Banana Circle Skirt

i was in the mood for a new skirt and knew i wanted to go to my infamous style, the simple circle skirt. i went to Hancock Fabrics one day and wandered around the store for quite some time trying to find a fabric i wanted to use.  i eventually went with this awesome bright yellow twill.  you know i love my bright colors!! the actual color name on the bolt was banana!  so i got my fabric, zipper, bias tape, and yellow buttons and set out back home to begin sewing.

my original plan was to make a half circle skirt, but with the fabric being 60" wide, and then i bought 1 1/2 yds, i was able to get a full circle skirt out of it!  it was actually one whole circle, but then i did one side seam to put in the zipper.

for the waistband i did a simple rectangle longer than my waist width so it would overlap.  i then did a simple button for the closure.  i was super excited about the button because it was so cute with the little white dots detail on it!

for the skirt hem, i decided to do a bias tape faced hem with yellow bias tape instead of doing narrow hem.  i only bought one package of yellow bias tape and didn't end up having enough, but luckily enough it was only a small section that lacked.  so i added some white bias tape to the open section.  also, i bought double fold bias tape instead of single fold, but worked it out by simply ironing the middle fold of the bias tape out.

once my skirt was finished i was going to just keep it the solid yellow, but decided to add another little touch and do round, pleated patch pockets.  for the pockets i did an inverted box pleat in the center and a regular pleat on either side of the box pleat.  this tutorial from guthrie & ghani was great in helping me figure out how to make the pattern for the pocket.

to attach the pockets i fanned the skirt out completely flat and measured meticulously to make sure they were even.

i also added black piping and a self-covered fabric button.  i LOVE doing fabric covered buttons!!!

even though i planned to make a 1/2 circle skirt i'm glad i did the full circle because i love how the skirt came out.  i also made it longer than what i thought i needed then cut off about 2" or  3".  this way i could be positive it wouldn't be too short.  can't wait for my next circle skirt!!

the skirt is absolutely fabulous for twirling in too!  i started taking timed pictures of me to demonstrate the great twirl ability...

...then realized i could do an action shot setting with the timer.  so no more blurry pictures!  and on to the barrage of twirling pictures.  i was having a lot of fun twirling, if you couldn't tell!

The Black Pleated Skirt

i had been needing a solid black skirt for some time now...so i decided to whip one up with some forgotten black fabric i had.  and by forgotten i mean, i bought it a while ago at Hancock Fabrics, left it in the bag in my room, and somehow it got buried under clothes.  then i happened to find it one day when i saw a plastic bag sticking out from under the clothes mound.  yes, i was surprised when i looked in the bag...and it was an awesome surprise!  my solid black skirt could come to fruition!

for the skirt i reverted to my favorite silhouette...the circle skirt.  instead of doing a full circle skirt i did a 1/2 circle skirt.  i then created a waistband and did a simple button closure at the top of the zipper.

i also added pockets, because no skirt or dress is complete without them, using the ones from the pattern for The Houndstooth Coat.

another detail i added to the skirt was the inverted box pleats.  i did two in the front and two in the back.  i love the shape and flare the pleats add to the movement of the skirt.

i couldn't been any happier with how the skirt turned out, and i feel like i need to make another one because i end up wearing this one so much since it is my only black skirt.  plus, it goes perfectly with all my colored tights!

first time wearing the skirt after making it

Raspberry & Teal Retro Beauty

not only have i made a new top and new skirt this time, but i've made an entirely new outfit...and i must say that this is the cutest outfit i have in my closet now =)  so, if you've read my previous post, you know that i've been accepted to O'More College of Design where i will be getting a degree in fashion design.  well, every year the school puts on a fashion show showcasing the designs of select juniors and seniors.  as an admitted student i was invited to attend the show and i couldn't be more excited!  this is why i needed a new outfit.

so, for my skirt i reverted to my favorite design...the circle skirt.  i saw this gorgeous polka dotted stretch cotton fabric at Hancock Fabrics a while ago, but continued to pass it by.  when this opportunity arose i knew exactly that i was going to use it.  i mean. it just screams vintage and retro! 

in making this skirt i actually used some new techniques other than the ones i typically do for my circle skirts.  for this 1/2 circle skirt i inserted a side zipper.  for the waistband you will notice i strayed away from my usual elastic waistband and did a real waistband, featuring two fabric covered buttons-which i covered myself-for a tight fit.  another change was to the hem.  usually i do a bias tape hem so that i don't have to go throught all the trrouble of trying to do a hem on a circle...b/c it can be a pain.  doing the narrow hem actually was fairly easy.

