearts in straight line (white base) stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide
* Green leaves fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 115 wide
* Green and white Michael miller dandy damask – 100% cotton – 3 yards, 150cm wide
* Red with blue and white whales fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide
* Navy blue acrylic felt – .6m, 80cm wide
* Rose pink stretch drill - Cotton lycra - 4.9m, 150cm wide
* Rose bed sheets
* Black satin bed sheets
* green micheal miller fabric
* Japanese leaf fabric

Stash Busting Ideas

* Top with purple/red/blue knitted fabric Home / Work Clothing