How To Make the Softest Skirt

For this skirt I used a SUPER soft knit fabric. I used to shy away from stretchy fabrics since it is hard to sew a straight line or accidentally stretch it when you sew a seam, but I just recently got a serger and a double needle and now I can't stay away!!! I got this idea from another great blog  here. The only thing I did different was make it shorter and I ruched it with elastic thread. One other thing to keep in mind when sewing with knit fabric is instead of gathering I just sew a seam of elastic thread so it stretches with the fabric. (That is what I did with the gathers in this skirt) It is just the same as what you use for the smocked dress in an earlier post found here

How to find cheap fabric

Hey there! This post is all about fabric!!!!! I went to the thrift store the other day and found a yard of white satin for $1.99 and a twin size sheet for $1.99. THAT"S A LOT OF FABRIC! And I am not done! I went garage saling and found 2-3 yards of this cool brown flowery looking material for $1.00! Here it is:

But that's not all! While I was garage-saling I also found a hand made quilt for $1.00! Here it is:

Isn't it pretty!! Well anyways I have so much fabric now and I don't know what to do with it! Here is even more fabric that I have but that is only like 1/4 of all the fabric I have in this GIANT bin.

If you have any ideas at all of what I can do with all this fabric PLEASE put it in comments.

How to make a tiered skirt

Here is how to make a tiered skirt. It is super easy and it doesn't take long at all. Plus I finally have pictures!

To start off you are going to cut out five strips of fabric. The first one is just a little bit bigger than your waist (for the elastic) and the next one is 10" longer than the first. You might have to add fabric like I did in the picture so it is bigger. Then the third strip needs to be ten inches longer than the second and so on. Make sure to sew the pieces you add together.

Now make your casing on the first strip...

And hem the last one.

Next take your second strip and gather it until it matches the first strip.

Then sew it to the first strip right sides together

It should look like this.

Now do the same exact thing as before. Take the third one gather it until it matches the second one and with right sides together sew together.

Now it should look like this.

Do it again it looks like this...

Then this.

With right sides together sew short sides together making sure not to go through the casing.

Pull the elastic through the casing with a safety pin.

Sew through the casing.


And you are finished! Enjoy your awesome skirt that twirls!!!!!!

How to make a smock dress

Here is how to make a really pretty sun dress that I think is perfect for the beautiful weather we've been having. I used an old flat sheet of mine to make this dress. It saved the time and money of going to the fabric store and I didn't have to do a hem because I used the edge of the sheet. It's as easy as 123.. but don't forget 4!
*Extra item: Elastic thread*

1) First off you need to determine how big your rectangle needs to be. This is the body of your dress. Start by measuring the top of your chest down to the length you want your dress to be. This is the length of you rectangle. Next measure the width, measure the largest part of your bust and add 10 inches. Now take your measurements and mark them on your sheet. Cut it out.

2) Now let's do the straps. With the dress in the picture I took three different pieces of fabric 2" wide, and braided them. After I braided it I measured how long they should be by putting them over my shoulders.

3) Next we are going to smock our dress, but first we need to hem the top of our dress body. Do a small little hem. Now we need to take an empty bobbin and wind our elastic thread on it. You have to do it by hand because there cannot be any tension in the elastic. Now with the right side of your fabric up begin to stitch right along the hem. After you get all the way to the end go back to the beginning and stitch the same way but half inch away from the last seam. Keep going until you have 16 or so of those rows.

4) With right sides together sew the two edges together. And put it on to make sure it fits and decide where the straps should go. Pin them and take off your dress then stitch on the straps matching up the seam with the hem seam.
Try on your dress to make sure everything fits right again and enjoy!

How to turn something old into something new

My violin teacher gave me that dress at the top to see if I could use the fabric to make her little girl a skirt. This is what I came up with. It's kind of cool don't you think? I just think it's a terrific idea to turn something old into something new. All I did was rip the seams from the skirt and cut a rectangle out of that. Then ripped the seams from the sleeves to make the top piece. It's the exact same thing as the spring skirt in my previous post just smaller. I definitely challenge you to take something old of yours and turn into something new and improved! It's a whole lot less expensive then getting fabric at the store and it can be more fun especially with before and after photos.

How to make yourself a springtime skirt

 

 Here is one of the most simple ways to make yourself a fun, flowy, personalized skirt.

1) First, you need to measure around your hips and take that measurement and add 5" This measurement is going to be the length of the top piece. The width of the top piece should be 7" Now, for the bottom piece. Take the length of the top piece and add 10" this should be the length of the bottom piece. For the width, you need to measure from your waist to wherever you want the hem to be. I did about an inch below my knees.
Don't forget to add an inch for the hem.

2) Now, on the top piece make the casing. Fold half an inch over then an inch over and stitch along the edge. On the bottom piece make your hem fold over half an inch then again half an inch. Stitch along the edge.

3) Still using the bottom piece gather the top of it and with right sides together sew to top piece.

4) Next, sew the width at 1/2" (make sure not to sew through the casing)

5) Pull through elastic with a safety pin. And stitch where I said not to in step 4.

YAY! You have completed the most fun frilly skirt! Please tell me how yours turned out in comments.