i absolutely love how this skirt turned out and next on the agenda was to make a top that complimented the skirt.  for the top i went to Joann Fabrics.  while perusing through the red-tag fabric section i spotted this raspberry-colored chiffon.  in my head i envisioned a sheer chiffon top being paired with the skirt, so i knew this was the fabric.  i had also bought this great pattern from Simplicity a while back and knew this style was what i wanted.  i love the vintage feel the ruffle adds to the top.  for those of you that have done/do quite a bit of sewing, you probably just read this section and thought, "chiffon? nooooo! what is she thinking?!"  well, i did some research online about sewing with chiffon and found all the horror stories.  i was a little afraid before starting the project but decided to continue on.  since i used chiffon i did have to do some tweaks.  like for the seams, b/c chiffon frays easily, i used french seams. and all hems and edges, unless encased, are double turned.  doing those little changes did add extra time to the process, but i knew if i didn't do them i would be very unhappy once the top was finished.  even with the difficulties i went through in sewing the top it turned out great and looks gorgeous with the skirt.

now, i am ready to put my best foot forward at the fashion show tomorrow night and watch all the amazing student designs head down the runway!

Purple Circle...Skirt, That Is!!

so, no surprise here, but my latest project is ...a circle skirt!  i keep making them b/c they are so easy to make and so easy to wear!  not to mention, they are cute too.  for this skirt i used some leftover stretch bengaline i had from making my purple dress.  due to the fabric the skirt has a wonderful drape, can be worn any season, and if you wear it in winter you don't have to put on a slip or add a lining.  i may just have to make more skirts using this fabric!

 

i used 2" elastic for the waistband and i did a new technique for the hem.  usually when i make my skirts from a cotton fabric, i use coordianting bias tape for the hem. for fancier fabrics like this, or corduroy or something to that effect, i fold the hem up and press, then fold it down in the crease and sew it.  not this time!  this time i first serged the raw edge then i just rolled it as it was going through the machine.

gah, so much easier than my usual technique!  if you decide to venture out and make a circle skirt, def try this hem technique, or the bias tape, and it will save you a headache.  now, i've decided i want to make a pettiskirt, aka crinoline, to wear with my skirts sometimes and give them a little more pizzazz.

Goin' In Circles

i know, i know, i've needed to update, but i've been busy making things! 

so, i am completely in love with the styles of the 50s and 60s and have become inspired by them.  lately my new thing has been making circle skirts ofr myself.  they are sooo easy to make and are classically cute.  here,http://ficklesense.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-make-circle-skirt-full-34-12-14.html, is the website where i go to get the equations to figure out the measurements for my skirts...and what's even better, is that they have four different skirt variations.  full circle skirt, 3/4 circle skirt, 1/2 circle skirt, and 1/4 circle skirt.  the only one i haven't made is the 3/4 circle skirt.  so far, all the circle skirts i've made have been out of printed cottons i've gotten from Hobby Lobby.  i use 2" elastic for the waistband.

this cherry skirt was my first ever circle skirt, and is a full circle.  i was really excited to find this fabric b/c i love cherries, and it has that vintage 50s look!

this skirt was my second circle skirt and is a 1/4 circle.  for me, this skirt only requires one yard.  i took this picture before i got a chance to add the black bias tape to the hem, instead of doing a regular hem.

this skirt, probaby my fave b/c of the colors and pattern, is another 1/4 circle and has an off-white bias tape hem.

this skirt is a 1/2 circle and has a turquoise-y bias tape hem.  i absolutely love the pattern b/c it has a wonderful retro feel to it.

this, is my latest skirt, just finished it today.  it is an awesome printed corduroy i found at Joann Fabric and Craft store.  i figured i needed to make some skirts that had more of a winter-y feel.  since it is corduroy i added a full lining.  i also did an invisible zipper and...a ral hem!! yes, i did what seems like the impossible to a circle skirt and did a real, turned up hem.  now granted, i did cheat and use my new-found friend, Stitch Witchery, instead of having to sew the hem.  i did the same for the lining.

so, as you can see, i have been busy over the last few days adding new clothing to my wardrobe.  for the cherry skirt and the green dot skirt i added tutorials on my site here, http://www.burdastyle.com/profiles/betterhandmade/my_studio.  i am also keepin with my new tradition of making christmas presents for family and friends, and seeing as christmas is in 10 days, i guess i should get to workin on the fleece infinity scarves i am going to make for them.  of course i will post pictures of the finished products.  so, until next time, happy sewing!..and a little inspiration from a fabulous pin i found on Pinterest